When is Nepali New Year?
In 2026, Nepali New Year falls on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. It is classified here as a Nepalese public holiday.
History of Nepali New Year
Nepali New Year begins the month of Baisakh in the Bikram Sambat calendar, the official civil calendar used by Nepal’s government. It normally falls in mid-April, close to other South Asian new-year observances, but it has a distinctly Nepali public role: offices, schools and households reset calendars, offer good wishes and use the day to begin the new year with relatives.
The occasion is both practical and celebratory. People exchange greetings, visit temples or enjoy outings, while businesses and institutions turn to the new year’s accounts and plans. Customs differ strongly by locality and community, which is part of the festival’s appeal. Baisakh 1 does not map to one fixed Gregorian date every year, so confirmation through the annual government calendar remains essential.
Nepali New Year must be read through Nepal’s annually gazetted Bikram Sambat calendar rather than through an unchanging Gregorian-date list. Public holiday for the first day of Bikram Sambat, Nepal’s civil calendar, marked by wishes, family time and new beginnings. The Ministry of Home Affairs notice determines the civil date, territorial reach and eligible group, while essential services can retain separate staffing. That distinction matters especially when a festival follows a lunar calculation or when leave is limited to a region, community or gender.
How Nepali New Year is observed
A nationwide public holiday on Baisakh 1, normally April 13 or 14. Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs publishes the controlling annual calendar in Bikram Sambat; lunar dates and any special leave categories must be confirmed from that year’s notice. Travellers and employees should confirm the gazetted annual notice because local services and eligible groups can differ.
Traditions of Nepali New Year
New-year greetings
Families, friends and colleagues exchange wishes for health, prosperity and a good year ahead. The form and emphasis can differ between Nepal’s regions, communities and individual households.
Temple visits and outings
Many people visit places of worship or spend the public break with family in parks, towns and heritage areas. The form and emphasis can differ between Nepal’s regions, communities and individual households.
Fresh starts
Households and businesses use the date to reset plans, accounts and personal intentions. The form and emphasis can differ between Nepal’s regions, communities and individual households.
Dates and observance rules are checked against the official Nepalese official and legal guidance. Lunar dates and annual government, provincial or employer schedules should be confirmed against official notices.
History sources: Nepal Ministry of Home Affairs: Government and Public Holidays in 2083, Pradhan & Associates: English legal summary of Nepal's 2083 holiday notice.
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