Gurpurab Dates 2026–27: Gurpurab is one of the most loved occasions in Sikh life. Families visit the gurdwara, listen to kirtan, read Gurbani and share langar with everyone. The hard part is knowing the right date, because some days follow the sun and others follow the moon. This guide brings the Gurpurab dates for 2026–27 into one place, in simple tables you can save, print or share with your family. All dates follow the calendar issued by the SGPC from Sri Akal Takht Sahib for Samvat 558, and the main dates were cross-checked against other published Sikh calendars.
Upcoming Gurpurabs and Sikh Days (Next Three Months)
As of 10 October 2026, these are the occasions to plan for:
| Date | Day | Occasion |
|---|---|---|
| 27 October 2026 | Tuesday | Prakash Purab, Sri Guru Ram Das Ji |
| 3 November 2026 | Tuesday | Joti Jot, Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji |
| 8 November 2026 | Sunday | Bandi Chhor Divas |
| 11 November 2026 | Wednesday | Gurgaddi, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji |
| 14 November 2026 | Saturday | Joti Jot, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji |
| 15 November 2026 | Sunday | Shaheedi, Baba Deep Singh Ji |
| 24 November 2026 | Tuesday | Prakash Purab, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji |
| 14 December 2026 | Monday | Shaheedi, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji |
Bandi Chhor Divas and Guru Nanak Gurpurab fall only about two weeks apart this year. If you plan to travel to Amritsar or another historic gurdwara, it is wise to book early.
What Does Gurpurab Mean?
The word Gurpurab joins two words: Guru and purab, which means a festival or special occasion. In daily use, people use it for several kinds of days linked to the Gurus:
- Prakash Purab: the birth anniversary of a Guru. Prakash means light, and the Gurus are remembered as the light that guided people.
- Gurgaddi Divas: the day a Guru took over the spiritual leadership of the Sikh community.
- Joti Jot Divas: the day a Guru left this world and merged with the Divine Light.
- Shaheedi Divas: the day of sacrifice of a Guru, the Sahibzade or a Sikh martyr.
Other important days, such as Vaisakhi, Hola Mohalla and Bandi Chhor Divas, are festivals and historic remembrances rather than Gurpurabs in the strict sense.
How the Nanakshahi Calendar Works
Nanakshahi years are counted from 1469 CE, the year Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born. Samvat 558 began on 14 March 2026, which is 1 Chet, and it runs until March 2027. The SGPC normally releases the calendar for the next year in March, close to 1 Chet.
Not every date moves in the same way:
- Solar dates stay on the same English date every year. Vaisakhi on 14 April and the Nanakshahi New Year on 14 March are good examples.
- Lunar dates shift every year because they follow the moon. Hola Mohalla, Bandi Chhor Divas and Guru Nanak Gurpurab belong to this group.
There is one more thing to know. The SGPC follows a revised form of the original Nanakshahi calendar that was introduced in 2003. Some Sikh organisations, including bodies in Pakistan and a few in the United States and Delhi, still follow the original version. Because of this, a few dates can differ between calendars. For example, the Prakash Purab of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji is on 15 January 2027 in the SGPC calendar, while some calendars keep it on 5 January. When in doubt, follow the date announced by your local gurdwara.
Prakash Purab of the Ten Gurus (2026–27)
The table below lists the birth anniversary of each Guru, in the order of the Guru line. Some dates have already passed this year, so the last column shows where each one stands today.
| Guru | Date | Day | Status on 10 Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji | 24 November 2026 | Tuesday | Upcoming |
| Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji | 18 April 2026 | Saturday | Passed |
| Sri Guru Amar Das Ji | 30 April 2026 | Thursday | Passed |
| Sri Guru Ram Das Ji | 27 October 2026 | Tuesday | Upcoming |
| Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji | 9 April 2026 | Thursday | Passed |
| Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji | 30 June 2026 | Tuesday | Passed |
| Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji | 31 January 2026 | Saturday | Passed |
| Sri Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji | 7 August 2026 | Friday | Passed |
| Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji | 7 April 2026 | Tuesday | Passed |
| Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji | 15 January 2027 | Friday | Upcoming |
Guru Nanak Gurpurab is the biggest of them all. It falls on Kartik Purnima, the full moon of the month of Kartik, which is why the English date changes each year.
Gurgaddi Divas Dates
These days remember the moment each Guru accepted the responsibility of Guruship. The Gurgaddi of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji marks the day the Guru Granth Sahib was declared the eternal Guru of the Sikhs.
| Guru | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji | 17 March 2026 | Tuesday |
| Sri Guru Amar Das Ji | 19 March 2026 | Thursday |
| Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji | 1 April 2026 | Wednesday |
| Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji | 8 June 2026 | Monday |
| Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji | 13 September 2026 | Sunday |
| Sri Guru Ram Das Ji | 24 September 2026 | Thursday |
| Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji | 1 October 2026 | Thursday |
| Sri Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji | 3 November 2026 | Tuesday |
| Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji | 11 November 2026 | Wednesday |
| Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji | 12 December 2026 | Saturday |
Joti Jot Divas Dates
| Guru | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji | 22 March 2026 | Sunday |
| Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji | 23 March 2026 | Monday |
| Sri Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji | 1 April 2026 | Wednesday |
| Sri Guru Ram Das Ji | 14 September 2026 | Monday |
| Sri Guru Amar Das Ji | 26 September 2026 | Saturday |
| Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji | 5 October 2026 | Monday |
| Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji | 3 November 2026 | Tuesday |
| Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji | 14 November 2026 | Saturday |
Shaheedi Days in 2026–27
Shaheedi days honour those who gave their lives for faith, justice and freedom. The December dates are especially important, because they remember the sacrifice of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, the Chamkaur Sahib martyrs and the younger Sahibzade with Mata Gujri Ji.
| Date | Occasion |
|---|---|
| 14 March 2026 | Akali Phula Singh Ji |
| 23 March 2026 | Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev |
| 4 May 2026 | Shaheedi day linked to Jor Mela, Sri Muktsar Sahib |
| 4 June 2026 | Shaheedi Divas, Sri Akal Takht Sahib (1984) |
| 18 June 2026 | Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji |
| 25 June 2026 | Baba Banda Singh Bahadur |
| 9 July 2026 | Bhai Mani Singh Ji |
| 16 July 2026 | Bhai Taru Singh Ji |
| 31 July 2026 | Shaheed Udham Singh |
| 15 November 2026 | Baba Deep Singh Ji |
| 13 December 2026 | Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das and Bhai Dyala Ji |
| 14 December 2026 | Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji |
| 23 December 2026 | Sahibzada Baba Ajit Singh Ji and Baba Jujhar Singh Ji (Chamkaur Sahib) |
| 28 December 2026 | Sahibzada Baba Zorawar Singh Ji, Baba Fateh Singh Ji and Mata Gujri Ji |
Other Major Festivals and Historic Days
| Occasion | Date |
|---|---|
| Maghi, Jor Mela Sri Muktsar Sahib | 13 January 2026 and 14 January 2027 |
| Wadda Ghallughara (Kup Rohira) | 8 February 2026 and 9 February 2027 |
| Hola Mohalla | 4 March 2026 |
| Nanakshahi New Year (Samvat 558) | 14 March 2026 |
| Sikh Dastar Divas | 13 April 2026 |
| Vaisakhi, Khalsa Sajna Divas | 14 April 2026 |
| Chhota Ghallughara | 17 May 2026 |
| Miri Piri Divas | 24 July 2026 |
| Sampuranta Divas, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji | 30 August 2026 |
| Pehla Prakash Purab, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji | 12 September 2026 |
| Bandi Chhor Divas | 8 November 2026 |
The calendar also marks the birth anniversaries of Bhagat Ravidas Ji (1 February 2026 and 20 February 2027), Bhagat Kabir Ji (29 June 2026), Bhagat Dhanna Ji (21 April 2026), Baba Deep Singh Ji (26 January 2026 and 27 January 2027), Sahibzada Baba Zorawar Singh Ji (30 November 2026) and Sahibzada Baba Fateh Singh Ji (14 December 2026).
How Gurpurab Is Celebrated
Most Gurpurabs follow a similar pattern. An Akhand Path, which is the complete and unbroken reading of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, usually begins two days before the occasion so that it ends on the morning of the Gurpurab itself. On the day, gurdwaras hold kirtan and katha, and langar is served to all visitors without any difference of caste, faith or status.
On bigger occasions, such as Guru Nanak Gurpurab, many towns also hold a Nagar Kirtan, a procession led by the Panj Pyare with the Guru Granth Sahib Ji. At Bandi Chhor Divas, gurdwaras, especially Sri Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar, are lit with thousands of lamps. For many families, the most important part is seva, which means helping with cooking, cleaning or serving at the gurdwara.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Guru Nanak Gurpurab in 2026? It falls on Tuesday, 24 November 2026, on Kartik Purnima.
When is Bandi Chhor Divas in 2026? It is on Sunday, 8 November 2026, the same day as Diwali.
Why do Gurpurab dates change every year? Some Gurpurabs follow the lunar calendar, so their English dates move each year. Others are fixed to the Nanakshahi calendar and stay the same.
Is Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s Gurpurab on 5 January or 15 January? The SGPC calendar lists 15 January 2027. Some calendars still keep 5 January, so please confirm with your local gurdwara.
When will the next Nanakshahi calendar be released? The SGPC usually releases it in March, around 1 Chet. The calendar for Samvat 559 is expected then.
How many Gurpurabs are there in a year? There are ten Prakash Purabs, one for each Guru, along with Gurgaddi, Joti Jot and Shaheedi days. Together they make up a large part of the Sikh calendar.