Delhi Announces Three Dry Days As Liquor Shops Close For Major Upcoming Holidays

Delhi will observe three dry days in 2026 when liquor sales will be prohibited at specified licensed establishments, according to an order issued by the Delhi Excise Department. The dates are October 2 for Gandhi Jayanti, November 8 for Diwali and November 24 for Guru Nanak's birth anniversary. The order was issued under Rule 52 of the Delhi Excise Rules, 2010, and applies to the specified categories of liquor licences in the national capital. The first of the three dry days falls on October 2, when Delhi observes Gandhi Jayanti. Liquor sales will be prohibited at the establishments covered by the excise order.

October 2 is also observed as a national dry day across India, although the scope of restrictions can vary depending on state and local excise regulations. In Delhi, the Excise Department's order specifically sets out the licence categories that must observe the restriction. The second dry day will be observed on November 8, coinciding with Diwali. The third will fall on November 24, marking Guru Nanak's birth anniversary. These dates are part of Delhi's excise framework for regulating the sale and supply of liquor on specified national and religious occasions.

The dates for the festivals also correspond with the 2026 central government holiday calendar for Delhi, which lists Diwali on November 8 and Guru Nanak's Birthday on November 24. Under Delhi's excise rules, the business premises of licensees covered by a dry-day order are required to remain closed. The department's guidance also states that liquor sales and supply are suspended on dry days, meaning retail liquor vends covered by the notification cannot conduct sales during the restriction. The precise applicability depends on the licence category listed in the order issued by the Excise Commissioner. The rules also distinguish between the sale of liquor at retail outlets and its service at certain licensed hotels, clubs and restaurants.

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The Delhi Excise Department's guidance says service of liquor at licensed bars, hotels, clubs and restaurants can be permissible on some dry days, subject to the applicable licences and restrictions. However, the rules contain additional restrictions for the three national holidays, including Gandhi Jayanti. Hotels with the relevant room-service licence can provide liquor to residents in their rooms under the applicable provisions. The 2026 dry-day notification was issued under Rule 52 of the Delhi Excise Rules, 2010 and specifies the categories of licences covered by the order. It also states that licensees are required to display the order prominently at their premises.

The notification further says that licensees will not be entitled to compensation because of changes or closures resulting from the dry-day provisions. For Delhi residents and visitors, the key dates to note are therefore October 2, November 8 and November 24. Liquor retailers covered by the order will remain closed on these dates, while the rules governing liquor service at hotels and other licensed establishments depend on the type of licence held and the specific restrictions applicable to each occasion. The Excise Department has published the dry-day notification as part of its 2026 regulatory framework.

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