Jain Festivals 2026
24 Jain festivals, kalyanaks and parvas fall in 2026. Paryushan is from 8 to 15 September 2026, and Mahavir Jayanti is on 31 March 2026. Every major Shwetambar and Digambar observance of the year, in date order, with its tithi.
Jain festival list 2026
| Observance | Date | Tithi | Tradition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meru TrayodashiNirvana Kalyanak of Bhagwan Rishabhdev, the first Tirthankara | 16 January 2026FridayPausha Krishna Trayodashi | Pausha Krishna Trayodashi | Shwetambar |
| Phalguna AshtahnikaEight-day Nandishwar Dweep worship in Phalguna | 24 February to 3 March 20268 daysPhalguna Shukla Saptami | Phalguna Shukla Saptami | Shwetambar and Digambar |
| Phalguna Chaumasi ChaudasChaumasi Pratikraman at the end of the winter season | 2 March 2026MondayPhalguna Shukla Chaturdashi | Phalguna Shukla Chaturdashi | Shwetambar |
| Varshitap ArambhStart of the year-long alternate-day fast, on the day of Bhagwan Rishabhdev's diksha | 11 March 2026WednesdayPhalguna Krishna Ashtami | Phalguna Krishna Ashtami | Shwetambar |
| Chaitra Navpad OliNine days of Ayambil worshipping the Navpad (Siddhachakra) | 25 March to 2 April 20269 daysChaitra Shukla Saptami | Chaitra Shukla Saptami | Shwetambar |
| Mahavir JayantiJanma Kalyanak (birth) of Bhagwan Mahavir, the 24th Tirthankara | 31 March 2026TuesdayChaitra Shukla Trayodashi | Chaitra Shukla Trayodashi | Shwetambar and Digambar |
| Akshaya Tritiya (Varshitap Parana)Bhagwan Rishabhdev's first meal of sugarcane juice after his fast; Varshitap fasts are broken | 19 April 2026SundayVaishakha Shukla Tritiya | Vaishakha Shukla Tritiya | Shwetambar and Digambar |
| Mahavir Swami KevalgyanKevalgyan Kalyanak: Bhagwan Mahavir attains omniscience | 26 April 2026SundayVaishakha Shukla Dashami | Vaishakha Shukla Dashami | Shwetambar and Digambar |
| Shrut PanchamiDigambar day of scripture, marking the writing of the Shatkhandagama | 19 June 2026FridayJyeshtha Shukla Panchami | Jyeshtha Shukla Panchami | Digambar |
| Ashadha AshtahnikaEight-day Nandishwar Dweep worship in Ashadha | 20 to 29 July 202610 daysAshadha Shukla Saptami | Ashadha Shukla Saptami | Shwetambar and Digambar |
| Ashadha Chaumasi ChaudasChaumasi Pratikraman; monks and nuns settle for Chaturmas | 28 July 2026TuesdayAshadha Shukla Chaturdashi | Ashadha Shukla Chaturdashi | Shwetambar |
| Jain ChaturmasNowFour months of the rainy season when monks and nuns stay in one place | 28 July to 23 November 2026119 daysAshadha Shukla Chaturdashi | Ashadha Shukla Chaturdashi | Shwetambar and Digambar |
| Paryushan ParvaEight days of fasting, Pratikraman and scripture ending on Samvatsari | 8 to 15 September 20268 daysBhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi | Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi | Shwetambar |
| SamvatsariLast day of Paryushan: Samvatsari Pratikraman and Micchami Dukkadam | 15 September 2026TuesdayBhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi | Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi | Shwetambar |
| Das Lakshana ParvaDigambar Paryushan: ten days, one for each of the ten supreme virtues | 16 to 25 September 202610 daysBhadrapada Shukla Panchami | Bhadrapada Shukla Panchami | Digambar |
| KshamavaniDigambar day of forgiveness after Das Lakshana | 27 September 2026SundayBhadrapada Krishna Pratipada | Bhadrapada Krishna Pratipada | Digambar |
| Ashwina Navpad OliNine days of Ayambil worshipping the Navpad (Siddhachakra) | 17 to 26 October 202610 daysAshwina Shukla Saptami | Ashwina Shukla Saptami | Shwetambar |
| Diwali (Mahavir Nirvan Kalyanak)Bhagwan Mahavir attains Nirvana at Pavapuri | 8 November 2026SundayAshwina Krishna Amavasya | Ashwina Krishna Amavasya | Shwetambar and Digambar |
| Jain New Year (Gautam Swami Kevalgyan)Vira Nirvana Samvat begins; Gautam Swami attains Kevalgyan | 10 November 2026TuesdayKartika Shukla Pratipada | Kartika Shukla Pratipada | Shwetambar and Digambar |
| Gyan PanchamiWorship of knowledge and the Jain Agams (Saubhagya Panchami) | 14 November 2026SaturdayKartika Shukla Panchami | Kartika Shukla Panchami | Shwetambar |
| Kartika AshtahnikaEight-day Nandishwar Dweep worship in Kartika | 16 to 24 November 20269 daysKartika Shukla Saptami | Kartika Shukla Saptami | Shwetambar and Digambar |
| Kartika Chaumasi ChaudasChaumasi Pratikraman; Chaturmas ends | 23 November 2026MondayKartika Shukla Chaturdashi | Kartika Shukla Chaturdashi | Shwetambar |
| Kartik Purnima (Shatrunjay Yatra)Palitana's Shatrunjay hill reopens to pilgrims; Jain Ratha Yatras | 24 November 2026TuesdayKartika Shukla Purnima | Kartika Shukla Purnima | Shwetambar |
| Maun EkadashiDay of silence and fasting, the day of 150 Kalyanaks | 20 December 2026SundayMargashirsha Shukla Ekadashi | Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi | Shwetambar |
Dates follow the udaya tithi (the tithi at sunrise), as Jain panchangs do. Gachchhas and sanghs sometimes differ by a day; follow your own sangh's announcement where it differs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most important Jain festival?
Paryushan, ending on Samvatsari, is the most important festival for Shwetambar Jains, and Das Lakshana Parva for Digambar Jains. Mahavir Jayanti and Diwali (Mahavir Nirvan) are celebrated by all Jains.
Do Shwetambar and Digambar Jains keep the same festivals?
Both keep the kalyanaks of the Tirthankaras, Mahavir Jayanti, Diwali and Ashtahnika. Shwetambar Jains keep Paryushan, Navpad Oli, Gyan Panchami and Maun Ekadashi; Digambar Jains keep Das Lakshana, Kshamavani and Shrut Panchami.
About This Content
Jain festival and parva tithi dates are calculated by the Vedic Tithi engine from the tithi at sunrise (udaya tithi) at your location; Paryushan and Samvatsari keep India's date. Our automated tests compare these dates with a leading published panchang for New Delhi, New York and Vancouver. Gachchhas and sanghs sometimes differ by a day, so follow your own sangh's announcement where it differs. If you spot an error, tell us and we will correct it.
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Last updated: October 2026