2026 Navratri Dates in India: 11–19 October, Dussehra on 20 October

The 2026 Navratri dates at a glance

For the October Navratri observance, the Government of India’s Incredible India portal lists Sunday, 11 October to Monday, 19 October 2026.

The official Shri Omkareshwar festival calendar lists Durga Ashtami/Navami on 19 October and Dussehra on Tuesday, 20 October 2026.

Why 20 October should be listed separately

The useful distinction is between the nine-night Navratri observance and the festival that follows it. The official listings place the Navratri period through 19 October, while identifying 20 October as Vijayadashami or Dussehra. In other words, 20 October is the closing festival date, not an additional tenth Navratri night in the Incredible India listing.

That explains why a calendar may show an apparent 11–20 October festival window while the Navratri date itself is 11–19 October. The two dates describe related observances, but they answer different questions.

Which date should you use?

• Looking for the nine-day Navratri dates: use 11–19 October 2026.
• Looking for Vijayadashami or Dussehra: use 20 October 2026.

Keeping those entries separate is the clearest way to plan around the 2026 festival calendar without turning Dussehra into a tenth Navratri day.