Labour Day 2026: Mixed Bank Holiday Across India Leaves Customers Confused

The origin of Labour Day traces back to 1886, when workers in Chicago, United States, staged a protest at Haymarket Square demanding an eight-hour workday

Digital Desk: 1^st May,  Labour Day, also known as International Workers' Day or May Day, is being observed today across many countries worldwide. Celebrated annually on  1^st May, the day honours workers and the labour movement that gained momentum in the late 19th century.

The origin of Labour Day traces back to 1886, when workers in Chicago, United States, staged a protest at Haymarket Square demanding an eight-hour workday. The demonstration turned tragic when police opened fire on the protesters, resulting in the deaths of 11 workers. Despite its origins, Labour Day is not observed on 1^st May  in countries like United States and Canada, where it is celebrated on a different date.

In India, the occasion has also led to confusion among bank customers regarding whether banks are open or closed today. Since Labour Day falls on a Friday this year, many are uncertain about banking operations.

According to the holiday calendar issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), banks are closed in several parts of the country today, while remaining open in certain cities due to state-specific observances.

Banks are closed in 27 cities, including Agartala, Aizawl, Belapur, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chennai, Dehradun, Gangtok, Hyderabad, Imphal, Itanagar, Jammu, Kanpur, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Panaji, Patna, Raipur, Ranchi, Shimla, Srinagar, Thiruvananthapuram, and Vijayawada.

However, bank branches remain operational in cities such as Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Kohima, and Shillong. This variation arises because Labour Day is not uniformly recognised as a bank holiday across all states.

Customers are advised to check their local bank holiday schedules before visiting branches to avoid inconvenience.