TrainsDateChristmas and New Year at a glance
Christmas falls on Friday, 25 December 2026 and New Year's Day on Friday, 1 January 2027, so both make long weekends. Journeys on the Thursday before and the Sunday after fill fastest. Because the general quota opens 60 days ahead, booking for the start of this window opened around 21 October, and the last dates open in early November.
How to use this table
- Find your origin-station journey date in the first column.
- Note the opening morning in the second column and set a reminder for 07:45 AM.
- If it shows Open, go straight to IRCTC and check seats now, because festival dates fill quickly.
- Keep passengers saved in your master list so checkout is fast.
If your date is already full
- Join the waiting list on the best train and check again, since cancellations are common close to departure. See Tatkal or waiting list.
- Look at the day before or after, or at a nearby station.
- Try Tatkal one day before the journey. The Tatkal time guide has the 10 AM and 11 AM windows.
- Plan the next trip earlier. Peak season booking plan shows how far ahead busy dates really fill.
Want the date for a journey that is not in this table? Use the booking date calculator, or read how the 60-day advance reservation period works.
Quick FAQ
When does train booking open for Christmas and New Year?
General booking opens 60 days before each journey date at 08:00 AM IST. Use the table above for the exact day for every date in the festival window.
Does the return journey open on the same day as the outbound?
No. Each journey date has its own opening day, so the return leg always opens later than the outward leg. Book each one on its own opening morning.
What if the date I want has already opened and tickets are full?
Try the waiting list, nearby trains and stations, or Tatkal one day before. Our guide on Tatkal vs waiting list explains how to choose.
Which date is busiest for Christmas travel?
Usually the Thursday before and the Sunday after the long weekend. For 2026 that means 24 December and 27 December, plus 31 December and 3 January around New Year.