TASMAC Dry Days 2026: Complete List of Liquor Shop Holidays in Tamil Nadu
TASMAC outlets across Tamil Nadu will remain closed on 11 days in 2026. These dry days cover national holidays, state festivals, religious observances, and the Tamil Nadu Assembly election period. On each of these dates, every TASMAC retail shop and licensed bar in the state stops sales for the full 24 hours, from midnight to midnight.
If you are planning a purchase around Pongal, Independence Day, or the April election window, checking this list first will save you a wasted trip.
Full list of TASMAC holidays in 2026
| Date | Day | Occasion |
|---|---|---|
| January 15, 2026 | Thursday | Pongal |
| January 16, 2026 | Friday | Thiruvalluvar Day |
| January 26, 2026 | Monday | Republic Day |
| March 31, 2026 | Tuesday | Mahaveer Jayanthi |
| April 21, 2026 | Tuesday | Election Day |
| April 22, 2026 | Wednesday | Election Day |
| April 23, 2026 | Thursday | Election Day |
| May 4, 2026 | Monday | Election Counting Day |
| August 15, 2026 | Saturday | Independence Day |
| August 26, 2026 | Wednesday | Miladi Nabi |
| October 2, 2026 | Friday | Gandhi Jayanthi |
Why TASMAC shops close on these days?
Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation is a government-owned body, and its closures follow state policy rather than commercial decisions. The reasons fall into three buckets.
National holidays - Republic Day, Independence Day, and Gandhi Jayanthi are observed as dry days across all of India, not just Tamil Nadu. This is a long-standing central convention.
State and religious observances - Pongal and Thiruvalluvar Day are specific to Tamil Nadu's calendar. Mahaveer Jayanthi and Miladi Nabi are added in recognition of Jain and Muslim religious observances respectively.
Election-related closures - The four dates in April and May relate to the Tamil Nadu Assembly election. Under Section 135C of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, liquor sale is prohibited during the 48 hours before polling ends, on polling day itself, and on counting day. Election dry days are announced by the Election Commission of India and can shift if the poll schedule changes.
How many dry days does TASMAC have in 2026?
Eleven, counting the four election-related closures. Excluding those, there are seven fixed festival and national holidays.
Are bars and clubs also closed?
Yes. Dry-day orders apply to TASMAC retail shops, attached bars, and all licensed premises including hotels and star-category bars.
What time do closures begin and end?
Dry days run the full calendar day - 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM on the date listed.
Can these dates change?
Festival dates may shift slightly if the government revises its holiday notification. Election dates are the most likely to change and are only final once the Election Commission issues the poll schedule.
Are there additional local dry days?
District collectors can declare short-notice closures for local reasons such as by-elections, examinations, or law-and-order situations. These are not part of the annual list.