Vrat or Upvaas (Hindu Fast) in the Year 2026
Vrat (व्रत) or Fasting is an integral part of the Hindu Religion. Fasting in Sanskrit is called "Upvaas" (उपवास) and there are several fasts recommended in Hinduism to accomplish various tasks. Ekadasi, Pradosha, or Purnima are some fast that Hindus keep on certain days of the month. Certain days of the week are also set for fasting depending on personal belief and deity. Lord Shiva devotees fast on Monday, Tuesday is for Lord Hanuman, Lord Vishnu devotees keep fast on Thursday and Saturdays are for Lord Ayyappa and Lord Shani. Fasting during festivals is also common like Maha Shivratri fast, Navratri, Karwa Chauth, Shravan fast, Janamasthami, etc.
Method of keeping Fast/Vrat varies widely, some keep strict fast the person fasting does not partake any food or water from the previous day's sunset until 48 minutes after the following day's sunrise. While some limit oneself from eating meal during the day. There are certain food fasting person is not supposed to eat and even touch meat and egg products. Only Potatoes, Sago and Sweet potatoes, purple-red sweet potatoes, amaranth seeds, nuts and shama millet are allowed to be eaten for fasting person.
Here is the list of Vrat along with dates falling in the year 2026.
January 2026
Pradosh Vrat (प्रदोष व्रत) - Jan 1st, 2026
Paush Purnima (पौष पूर्णिमा) - Jan 3rd, 2026
Sankashti Chaturthi Vrat (संकष्टी चतुर्थी व्रत) - Jan 6th, 2026
Kalashtami (कालाष्टमी) - Jan 10th, 2026
Makar Sankranti Vrat (मकर संक्रांति व्रत) - Jan 14th, 2026
Masik Shivaratri (मासिक शिवरात्रि) - Jan 16th, 2026
Mauni Amavasya (मौनी अमावस्या) - Jan 18th, 2026
Rath Saptami (रथ सप्तमी) - Jan 25th, 2026
Durga Ashtami Vrat (दुर्गाष्टमी) - Jan 26th, 2026
Bheshma Ashtami (भीष्म अष्टमी) - Jan 26th, 2026
February 2026
Magha Purnima (माघ पूर्णिमा व्रत) - Feb 1st, 2026
Ramdas Navami (रामदास स्वामी नवमी) - Feb 10th, 2026
Kumbha Sankranti (कुम्भ संक्रांति) - Feb 13th, 2026
Mahashivratri (शिवरात्रि) - Feb 15th, 2026
Ramadan Fasting Starts (रमजान का उपवास) - Feb 17th, 2026
Phulera Dooj (फूलेरादुज) - Feb 19th, 2026
Govinda Dwadashi (गोविन्द द्वादशी) - Feb 28th, 2026
March 2026
Holika Dahan, Phalguna Purnima Vrat (फाल्गुन पूर्णिमा व्रत) - Mar 3rd, 2026
Gangaur Vrat Start (गणगौर व्रत पूजन शुरू) - Mar 4th, 2026
Sheetala Ashtami (शीतला अष्टमी) - Mar 11th, 2026
Chaitra Navratri, Ugadi, Ghatasthapana, Gudi Padwa (चैत्र नवरात्रि घट स्थापना) - Mar 19th, 2026
Chaitra Amavasya (चैत्र अमावस्या) - Mar 19th, 2026
Ram Navami (राम नवमी) - Mar 27th, 2026
Kurma Dwadashi Vrat (कूर्म द्वादशी) - Mar 30th, 2026
April 2026
Chaitra Purnima Vrat (चैत्र पूर्णिमा व्रत) - Apr 2nd, 2026
Vaishakha Amavasya (वैशाख अमावस्या) - Apr 17th, 2026
Akshaya Tritiya (अक्षय तृतीया व्रत) - Apr 19th, 2026
Narasimha Jayanti (नरसिंह जयंती) - Apr 30th, 2026
May 2026
Vaishakha Purnima Vrat (वैशाख पूर्णिमा व्रत) - May 1st, 2026
Narada Jayanti (नारद जयंती) - May 2nd, 2026
June 2026
Vat Savitri Vrat Amavasya (वट सावित्री व्रत अमावस्या) - Jun 14th, 2026
Dhumavati Jayanti (धूमावती जयंती) - Jun 22nd, 2026
Vat Savitri Purnima (वट सावित्री पूर्णिमा) - Jun 29th, 2026
July 2026
Ashadha Amavasya (आषाढ़ अमावस्या) - Jul 14th, 2026
Karka Sankranti (कर्क संक्रांति) - Jul 16th, 2026
Sital Sasthi (शीतलषष्ठी) - Jul 19th, 2026
Kanwar Yatra (काँवड़ यात्रा) - Jul 30th, 2026
August 2026
Shravana Amavasya (श्रावणी अमावस्या) - Aug 12th, 2026
Hariyali Teej Vrat (हरियाली तीज व्रत) - Aug 15th, 2026
Simha Sankranti (सिंह संक्रांति) - Aug 17th, 2026
Nag Panchami (नाग पंचमी) - Aug 17th, 2026
Shravana Purnima Vrat (श्रावण पूर्णिमा व्रत) - Aug 28th, 2026
Kajari Teej (कजरी तीज) - Aug 31st, 2026
September 2026
Janmashtami Vrat (जन्माष्टमी व्रत) - Sep 4th, 2026
Hartalika Teej Vrat (हरतालिका तीज व्रत) - Sep 13th, 2026
Ganesh Chaturthi Vrat (गणेश चतुर्थी व्रत) - Sep 14th, 2026
Kanya Sankranti (कन्या संक्रांति) - Sep 17th, 2026
Bhadrapada Purnima Vrat (भादप्रद पूर्णिमा व्रत) - Sep 26th, 2026
October 2026
Sharad Navratri, Ghatasthapana (नवरात्रि घट स्थापना) - Oct 11th, 2026
Durga Ashtami Puja (अष्टमी पूजा) - Oct 19th, 2026
Durga Maha Navami Puja (महानवमी पूजा) - Oct 20th, 2026
Karva Chauth (करवा चौथ) - Oct 28th, 2026
November 2026
Diwali, Kartik Amavasya (कार्तिक अमावस्या) - Nov 8th, 2026
Govardhan Puja Vrat (गोवर्धन पूजा व्रत) - Nov 9th, 2026
December 2026
Paush Amavasya (पौष मास की अमावस्या) - Dec 8th, 2026