Ekadashi is one of the most spiritually significant days in the Hindu lunar calendar, falling on the eleventh tithi of both the waxing (Shukla Paksha) and waning (Krishna Paksha) phases of the moon. Devotees across India and the Hindu diaspora observe a sacred fast (vrat) dedicated primarily to Lord Vishnu. 2026 is an Adhik Maas year with an extra Jyeshtha month — adding Padmini and Parama Ekadashi to the calendar. Below you’ll find the full 24 Ekadashi list for 2026 with tithi timings, fasting rules, and the spiritual story of each sacred day.
What is Ekadashi?
The word Ekadashi comes from Sanskrit — eka (one) + dashi (ten), literally “the eleventh.” It marks the eleventh lunar day of each fortnight in the Hindu calendar. Because the Hindu month has two pakshas (phases), every month contains two Ekadashis, making it roughly 24 in a year — and occasionally 26 during an adhik maas (extra month).
Ekadashi is primarily dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Scriptures including the Padma Purana and Skanda Purana describe it as one of the most meritorious vrats a devotee can perform. Each Ekadashi has its own name, back-story, and deity form of Vishnu.
Ekadashi 2026 Calendar — All Dates
The table below lists all Ekadashi days in 2026 with the exact tithi begin & end timings (reference: New Delhi, IST — sourced from Drik Panchang). Timings shift slightly by city based on local sunrise — check your local Panchang for the precise parana window.
| Date | Day | Ekadashi | Paksha & Month | Tithi (Begin – End) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Jan | Wednesday | Shattila Ekadashi | Krishna — Magha | 3:17 PM Jan 13 – 5:52 PM Jan 14 |
| 29 Jan | Thursday | Jaya Ekadashi | Shukla — Magha | 4:35 PM Jan 28 – 1:55 PM Jan 29 |
| 13 Feb | Friday | Vijaya Ekadashi | Krishna — Phalguna | 12:22 PM Feb 12 – 2:25 PM Feb 13 |
| 27 Feb | Friday | Amalaki Ekadashi | Shukla — Phalguna | 12:33 AM Feb 27 – 10:32 PM Feb 27 |
| 15 Mar | Sunday | Papamochani Ekadashi | Krishna — Chaitra | 8:10 AM Mar 14 – 9:16 AM Mar 15 |
| 29 Mar | Sunday | Kamada Ekadashi | Shukla — Chaitra | 8:45 AM Mar 28 – 7:46 AM Mar 29 |
| 13 Apr | Monday | Varuthini Ekadashi | Krishna — Vaishakha | 1:16 AM Apr 13 – 1:08 AM Apr 14 |
| 27 Apr | Monday | Mohini Ekadashi | Shukla — Vaishakha | 6:06 PM Apr 26 – 6:15 PM Apr 27 |
| 13 May | Wednesday | Apara Ekadashi | Krishna — Jyeshtha | 2:52 PM May 12 – 1:29 PM May 13 |
| 27 May | Wednesday | Padmini Ekadashi (Adhik Maas) | Shukla — Jyeshtha | 5:10 AM May 26 – 6:21 AM May 27 |
| 11 Jun | Thursday | Parama Ekadashi (Adhik Maas) | Krishna — Jyeshtha | 12:57 AM Jun 11 – 10:36 PM Jun 11 |
| 25 Jun | Thursday | Nirjala Ekadashi | Shukla — Jyeshtha | 6:12 PM Jun 24 – 8:09 PM Jun 25 |
| 10 Jul | Friday | Yogini Ekadashi | Krishna — Ashadha | 8:16 AM Jul 10 – 5:22 AM Jul 11 |
| 25 Jul | Saturday | Devshayani Ekadashi | Shukla — Ashadha | 9:12 AM Jul 24 – 11:34 AM Jul 25 |
| 09 Aug | Sunday | Kamika Ekadashi | Krishna — Shravana | 1:59 PM Aug 08 – 11:04 AM Aug 09 |
| 23 Aug | Sunday | Shravana Putrada Ekadashi | Shukla — Shravana | 2:00 AM Aug 23 – 4:18 AM Aug 24 |
| 07 Sep | Monday | Aja Ekadashi | Krishna — Bhadrapada | 7:29 PM Sep 06 – 5:03 PM Sep 07 |
| 22 Sep | Tuesday | Parsva Ekadashi Upcoming | Shukla — Bhadrapada | 8:00 PM Sep 21 – 9:43 PM Sep 22 |
| 06 Oct | Tuesday | Indira Ekadashi | Krishna — Ashwina | 2:07 AM Oct 06 – 12:34 AM Oct 07 |
| 22 Oct | Thursday | Papankusha Ekadashi | Shukla — Ashwina | 2:11 PM Oct 21 – 2:47 PM Oct 22 |
| 05 Nov | Thursday | Rama Ekadashi | Krishna — Kartika | 11:03 AM Nov 04 – 10:35 AM Nov 05 |
| 20 Nov | Friday | Devutthana Ekadashi | Shukla — Kartika | 7:15 AM Nov 20 – 6:31 AM Nov 21 |
| 04 Dec | Friday | Utpanna Ekadashi | Krishna — Margashirsha | 11:03 PM Dec 03 – 11:44 PM Dec 04 |
| 20 Dec | Sunday | Mokshada Ekadashi | Shukla — Margashirsha | 10:09 PM Dec 19 – 8:14 PM Dec 20 |
Fasting Rules & Do’s/Don’ts
The Ekadashi vrat is traditionally observed from sunrise of the Ekadashi day until sunrise of the following Dwadashi, though several levels of strictness are practiced depending on health, age, and spiritual capacity.
What to avoid on Ekadashi
- Grains and pulses — rice, wheat, barley, lentils, beans, legumes.
- Onion, garlic and certain spices like mustard, fenugreek, asafoetida.
- Sleeping during the day, gossip, anger, negative speech.
- Non-vegetarian food, alcohol, tobacco and any form of intoxication.
- Cutting hair or nails, applying oil to the body.
What is allowed
- Fresh fruits, milk, curd, and dry fruits.
- Sabudana (tapioca), singhara (water chestnut) flour, kuttu (buckwheat).
- Sendha namak (rock salt) in place of regular salt.
- Water, herbal tea, and coconut water.
- Continuous chanting of Vishnu Sahasranama, reading the Bhagavad Gita, and meditation.
Parana — Breaking the Fast
Parana is the ritual of breaking the fast. It must be done on the Dwadashi tithi (the day after Ekadashi), after sunrise and before the tithi ends. Breaking the fast outside this window is considered inauspicious.
The parana window is usually within the first 2–3 hours after sunrise on Dwadashi morning. If Dwadashi ends before sunrise, parana should be performed early the same morning. Parana times for each 2026 Ekadashi are listed in the calendar table above.
Major Ekadashis in 2026
Nirjala Ekadashi — 25 June 2026
Also known as Bhima Ekadashi, this is the strictest of all Ekadashi vrats — observed without water for a full 24 hours. Its fruit is said to equal observing all 24 Ekadashis in a year.
Padmini & Parama Ekadashi — 27 May & 11 June 2026
Because 2026 contains an Adhik Maas (an extra lunar month of Jyeshtha), two special Ekadashis fall in it. Observing these is said to carry the merit of observing Ekadashi for an entire year — available only once every three years.
Devshayani Ekadashi — 25 July 2026
Marks the beginning of Chaturmas, the four-month period when Lord Vishnu is believed to rest. Auspicious functions like weddings and housewarmings are traditionally paused until Devutthana Ekadashi.
Devutthana (Prabodhini) Ekadashi — 20 November 2026
The day Lord Vishnu is believed to awaken from his divine slumber. Also known as Tulsi Vivah in many regions — weddings and auspicious events resume from this day onwards.
Mokshada Ekadashi — 20 December 2026
Celebrated as Gita Jayanti — the day Lord Krishna delivered the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Observing this vrat is believed to liberate ancestors from suffering.
Spiritual Significance & Benefits
Beyond religious merit, Ekadashi is widely believed to offer physical and mental benefits:
- Digestive rest — avoiding grains and heavy foods gives the digestive system a recovery cycle.
- Mental clarity — controlled eating and chanting reduces restlessness and sharpens focus.
- Detoxification — aligned with the moon’s gravitational cycle, fasting supports cellular cleansing.
- Spiritual merit — traditionally considered to wash away past karmas and bring the devotee closer to liberation (moksha).
Whether observed strictly or simply through mindful eating and prayer, Ekadashi remains a powerful day to pause, reset, and reconnect with your spiritual practice. Bookmark this calendar and mark your 2026 Ekadashis in advance.
Disclaimer: All timings listed are approximate (IST, New Delhi reference) and intended for general reference. Please consult your family priest or a verified Drik Panchang for precise local timings.