Diwali Around the World 2026: How 30 Countries Celebrate

Last updated: 25 October 2026.

Quick answer: Diwali is celebrated wherever Hindu, Sikh, Jain and some Buddhist families live, from Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to Malaysia, Fiji, Mauritius, the Caribbean, Africa, Europe and North America. In 2026 the main day, Lakshmi Puja, is Sunday 8 November on HinduTone's Drik-aligned calendar in India and many other countries. In 2025 UNESCO inscribed Deepavali on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

This pillar page brings together how the festival of lights is celebrated across 30 countries, what it is called in each place, and what it means for each faith. Each country section links to a detailed HinduTone guide with local dates, puja times and verified temples or events.

UNESCO recognition of Deepavali

According to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage listing, Deepavali, also known as Diwali, was inscribed in 2025 (20.COM) on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The listing recognises the festival as a living tradition carried by communities, not a single place or monument.

Names of the festival around the world

Name	Where or by whom	What it marks
Diwali, Deepavali	India and most of the diaspora	Lakshmi Puja and the five days of lights
Deepavali	Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and South India	Often celebrated on Naraka Chaturdashi morning with an oil bath
Dipavali	A common spelling in Sanskrit-derived and older texts	The same festival
Divali	Trinidad and Tobago and parts of the Caribbean	The same festival, with Divali Nagar events
Tihar	Nepal	Five days honouring crows, dogs, cows and siblings
Swanti	Newar communities in the Kathmandu Valley	Tihar, including Mha Puja and the Nepal Sambat new year
Kali Puja, Shyama Puja	West Bengal, Assam, Odisha and Bangladesh	Worship of Goddess Kali on the new moon night
Bandi Chhor Divas	Sikhs	The release of Guru Hargobind Ji from Gwalior Fort
Jain Diwali	Jains	The nirvana of Lord Mahavira

One festival, four faiths

Hindus: remember Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya and Krishna's victory over Narakasura, and worship Lakshmi and Ganesha. In Bengal and Bangladesh the night is devoted to Kali. See our Diwali 2026 guide and Kali Puja 2026 guide.
Sikhs: mark Bandi Chhor Divas, when gurdwaras are lit and the community remembers Guru Hargobind Ji's release. Check with your gurdwara for its programme.
Jains: remember the nirvana of Lord Mahavira and Gautama Swami's enlightenment; the Jain new year follows. See our Jain Diwali 2026 guide.
Buddhists: Newar Buddhists in Nepal take part in Tihar and Mha Puja; some Buddhist communities elsewhere also light lamps at this time.

South Asia

India

The five days run from Dhanteras on Friday 6 November to Bhai Dooj on Wednesday 11 November 2026, with Lakshmi Puja on Sunday 8 November. Customs differ widely by region, from Kali Puja in Bengal to Chopda Puja in Gujarat. Read our India guide.

Nepal

Tihar runs from Kag Tihar on Saturday 7 November to Bhai Tika on Wednesday 11 November 2026. Nepal's Ministry of Home Affairs lists the Tihar public holiday from 8 to 12 November. Read our Nepal guide.

Pakistan

Hindu families, mainly in Sindh, celebrate Lakshmi Puja on Sunday 8 November 2026. The Evacuee Trust Property Board has held official celebrations in temples it manages, including Krishna Mandir in Lahore. Read our Pakistan guide.

Bangladesh

Diwali is celebrated mainly as Kali Puja on the night of Sunday 8 November 2026, with pandals and lamps across the country. Read our Bangladesh guide.

Sri Lanka

Tamil Hindu families celebrate Deepavali at home and at kovils. Read our Sri Lanka guide.

Southeast Asia and the Pacific

Malaysia

Families celebrate at temples and at home; our guide covers the date, puja times, the holiday and temples city by city. Read our Malaysia guide.

Singapore

Little India's Deepavali light-up marks the season, and families celebrate at temples and at home. Read our Singapore guide.

Thailand

Hindu temples in Bangkok and elsewhere mark Diwali with puja and lamps. Read our Thailand guide.

Indonesia

Indian-origin Hindu families celebrate Diwali; Balinese Hinduism has its own festival calendar. Read our Indonesia guide.

Fiji

Indo-Fijian families celebrate across the islands; our guide covers dates, puja times, temples and the holiday. Read our Fiji guide.

Australia

Temples and community groups hold Diwali events in every major city. Read our Australia guide.

New Zealand

Auckland and Wellington host public Diwali festivals alongside temple celebrations. Read our New Zealand guide.

Japan

Indian families celebrate at temples and community events. Read our Japan guide.

Middle East

United Arab Emirates

Families in Dubai and Abu Dhabi celebrate at temples, homes and community events. Read our United Arab Emirates guide.

Oman

Hindu families celebrate at temples and at home. Read our Oman guide.

Qatar

Families celebrate at home and in community gatherings. Read our Qatar guide.

Bahrain

Families celebrate at temples and at home. Read our Bahrain guide.

Saudi Arabia

Families celebrate privately at home and in community gatherings. Read our Saudi Arabia guide.

Africa and the Indian Ocean

Mauritius

Families light lamps at home; our guide covers puja times and the Divali holidays. Read our Mauritius guide.

South Africa

Hindu families celebrate at temples and at home. Read our South Africa guide.

Kenya

Families in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu celebrate at temples and community halls. Read our Kenya guide.

Tanzania

Families in Dar es Salaam and other cities celebrate at temples and at home. Read our Tanzania guide.

The Caribbean and South America

Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Suriname

Divali is widely celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Suriname; our guide covers dates, puja times and mandirs. Read our Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Suriname guide.

Europe

United Kingdom

Families celebrate at mandirs across the country. Visit Leicester lists Diwali Day celebrations on Sunday 8 November 2026 around the Golden Mile. In London, City Hall cancelled Diwali on the Square 2026, planned for 25 October, because of forecast storms. Read our United Kingdom guide.

Germany

Hindu temples across Germany hold Diwali puja. Read our Germany guide.

Netherlands

Families celebrate at mandirs across the country. Read our Netherlands guide.

Ireland

Families in Dublin, Cork and other cities celebrate at temples and community events. Read our Ireland guide.

Italy

Hindu communities celebrate at temples and cultural centres. Read our Italy guide.

Spain

Families celebrate at temples and community events. Read our Spain guide.

Rest of Europe

See our Europe overview for France, Belgium, Switzerland, the Nordic countries and more. Read our Rest of Europe guide.

North America

United States

Families celebrate at temples, community fairs and at home, and the White House has marked Diwali for many years. Read our United States guide.

Canada

Temples and community events in Toronto, Brampton, Vancouver and other cities mark the festival. Read our Canada guide.

For the White House tradition, see Diwali at the White House 2026. For the diaspora experience, read our Deepavali NRI diaspora guide.

Quick guide: where to read more

Region	HinduTone country guides
South Asia	India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
Southeast Asia and Pacific	Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Japan
Middle East	UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia
Africa and Indian Ocean	Mauritius, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania
Caribbean	Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname
Europe	UK, Germany, Netherlands, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Europe overview
North America	USA, Canada

Celebrating respectfully as a visitor

Check the temple or organiser's own website for times and any visitor rules.
Dress modestly, remove shoes where asked and cover your head in a gurdwara.
Accept prasad with your right hand or both hands, and do not waste it.
Ask before photographing people, deities or rituals.
Follow local fireworks laws and the organisers' safety instructions.

Fireworks, safety and an eco-friendly Diwali

Fireworks rules differ greatly between countries and cities. Read our fireworks law guides for USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia and Dubai.

For children, see our firecracker safety guides for USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Australia and South Africa.

Many families now choose LED diyas, rangoli and community displays; see our eco-friendly, cracker-free Diwali guide and Diwali cracker safety guide.

Frequently asked questions

When is Diwali 2026?

Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) is Sunday 8 November 2026 in India on HinduTone's Drik-aligned calendar, and on the same date in many countries, including the USA, Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Some of the five days shift by a day abroad because of local sunrise, so check your country guide.

Is Diwali on UNESCO's heritage list?

Yes. UNESCO lists Deepavali, also known as Diwali, as inscribed in 2025 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, at the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee.

What is Diwali called in different countries?

It is Diwali or Deepavali in most places, Deepavali in Malaysia, Singapore and much of South India, Divali in Trinidad and Tobago, Tihar in Nepal, and Swanti among Newar communities in the Kathmandu Valley. In Bengal and Bangladesh the same new moon is celebrated as Kali Puja.

Do Sikhs and Jains celebrate Diwali?

Yes, with their own meanings. Sikhs mark Bandi Chhor Divas, remembering the release of Guru Hargobind Ji from Gwalior Fort. Jains remember the nirvana of Lord Mahavira; see our Jain Diwali guide for 2026 dates.

Which country outside India has the biggest Diwali?

We do not rank countries. Many places hold large celebrations: Visit Leicester, the city's official visitor site, describes Leicester's Diwali as among the biggest in the world. Many other countries hold large celebrations; see the country guides on this page.

Is London's Diwali on the Square happening in 2026?

No. London City Hall announced on 24 October 2026 that Diwali on the Square, planned for Sunday 25 October in Trafalgar Square, was cancelled on the advice of event safety experts because of forecast storms. City Hall said it was considering other ways to support Diwali celebrations.

How can I join Diwali celebrations abroad respectfully?

Check the temple or organiser's own website, dress modestly, remove shoes where asked, accept prasad with your right hand, ask before taking photos and follow local fireworks rules. Our country guides list temples and events where they have been verified.

Editor's note

Editor's note (25 October 2026): This pillar summarises HinduTone's country guides, each of which has its own sources. New facts on this page were checked on 25 October 2026 against UNESCO, Visit Leicester, London City Hall and Nepal's Ministry of Home Affairs. We do not rank countries or claim any celebration is the biggest unless an official source says so, and we state public holidays only where an official source confirms them.

Sources: UNESCO: Deepavali; Visit Leicester: Diwali in Leicester; London City Hall: Diwali on the Square 2026 (cancelled); Nepal Ministry of Home Affairs: public holidays 2083.

Also read: Diwali 2026: complete five-day guide
Also read: Bhai Dooj 2026: date, tilak muhurat and rituals
Also read: Tihar 2026 in Nepal
Also read: Deepavali NRI diaspora guide