Krishna Janmashtami 2026 date: The festival marking the birth of Lord Krishna will be celebrated on Friday, September 4, 2026, across most parts of India. However, devotees may see references to September 5 because the midnight worship, fasting rules and post-Janmashtami celebrations extend into the early hours of the next day.The confusion over September 4 and September 5 is mainly because Krishna's birth is commemorated at midnight. According to the panchang, the Ashtami Tithi begins at 2:25 am on September 4 and ends at 12:13 am on September 5. The Rohini Nakshatra begins at 12:29 am on September 4 and continues until 11:04 pm the same day.Krishna Janmashtami falls on Friday, September 4, 2026. The Nishita period, considered the midnight period for Janmashtami worship, varies slightly from city to city. In New Delhi, the puja muhurat is around 11:57 pm on September 4 to 12:43 am on September 5. In Kolkata, it falls earlier, from 11:13 pm to 11:59 pm on September 4.This is one reason September 5 appears in several Janmashtami calendars. The festival does not move to September 5; rather, the midnight puja crosses into the next calendar day in many cities.So, for those wondering whether Janmashtami 2026 is on September 4 or September 5, the answer is September 4. The actual midnight birth celebration takes place during the night of September 4 and continues into September 5.Janmashtami 2026: key timingsJanmashtami: Friday, September 4Ashtami Tithi begins: 2:25 am, September 4Ashtami Tithi ends: 12:13 am, September 5Rohini Nakshatra begins: 12:29 am, September 4Rohini Nakshatra ends: 11:04 pm, September 4Nishita Puja: Around midnight between September 4 and 5Dahi Handi: Saturday, September 5, in many placesThe exact fasting and parana time should be checked according to the local panchang because sunrise, sunset and midnight timings differ from one city to another.When is Janmashtami 2026 in Bengal?In West Bengal, including Kolkata, Krishna Janmashtami will be observed on Friday, September 4. For Kolkata, the Nishita Puja period is listed as 11:13 pm to 11:59 pm on September 4. The fast-breaking time according to the relevant traditional calculation is after 5:20 am on September 5. The distinction is particularly useful for devotees planning midnight prayers.Janmashtami 2026 in Vrindavan and MathuraFor Mathura and Vrindavan, the main Janmashtami celebration is also on September 4.Mathura, regarded as Krishna's birthplace, will witness special celebrations on the night of September 4.The Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan has officially listed Krishna Janmashtami on September 4, 2026. It also lists Nandotsav on September 5.This makes the September 4-5 distinction especially important in Vrindavan. Devotees will observe Krishna's birth on September 4, while Nandotsav follows on September 5.The Banke Bihari Temple also notes that the special Mangala Aarti is performed on Janmashtami, making the occasion different from an ordinary temple day.When is Janmashtami in Gujarat?Gujarat will also observe Janmashtami on Friday, September 4, 2026.The date is particularly significant in Dwarka, one of the major pilgrimage centres associated with Krishna. The Government of India's Incredible India portal, citing Gujarat Tourism and the Dwarkadhish Temple Trust, lists September 4, 2026 as the date for Janmashtami at Dwarka.The festival in Dwarka centres around the midnight Janm-Utsav, with special prayers, devotional singing and aarti. Large crowds are expected in the temple town during the celebrations.The date is also reflected in the Rajkot Municipal Corporation's 2026 holiday list, which lists Janmashtami on September 4.Janmashtami date 2026: What about Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and other cities?The principal date remains September 4 across the country, although the exact midnight puja window changes according to the location.Some city-wise Nishita Puja timings are:CityNishita Puja timeNew Delhi11:57 pm - 12:43 amKolkata11:13 pm - 11:59 pmAhmedabad12:16 am - 1:02 amMumbai12:14 am - 1:01 amBengaluru11:55 pm - 12:42 amChennai11:45 pm - 12:31 amHyderabad11:52 pm - 12:38 amPune12:10 am - 12:57 amJaipur12:03 am - 12:49 amNoida11:57 pm - 12:42 amThese timings are local times and can cross midnight into September 5.Why are some calendars showing Janmashtami date as September 5?The simplest explanation is that Janmashtami is a midnight festival. The birth of Krishna is traditionally commemorated at Nishita Kaal, around midnight. In 2026, the relevant Ashtami Tithi begins on September 4 and ends shortly after midnight on September 5. As a result, the actual puja window in several cities begins on September 4 and finishes after midnight.There is another reason for the confusion. In places such as Vrindavan, the celebrations continue on September 5 with Nandotsav, the festive observance following Krishna's birth. At Banke Bihari Temple, Nandotsav is specifically listed for September 5.So, September 5 is not a second Janmashtami date for most of India. It is the day into which the midnight celebration extends and, in several traditions, the day for related festivities such as Nandotsav or Dahi Handi.Janmashtami 2026: September 4 is the main dateFor devotees planning their fast, puja or temple visit, Friday, September 4, 2026, should be treated as the main Krishna Janmashtami date.The celebrations will continue into the early hours of September 5, and several places will hold their follow-up festivities that day. In Mathura-Vrindavan, the two dates will effectively form one extended celebration, Krishna's birth on September 4 and Nandotsav on September 5.Devotees planning to visit a particular temple should, however, check that temple's latest schedule before travelling, as entry arrangements, darshan timings and special rituals can differ during the festival.