If you’ve ever searched for All Braj Holi Dates 2026, chances are you’ve already felt confused. One blog says Barsana on one date. Another shifts it by a day. Someone on YouTube claims Phoolon Wali Holi happens later. And suddenly, what looked like a simple Holi plan turns into a guessing game.
Here’s the thing.
Braj Holi doesn’t run on assumptions or copied calendars. It follows tithi, temple customs, and village tradition. Miss one date, and you don’t just miss a colour festival. You miss a living ritual that happens only once a year, exactly on that day.
I’ve seen travellers reach Barsana a day late, standing in an empty courtyard, asking locals what went wrong. Honestly, it hurts to watch. That’s why this guide exists. Not hype. Just clarity.
This is the complete, corrected, date-wise guide to All Braj Holi Dates 2026, written the way a local would explain it over chai.
Understanding Braj Holi Before Looking at Dates
Braj Holi isn’t one festival. It’s a sequence of celebrations spread across villages where Krishna’s stories are still treated as lived memory, not mythology.
Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana, Nandgaon, Gokul, Baldev.
Each place celebrates Holi differently. Each date matters.
In my experience, people who enjoy Braj Holi the most are the ones who stop trying to “cover everything” and instead follow the rhythm of the region. Slow mornings. Early starts. One main experience per day.
That’s where planning actually works.
Official Holi 2026 Dates (Confirmed)
Before diving into village-wise celebrations, let’s lock the core dates. These don’t change.
- Holika Dahan: Tuesday, 3 March 2026
- Rangwali Holi / Dhulandi: Wednesday, 4 March 2026
These are pan-India dates. But Braj Holi begins much earlier.
Panchang & Tithi Details (Why Dates Matter Here)
Braj follows Phalguna Purnima, not modern calendars.
- Purnima Tithi Begins: 5:55 PM on 2 March 2026
- Purnima Tithi Ends: 5:07 PM on 3 March 2026
That’s why Holika Dahan is performed on the night of 3 March, after sunset, when Purnima is still prevailing. Locals won’t adjust this for convenience. Neither should you.
Regional Holi Variations
Not everyone celebrates Holi the same way.
- North India (UP, Delhi, Rajasthan, MP):
Holika Dahan on 3 March, colours on 4 March. - East India (West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar):
Basanta Utsav or Dola Purnima may extend celebrations beyond the main day. - Maharashtra & Central India:
Rang Panchami often happens a few days later.
Braj, however, plays by its own rules.
Government Holiday Status – What to Expect
- 4 March 2026 (Rangwali Holi):
Expected gazetted holiday in most states. - 3 March 2026 (Holika Dahan):
Usually a restricted or regional holiday.
Travel gets tight around these dates. That’s not a warning. Just reality.
All Braj Holi Dates 2026 – Declared Schedule
This is the section most people are looking for. Save it. Screenshot it. Follow it exactly.
Braj Holi Dates & Events 2026
- 24 February 2026 – Phag Invitation, Nandgaon
- 24 February 2026 – Laddu Holi, Barsana
- 25 February 2026 – Lathmar Holi, Barsana
- 26 February 2026 – Lathmar Holi, Nandgaon
- 27 February 2026 – Phoolon Wali Holi, Vrindavan
- 27 February 2026 – Janmabhoomi Huranga, Mathura
- 1 March 2026 – Chhadimar Holi, Gokul
- 4 March 2026 – Rangwali Holi, Mathura & Vrindavan
- 5 March 2026 – Dauji Huranga, Baldev
No guessing. No shifting. This is the actual Braj region Holi festival schedule 2026.
What Each Braj Holi Day Feels Like (Brief but Real)
Phag Invitation – Nandgaon (24 Feb)
This is where it all begins. Soft. Musical. Mostly devotional. Locals treat it as the formal opening of Holi season.
Laddu Holi – Barsana (24 Feb)
Less chaos, more joy. Laddus fly through the air. People laugh more than they shout. It’s surprisingly controlled.
Lathmar Holi – Barsana (25 Feb)
This is intense. Loud. Physical. Deeply ritualistic. Not entertainment. Ancestral memory in motion.
Lathmar Holi – Nandgaon (26 Feb)
Same ritual, different energy. Slightly more manageable crowds. Better for repeat visitors.
Phoolon Wali Holi – Vrindavan (27 Feb)
Flowers instead of colour. Emotion instead of noise. If Barsana is fire, this is water.
Huranga – Mathura (27 Feb)
Raw. Playful. Chaotic in the most Braj way possible. Not for everyone. But unforgettable.
Chhadimar Holi – Gokul (1 Mar)
Understated. Local. Children, elders, laughter. This one often surprises first-timers.
Rangwali Holi – Mathura & Vrindavan (4 Mar)
The day everyone knows. The day most people come. And honestly, the most crowded.
Dauji Huranga – Baldev (5 Mar)
Rough. Traditional. No polish. Locals only vibe. Stay on the edges and observe.
Best Time to Visit Braj Holi 2026
Here’s my honest take.
If you want meaning, come between 24 February and 27 February.
If you want colour madness, come 4 March.
Trying to do all ten days? Possible. But tiring.
Safety Tips (Ground Reality)
- Start early. Very early.
- One village per day. Always.
- Keep phones sealed.
- White cotton clothes only.
- Avoid narrow lanes during peak hours.
- Women travellers should stick to guided or group movement.
Simple habits. Big difference.
How to Reach Braj Holi Locations
By Car
- Best option for flexibility
- Early morning departures reduce crowd stress
- Park outside villages during peak days
By Train
- Nearest major station: Mathura Junction
- Local taxis required for Barsana, Nandgaon, Gokul
By Air
- Nearest airport: Delhi
- Road travel unavoidable afterward
Guide Tip:
Arriving one day earlier than your target Holi event always works better than same-day travel.
Why Vrindava Mathura Tour Package Fits Well for Braj Holi Planning
Braj Holi doesn’t reward rushing.
It rewards timing, pacing, and restraint.
Mathura Vrindavan Tour Package focuses on movement that matches village reality. Early starts. Safe viewing zones. Return routes that avoid gridlock. That approach suits Braj better than rigid, checklist-style travel.
As a Planning Support Partner, the idea isn’t to cover everything. It’s to help travellers understand which day deserves energy and which day deserves rest. That balance is what makes Braj Holi memorable, not exhausting.
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FAQs – All Braj Holi Dates 2026
Q1. When is Laddu Holi celebrated in Barsana in 2026?
Laddu Holi in Barsana will be celebrated on 24 February 2026. The main activity usually begins around 8:00 AM at Shri Ji (Radha Rani) Temple and continues till late morning, depending on crowd movement.
Q2. What is the date and timing of Barsana Lathmar Holi 2026?
Barsana Lathmar Holi takes place on 25 February 2026, with rituals starting early, around 9:00 AM. The peak Lathmar Holi action usually happens between 10:30 AM and 2:00 PM at the main holi grounds.
Q3. When does Nandgaon Lathmar Holi happen in 2026?
Nandgaon Lathmar Holi is on 26 February 2026. Celebrations generally begin by 9:30 AM at Nand Bhawan, continuing till early afternoon as crowds thin out.
Q4. On which date is Phoolon Wali Holi celebrated in Vrindavan?
Phoolon Wali Holi in Vrindavan will be held on 27 February 2026, usually during morning temple hours (around 8:00–10:00 AM) at Banke Bihari Temple.
Q5. When is Janmabhoomi Huranga celebrated in Mathura?
Janmabhoomi Huranga takes place on 27 February 2026, mostly in the late morning to early afternoon, around 11:00 AM onwards, near Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple.
Q6. What is the date and time of Chhadimar Holi in Gokul?
Chhadimar Holi in Gokul will be celebrated on 1 March 2026. Activities generally begin around 10:00 AM in Gokul and Raman Reti areas.
Q7. When is Holika Dahan performed in Braj region in 2026?
Holika Dahan will be observed on 3 March 2026, after sunset (around 6:30–7:00 PM) across Mathura, Vrindavan, and nearby Braj villages.
Q8. On which date is Rangwali Holi played in Mathura and Vrindavan?
Rangwali Holi (main colour Holi) will be celebrated on 4 March 2026. Colour play starts early, often by 7:00 AM, and continues till afternoon in Mathura and Vrindavan.
Q9. When does Dauji Huranga take place in 2026?
Dauji Huranga will be held on 5 March 2026, usually starting around 11:00 AM at Baldev (Dauji Temple), and is known for its intense traditional rituals.
Q10. Which Braj Holi event marks the official start of Holi celebrations?
The Holi season in Braj officially begins with Phag Invitation in Nandgaon on 24 February 2026, typically in the morning hours, setting the tone for the days that follow.
Conclusion
All Braj Holi Dates 2026 aren’t just dates on a calendar. They’re markers of living tradition. Each day carries its own mood, its own crowd behaviour, its own rhythm.
Follow the dates correctly, and Braj opens itself to you.
Miss them, and you’re just another tourist wondering what went wrong.
Plan slowly. Arrive early. Respect the villages.
That’s how Braj Holi stays with you long after the colours fade.
