Countdown
How many days until Diwali?
🪔 Sunday, November 8, 2026
98 days until Diwali
About Diwali
Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most widely celebrated occasions across Hinduism, and is also observed with distinct meanings by Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhist communities. It commemorates the symbolic victory of light over darkness and good over evil, and different regional and religious traditions associate it with different specific stories, including the return of the deity Rama from exile in some traditions and other narratives in others. The date shifts every year because it is set according to the Hindu lunisolar calendar rather than the fixed Gregorian calendar; specifically, the main day of Diwali falls on the new moon, or amavasya, of the Hindu month of Kartik, and because lunisolar months do not align neatly with the solar year, an occasional leap month is inserted to keep the calendar in sync with the seasons, causing the Gregorian date to shift by roughly eleven days most years and occasionally jump further when a leap month intervenes. Celebrations typically span several days and include the lighting of oil lamps and candles, elaborate fireworks displays, the creation of decorative rangoli patterns at doorways, the exchange of sweets and gifts, and prayers to deities associated with prosperity and wisdom. Homes and public spaces are decorated with lights, and the festival is a major occasion for family gatherings and new purchases, including of gold and household items considered auspicious for the season. A common misconception is treating Diwali as a single-day event; in most traditions it is actually a multi-day festival, with distinct rituals and meanings assigned to each day surrounding the main night, and the overall celebration and its associated public holidays vary somewhat between India, Nepal, and diaspora communities elsewhere.
Quick facts
- Diwali is not a single-day festival in most traditions; it typically spans five days, each carrying its own distinct rituals and significance.
- The festival's date shifts by roughly eleven days most years because it follows the Hindu lunisolar calendar, occasionally jumping further when a leap month is inserted to keep the calendar aligned with the seasons.
- Diwali holds different core meanings across religions; Jains and Sikhs mark distinct historical and spiritual events on overlapping days of the same festival period.
Frequently asked questions
- Why does Diwali fall on a different date each year?
- It follows the Hindu lunisolar calendar and falls on the new moon of the month of Kartik, which shifts relative to the solar Gregorian calendar each year.
- Is Diwali only a Hindu festival?
- No, while it is most widely associated with Hinduism, it is also observed with distinct meanings by Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhist communities.
- How many days until Diwali?
- Check the countdown above for the exact number of days remaining until the next Diwali.
Upcoming Diwali dates
- Sun, Nov 8, 2026 (next)
- Fri, Oct 29, 2027
- Tue, Oct 17, 2028
- Mon, Nov 5, 2029
Dates on this page are checked against public calendar sources. Spot something wrong? Let us know.