What is on the dry day list for 2026? It depends on your state. Each state sets its own days when liquor cannot be sold or served. Every state with a fixed list closes on Gandhi Jayanti, 2 October. Many also close on Republic Day, Independence Day and a few festival days.
Your licence matters as much as your state. In Delhi, liquor shops have 13 dry days in 2026, but restaurant bars have only 3. Elections add more closures on top, wherever a poll is held.
This post lists the 2026 dry days for nine states, taken from official state sources. It also covers the dates still left this year, which bars stay open, and how election dry days work.
Key Takeaways
- Most states have no fixed dry day left in 2026. Only Delhi’s liquor shops and Maharashtra have listed dates left, all in November.
- Your licence decides your closures, not just your state. In Delhi, a restaurant bar closes on 3 days to a shop’s 13.
- Election closures are set close to each poll, so watch your district’s orders too.
Which Dates on the Dry Day List 2026 are Still Left?
Three listed dry days are left in 2026 across the nine states in this post, and all three fall in November. Here they are, with the state that set each one.
- Diwali, Sunday 8 November 2026, Delhi. Liquor shops close. Restaurant bars, hotel bars and clubs do not.
- Kartiki Ekadashi, November 2026, Maharashtra. It follows the Hindu calendar, so check the date in your Collector’s notice.
- Guru Nanak Jayanti, Tuesday 24 November 2026, Delhi. Again, this one binds liquor shops, not bars.
In the other states with a fixed list, the last fixed dry day of 2026 was Gandhi Jayanti on 2 October. Madhya Pradesh Collectors and Goa’s local authorities can still order closures. So can any poll held before the year ends.
Dry Day List 2026 by State
Each state’s 2026 dry days are below, taken from its own excise rules or orders. The table gives the full list, and the notes under it explain who closes in each state.
| State | Dry days in 2026 | Left after 8 October |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | 13 for liquor shops, 3 for bars and clubs | 8 Nov and 24 Nov, shops only |
| Maharashtra | 26 Jan, 30 Jan, 1 May, Ashadhi Ekadashi, 15 Aug, Anant Chaturdashi, 2 Oct, 8 Oct, Kartiki Ekadashi | Kartiki Ekadashi |
| Tamil Nadu | 16 Jan, 26 Jan, Vallalar Ninaivu Naal, 31 Mar, 1 May, 15 Aug, 26 Aug, 2 Oct | None |
| Rajasthan | 26 Jan, 30 Jan, Mahavir Jayanti, 15 Aug, 2 Oct | None |
| Haryana | 26 Jan and 15 Aug until 5 pm, 2 Oct all day | None |
| Madhya Pradesh | 26 Jan, 15 Aug, 2 Oct, plus up to 4 days set by the Collector | Collector’s days only |
| Karnataka | 2 Oct | None |
| Goa | 2 Oct, plus local closures for village and town events | None notified |
| Punjab | No fixed list | As notified |
Every state also closes for elections. That part is covered in its own section below.
Delhi
Delhi issues its dry days in batches through the year, under Rule 52 of the Delhi Excise Rules, 2010. The order for October to December lists Gandhi Jayanti, Diwali on 8 November and Guru Nanak’s Birthday on 24 November.
The full 2026 list for liquor shops runs to 13 days, across the January order, the April order and the October one. They are Republic Day, Maha Shivratri, Id-ul-Fitr, Ram Navami, Mahavir Jayanti, Buddha Purnima, Id-ul-Zuha, Muharram, Independence Day, Janmashtami, Gandhi Jayanti, Diwali and Guru Nanak’s Birthday.
Dates can move after the list is out. The Id-ul-Zuha dry day was first set for 27 May. A later order moved it to 28 May. That order was issued just two days before, after the holiday itself moved.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra’s dry days are fixed in its foreign liquor rules, so they repeat every year. The state excise manual lists nine days. Four are fixed dates. Two fall in the state’s Prohibition Week, a week of anti-liquor campaigns, on 2 and 8 October. Three follow the Hindu calendar.
The Collector can add more for special occasions, with at least seven days’ notice in the Official Gazette. Our guide to Delhi and Maharashtra licence rules explains the licence types these rules refer to.
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu fixes eight dry days in its liquor licence rules, under Rule 25 as amended in 2013. They are Thiruvalluvar Day, Republic Day, Vallalar Ninaivu Naal, Mahavir Jayanti, May Day, Independence Day, Milad-un-Nabi and Gandhi Jayanti.
The District Collector announces each one before the day, and the 2026 dates follow the state’s 2026 holiday list.
The rule covers clubs and star hotels too. Our Tamil Nadu liquor licence guide explains the FL2 (club) and FL3 (hotel) licences it names.
Rajasthan
Rajasthan sets five dry days in its excise policy for 2025-29. They are Republic Day, Gandhi’s death anniversary on 30 January, Mahavir Jayanti, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti.
In September 2026, the state also declared dry days for urban local body polls. Those dates are now past.
Haryana
Haryana is the only state here with part-day closures. Its excise policy for 2025-27 closes licensed premises until 5 pm on Republic Day and Independence Day. Only Gandhi Jayanti is a full-day closure.
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh has three fixed dry days: Republic Day, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti. Its 2026-27 Collector’s conditions let the Collector close shops for up to four more days a year. These conditions are written for retail shops, so a bar owner should confirm with the district excise office.
Karnataka, Goa and Punjab
Karnataka has one fixed dry day, Gandhi Jayanti. Our Karnataka liquor licence guide sets out how bars there are licensed. The rest are polling days, counting days and public-peace closures. That is how the Tumakuru district excise page lists them, and other districts issue their own orders.
Goa closed all liquor outlets on 2 October 2026, as a state release confirmed. Its other closures in 2026 were local, for village polls and jatras.
Punjab has no fixed list. Its 2026-27 excise policy only says the government may declare any day a dry day.
We could not find an official 2026 list for Telangana, Uttar Pradesh or West Bengal. Closures there come through district or commissioner orders, so watch your local notices.
Do Restaurant Bars Follow the Full Dry Day List 2026?
In some states, a restaurant or hotel bar closes on fewer dry days than a liquor shop, because the rules treat licences differently. This section shows how four states handle it.
Delhi splits its list by licence. Its orders put licences into two groups. Shops close on all 13 days. Hotel bars, restaurant bars and clubs close on only 3 of them: 26 January, 15 August and 2 October.
In Delhi’s licence codes, that bar group covers hotel and restaurant bars (L-16 to L-19), clubs (L-28 and L-29) and several other licence and permit codes. Hotels with an L-15 licence can also serve liquor to resident guests on all 13 dry days.
Maharashtra exempts star hotels. Hotels rated three stars and above may keep their bars open on all nine of these dry days. The only exception is election closures. So a three-star hotel bar in Lower Parel can serve on Ashadhi Ekadashi while the wine shop across the road shuts (an example).
Goa let the kitchen stay open. Its 2 October order let a bar and restaurant keep serving food. The bar counter had to be shut, with a notice put up. That bar and restaurant licence is explained in our Goa liquor licence post.
Tamil Nadu has no such carve-out. Its Rule 25 names clubs and star hotels alongside other bars, so they close too.
So read the order for your own licence code, not a general list. A restaurant bar in Hauz Khas that closes on all 13 days in 2026 gives up ten nights of bar sales it is allowed to make (an example).
How Do Election Dry Days Work?
Election dry days close every outlet in the polling area, bars and hotels included. This section explains the 48-hour rule and who sets the dates.
The rule comes from Section 135C of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. No liquor may be sold, given or served in a polling area for 48 hours ending with the close of poll. A Telangana election office note quotes the section in full. It covers hotels, eating houses and shops alike.
Counting day is not in that section. It comes from the Election Commission’s instructions. Each state then issues its own order closing outlets on that day. The same Telangana note says star hotels and clubs must close too.
The dates are set close to each poll, by the state excise department or the District Collector. Under its foreign liquor rules, Maharashtra closes outlets on poll day, the day before and counting day for local body polls. Haryana’s policy closes them in the poll area for panchayat and municipal elections.
What Happens If a Bar Opens on a Dry Day?
Opening on a dry day can cost you far more than one night’s sales. The penalties depend on the law you break, and this section covers the ones the official sources spell out.
- Election dry days. Section 135C allows up to 6 months in jail, a fine of up to ₹2,000, or both.
- Haryana. Besides any prosecution, the outlet is sealed for seven days, starting the day after the dry day. No fee relief is given.
In Haryana, a seven-day seal costs far more than one night’s bar sales. Our guide to liquor licence cost shows what a licence costs.
Getting Your Restaurant Ready for a Dry Day
A dry day goes smoothly when the bar is closed before service, not during it. Bar owners using Petpooja tell us a drink billed by mistake is the usual slip. A regular asks, and a new server rings it up. Here is what to do, in order, the week before.
- Read the order for your licence. Check whether your licence group closes, and for how long.
- Display the order. Delhi requires it, and it saves your staff from arguing with guests.
- Switch off the bar items in your billing system. Then no server can bill a drink by mistake.
- Tell regulars ahead of time. A message the day before beats a disappointed table.
- Push what you can still sell. Mocktails, fresh juices and a food-led offer keep the evening’s bill up.
Restaurant menu management software lets you turn items off and on across dine-in and online orders. Our guide to bar inventory reports covers checking stock while the bar is shut.
Conclusion
The dry day list 2026 is nearly over. Delhi’s Diwali and Guru Nanak dates apply to liquor shops only, and Maharashtra’s Kartiki Ekadashi falls in November. Elections can still add closures anywhere.
Before any dry day, read the order for your own licence. A Delhi restaurant bar closes on far fewer days than a shop, and Goa’s 2 October order let bars keep their kitchens open.
A dry day goes smoothly when the bar is switched off before service starts. Your restaurant POS can switch the bar items off across dine-in and online orders the night before.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the state. Delhi issued its first 2026 order on 15 January, covering January to March. If it follows the same pattern, its 2027 list will come out around then. Collectors in Tamil Nadu announce each date shortly before the day.
No. Dry days stop the sale and service of liquor, so a restaurant that serves no alcohol runs as normal. It is only the licensed bar side of a business that closes.
Yes. The same closure days apply to bars licensed for beer and wine only, on Form E. They may still serve guests who hold foreign passports on those days.
