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Diwali 2026: Where to Celebrate in the Bay Area

Trying to find a spot to celebrate Diwali in the Bay Area? KQED has a roundup of festivals and dinners in the region for Diwali 2026.
Nisa Khan
Berkeley resident Alfred Twu lights a candle during the Diwali celebration at Parivar Bay Area in San Francisco on Oct. 20, 2025. (Nisa Khan/KQED)

Diwali — or Deepawali — is approaching in the first full week of November, with its main day landing on Sunday, Nov. 8. 

And the Bay Area has a host of events honoring the festival observed by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists.

Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a five-day event, with particular celebrations on the third day. As Urmila Ramakrishnan wrote for KQED in 2020, the holiday is a “celebration of light over darkness, unity over conflict.”

Alpa Nagarsheth (left) shops with the help of Nimisha Jadav (right) at Jadav’s home-based clothing business, Nivy’s Nook, in Morgan Hill on Sept. 13, 2025. Nimisha Aunty runs an Indian clothing shop from her home in Morgan Hill, creating a vibrant hub for South Asians in the South Bay while serving as a trusted community builder who supports and uplifts immigrant women through shared knowledge and cultural connection. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)
Hands squeezing golden-yellow dough into a ball shape to make besan ladoo.
Besan ladoo is prepared by rolling in the palm of your hand.
Nimisha Jadav measures a top for a customer at her home-based business Nivy’s Nook in Morgan Hill on Sept. 13, 2025. Nimisha Aunty runs an Indian clothing shop from her home in Morgan Hill, creating a vibrant hub for South Asians in the South Bay while serving as a trusted community builder who supports and uplifts immigrant women through shared knowledge and cultural connection.

Last year, California even became the third state in the nation to officially recognize Diwali as a state holiday. The bill, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, allows community colleges and public schools to close for the holiday. State employees may also take paid time off.

Diwali is described in the bill as “the 15th day of the month of Kartik in the Hindu lunar calendar of each year.”

The Bay Area is home to some of the largest Hindu populations in the country, and the San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley metro area has the third-highest number of Hindu congregations in the nation, according to 2020 data from the U.S. Religion Census.

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But Diwali is also celebrated by a diverse range of people and cultures.

(If you’re looking for ways to wish someone a happy Diwali this year, you’ll find helpful guidance online for Diwali greetings in different languages — but remember, “Happy Diwali!” works too.)

Ramakrishnan herself wrote that she blended “both Bengali and Tamilian traditions” in her Diwali observations.

“I grew up oscillating between my mother’s Bengali traditions of Kali Puja and lighting the kuthu vilaku oil lamp with my father,” she wrote.

“The women would light tea candles around the house to welcome the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi, into the home.”

There’s no shortage of major Bay Area Diwali events from early to mid-November this year — including a celebration at the Asian Art Museum and Indian Restaurant Week — so read more to see what’s near you. 

Before heading to your event, make sure to double-check timings (not all events are on Nov. 8) and whether the venue requires an RSVP or ticket. Ticket prices tend to go up close to Diwali, so it might be a good idea to secure a spot fast.

Celebrating Diwali in San Francisco

Diwali 2026 events for all ages

Diwali 2026 events for adults

Celebrating Diwali in East Bay

Diwali 2026 events for all ages

Diwali 2026 events for adults

Celebrating Diwali in South Bay

Diwali 2026 events for all ages

Diwali 2026 events for adults

Celebrating Diwali in North Bay

Diwali 2026 events for all ages

Diwali 2026 events for adults

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