Things to Do in Delhi in November 2026: Festivals, Fairs, Weather
Updated 2026-10-04 · 7 min read · by the delhi2go team
November 2026 is one of Delhi’s fullest months. It has Diwali on Sunday 8 November, Chhath from 13 to 16 November, the India International Trade Fair at Bharat Mandapam from 13 to 27 November, and Guru Nanak Jayanti on Tuesday 24 November. The weather turns properly pleasant for heritage walks and outdoor evenings. November is also usually Delhi’s worst month for smog, so check AQI each morning and keep an indoor backup plan.
November 2026 calendar
| Date | Day | What’s on |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Nov | Fri | Dhanteras, the peak day for shopping gold, silver and utensils |
| 7–8 Nov | Sat–Sun | Choti Diwali (calendars differ) |
| 8 Nov | Sun | Diwali / Lakshmi Puja (gazetted holiday) |
| 10 Nov | Tue | Govardhan Puja / Annakut (some calendars say 9 Nov) |
| 11 Nov | Wed | Bhai Dooj (some calendars say 10 Nov) |
| 13–16 Nov | Fri–Mon | Chhath Puja: Nahay Khay 13, Kharna 14, Sandhya Arghya 15, Usha Arghya 16 |
| 13–27 Nov | Fri–Fri | IITF 2026 at Bharat Mandapam |
| 14 Nov | Sat | Children’s Day |
| 24 Nov | Tue | Guru Nanak Jayanti / Gurpurab (gazetted holiday) |
| 5–6 Dec | Sat–Sun | Coming up next: Delhi Comic Con 2026 |
November weather and air quality
By temperature, November is lovely. Days are usually in the mid-to-high 20s °C, and nights cool from the mid-teens early in the month to around 10°C by the end. You’ll want a light jacket for evenings from mid-month.
The catch is the air. Late October to November is typically when Delhi’s AQI is at its worst. Stubble burning in the neighbouring states, Diwali fireworks, falling temperatures and still winds combine to trap pollution. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invokes the stages of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) as AQI rises, which can mean construction bans, vehicle curbs and hybrid schooling.
How to plan around it:
- Check AQI every morning on CPCB’s SAMEER app or the CPCB/DPCC websites.
- Do outdoor activities on cleaner days. Air is often better in the afternoon than at dawn or late night.
- Keep an indoor Plan B. Our indoor things to do guide explains the GRAP stages and has a list of museums, theatres and indoor activities.
The big events
Diwali (6–11 November)
Diwali week means melas, light walks, shopping and long family lunches. Our Diwali 2026 guide has the full dates, the latest on the green-cracker rules (the Supreme Court’s 2026 order was still pending in early October) and safety tips. Our Diwali shopping guide lists closing days and metro stations for the major markets.
Chhath Puja (13–16 November)
Delhi’s Purvanchali communities celebrate Chhath at ghats along the Yamuna and at hundreds of temporary ghats and ponds across the city and NCR. The most moving moments are the Sandhya Arghya at sunset on Sunday 15 November and the Usha Arghya at sunrise on Monday 16 November. If you go as an observer, keep a respectful distance from the vratis at the water’s edge, and don’t use flash photography during the offerings. Expect road diversions near major ghats on both days.
IITF 2026 (13–27 November)
The trade fair takes over Bharat Mandapam for two weeks. It features state pavilions, international exhibitors, handicrafts and food courts. 2026 opens on 13 November, a day earlier than the fair’s traditional 14 November start. Ticket prices and the business/public-day split hadn’t been announced in early October. Our IITF 2026 guide covers last year’s prices, gates and metro tips.
Guru Nanak Jayanti (24 November)
Gurpurab is one of the most beautiful days to be in Delhi. Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, near CP on Baba Kharak Singh Marg, and Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Chandni Chowk are lit up, kirtan runs through the day, and langar serves thousands. Nagar kirtan processions usually wind through Old Delhi in the days before. Go in the evening for the lights, and cover your head (scarves are available at the gurdwaras). For Bangla Sahib, get off at Patel Chowk (Yellow) or Rajiv Chowk (Blue/Yellow). For Sis Ganj, use Chandni Chowk (Yellow).
The outdoor season begins
On good-AQI days, November is perfect for being outside.
- Heritage walks: Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Humayun’s Tomb and Sunder Nursery, Hauz Khas, Tughlaqabad and Old Delhi are all at their best in mild November sun. Delhi Tourism runs bookable guided walks, and our heritage walks hub lists more.
- Lodhi Garden and Sunder Nursery picnics: take a mat, a flask of chai and something from Khan Market.
- Sunday Book Market: the old Daryaganj book bazaar now runs on Sundays at Mahila Haat on Asaf Ali Road. Delhi Gate metro (Violet Line) is a short walk away. Go before noon for the best digging.
- Qawwali at Nizamuddin: Thursday evening qawwali at Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah is a Delhi rite of passage. Dress modestly, and expect crowds.
- Flea markets and pop-ups: November weekends bring back the outdoor craft and flea markets, along with pop-ups at Dilli Haat.
A perfect November Sunday (on a good-AQI day)
- 8 am: a walk in Lodhi Garden among the 15th- and 16th-century tombs, followed by breakfast in Khan Market or Meherchand Market.
- 11 am: dig through the Sunday Book Market at Mahila Haat. Delhi Gate metro is a short walk away.
- 1 pm: lunch in Old Delhi, then a slow walk through Chandni Chowk’s lanes. Most trade shops are shut on Sunday, so the lanes are calmer than on weekdays.
- 4 pm: Humayun’s Tomb in the late-afternoon light, then Sunder Nursery’s lawns as the sun sets.
- Evening: dinner and a gig, or a play at Mandi House.
On a bad-air Sunday, swap the morning walk and the monuments for a museum and a matinee.
Children’s Day and kids
Children’s Day falls on Saturday 14 November this year, the day after IITF opens. Malls, museums, theatres and activity centres usually run special workshops and shows that weekend. November is also when schools hold their annual fêtes and Diwali melas. Our kids and family events hub collects the best of them. On “severe” AQI days, look for indoor options such as the National Science Centre at Pragati Maidan, open daily except Holi and Diwali.
What to wear and carry
- A light jacket or shawl for evenings from mid-November
- Comfortable walking shoes for monuments and markets
- A well-fitting N95 mask for bad-air days
- Sunscreen and sunglasses, because the November sun is still strong at midday
Food to look out for in November
Winter food starts appearing in November. Daulat ki chaat, the cloud-like milk foam sold in Old Delhi’s lanes, is a cold-weather speciality. Gajar ka halwa returns to halwai counters as the red Delhi carrots arrive, and nihari breakfasts around Jama Masjid start feeling right again. Food festivals and pop-ups also come back with the cooler weather, and we add them to our listings as they’re announced.
Weekend-by-weekend ideas
| Weekend | Dates | Ideas |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sat 31 Oct – Sun 1 Nov | Last big Diwali shopping weekend; Diwali melas; Karwa Chauth is just behind you (29 Oct) |
| 2 | Fri 6 – Sun 8 Nov | Dhanteras, then Diwali on Sunday. Stay local and enjoy the lights. |
| 3 | Fri 13 – Sun 15 Nov | IITF opens, Chhath (Sandhya Arghya on Sunday), and Children’s Day activities on Saturday |
| 4 | Sat 21 – Sun 22 Nov | IITF, likely on public days by then (busy); heritage walks; Sunday Book Market |
| 5 | Sat 28 – Sun 29 Nov | Final weekend after IITF closes on the 27th; gigs, theatre and comedy as winter sets in |
Our live listings for this weekend update daily, so check them for gigs, comedy and pop-ups.
Indoor picks for bad-air days
When AQI goes “severe”, move the plan indoors:
- Theatre at Mandi House: Kamani, Shri Ram Centre and the other auditoriums around Mandi House have shows most weekends. See our Mandi House theatre guide.
- Stand-up comedy: clubs across Delhi and Gurgaon run shows through the week, with open mics on weeknights and headliners at weekends.
- Live music: jazz bars and gig venues; see our live music venues guide.
- Museums and galleries: the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art in Saket is free and open Tuesday to Sunday, 11 am–8 pm.
Know before you go
- Wedding season picks up in late November. Expect jams near banquet strips and farmhouse belts on auspicious dates, especially on Friday and Saturday nights.
- Metro over car on festival days and during IITF, as parking near markets and Pragati Maidan is very hard to find.
- Holidays: 8 November (Diwali) falls on a Sunday. Guru Nanak Jayanti on Tuesday 24 November is a gazetted holiday.
For a broader list of ideas, see our things to do in Delhi hub. Our December 2026 guide picks up where this one ends.
Frequently asked questions
What festivals are in Delhi in November 2026?
Diwali on Sunday 8 November (with Dhanteras on the 6th and Bhai Dooj on the 11th), Chhath Puja from 13 to 16 November, and Guru Nanak Jayanti on Tuesday 24 November. The India International Trade Fair runs from 13 to 27 November at Bharat Mandapam.
How is the weather in Delhi in November?
Pleasant by temperature. Days are usually in the mid-to-high 20s °C and nights cool from the mid-teens to around 10°C by month-end. November is also typically Delhi's worst month for air pollution, so check AQI daily.
Is November a good time to visit Delhi?
For weather and festivals, yes: it's the start of the outdoor season, and Diwali and the trade fair fall in the same month. The catch is air quality, which often hits 'very poor' or 'severe', so build in indoor options and carry N95 masks.
When is the IITF trade fair in 2026?
The 45th India International Trade Fair runs from 13 to 27 November 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan. The business-day and public-day split hadn't been announced in early October.
Is there a public holiday for Guru Nanak Jayanti 2026?
Yes. Guru Nanak's birthday on Tuesday, 24 November 2026 is a gazetted holiday on the central government list and in Delhi.
