⚡ Quick Summary
Saturday, November 21, 2026 is the UN's World Television Day. In India, many calendars list Tulsi Vivah and the Vaishnava Devutthana Ekadashi, IFFI continues in Goa, and day three of the New Zealand v India first Test is played in Wellington. Abroad, Bangladesh marks Armed Forces Day, Ukraine marks its Day of Dignity and Freedom, and Formula 1 races under the lights in Las Vegas. History remembers physicist C. V. Raman, who died on this date in 1970. Research cutoff: November 14, 2026.
This preview is written a week ahead, from the perspective of November 14, 2026, and answers one question: what is worth knowing about Saturday, November 21, 2026? Everything listed for that day is still upcoming, so we report no results or outcomes.
November 21, 2026: Key Dates and Events at a Glance
| Event | Date | Where | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Television Day | Sat, Nov 21 | Worldwide | UN observance; no 2026 theme listed |
| Tulsi Vivah and Vaishnava Devutthana Ekadashi | Sat, Nov 21 | India | Per Drik Panchang data |
| 57th IFFI | Nov 20 to 28 | Goa, India | Under way |
| New Zealand v India, 1st Test (day 3) | Nov 19 to 23 | Basin Reserve, Wellington | Scheduled |
| Armed Forces Day | Sat, Nov 21 | Bangladesh | National observance |
| Day of Dignity and Freedom | Sat, Nov 21 | Ukraine | National commemoration |
| Las Vegas Grand Prix | Sat, Nov 21, 8 PM local | Las Vegas, USA | Scheduled by Formula 1 |
| Guru Nanak Jayanti and Kartik Purnima | Tue, Nov 24 | India and worldwide | Per published panchangs |
World Television Day
The UN General Assembly proclaimed November 21 as World Television Day in resolution 51/205 of December 17, 1996. The date recalls the first World Television Forum, which met under UN auspices on November 21 and 22, 1996. The UN page lists no 2026 theme. Our World Television Day 2026 guide covers the history, India's TV story from Doordarshan's 1959 start, and why estimates of Indian TV homes differ.
Festivals: Tulsi Vivah on November 21
Hindu festival dates follow the lunar calendar and can differ by a day between cities and traditions. Based on Drik Panchang data as summarised by HinduTone:
- Tulsi Vivah, Vaishnava Devutthana Ekadashi and Guruvayur Ekadashi: Saturday, November 21. Some Vaishnava traditions keep the Ekadashi fast on this day, one day after the Smarta observance on November 20.
- Devutthana Ekadashi parana: also on November 21, for those who fasted on November 20.
- Ravi Pradosh Vrat: Sunday, November 22.
- Kartik Purnima, Dev Diwali and Guru Nanak Jayanti: Tuesday, November 24.
Tulsi Vivah is the ceremonial marriage of the tulsi (holy basil) plant to Lord Vishnu, often in the form of Shaligram, and is traditionally seen as the start of the Hindu wedding season. Our Devutthana Ekadashi 2026 guide explains the fast, parana and Tulsi Vivah. Follow your family tradition or temple for the exact day and timings.
National Observances Abroad
Bangladesh: Armed Forces Day
Bangladesh marks Armed Forces Day on November 21. It recalls November 21, 1971, when the army, navy and air force of the Bangladesh liberation forces began coordinated joint operations against Pakistani forces. Accounts differ on emphasis: some describe it as the formal raising of the combined forces, others as the start of intensified joint operations before the December offensive. The day is usually marked in Dhaka with a wreath-laying at the Shikha Anirban memorial.
Ukraine: Day of Dignity and Freedom
Ukraine's Day of Dignity and Freedom, set by presidential decree in November 2014, honours two protest movements: the Orange Revolution of 2004 and the Revolution of Dignity, which began on November 21, 2013 after the government suspended plans to sign an association agreement with the European Union. It is a commemoration, not a day off.
On This Day in History
1620: The Mayflower Compact
The Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower signed the Mayflower Compact on November 11, 1620, in the Old Style calendar, which corresponds to November 21 in today's calendar. It set out a basic agreement for self-government in what became Plymouth Colony.
1694: Voltaire is born
The French writer and philosopher Voltaire was born in Paris on November 21, 1694.
1783: The first free flight with people aboard
In Paris, Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and the Marquis d'Arlandes made the first untethered hot-air balloon flight with passengers, in a balloon built by the Montgolfier brothers.
1877: Edison announces the phonograph
Thomas Edison announced his phonograph, the first machine that could both record and play back sound.
1962: China's unilateral ceasefire
The Chinese People's Liberation Army declared a unilateral ceasefire in the Sino-Indian War. Sources differ by a day or two on the exact dates: most say Beijing announced it on November 20, effective November 21, while some give November 19 for the announcement. China also said it would pull back 20 km behind the line of actual control as it stood on November 7, 1959, but it kept Aksai Chin. Our Sino-Indian War explainer covers the war and its legacy.
1970: C. V. Raman dies
C. V. Raman, India's first Nobel laureate in the sciences, died in Bangalore on November 21, 1970. He won the 1930 Nobel Prize in Physics for work on the scattering of light now known as the Raman effect. India celebrates National Science Day on February 28, the date of the discovery in 1928.
1995: The Dayton Agreement is initialled
At Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, negotiators initialled the Dayton Agreement, ending the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was formally signed in Paris the following month.
Sport on November 21
Cricket: Wellington Test, day three
ESPN lists the first Test between New Zealand and India at the Basin Reserve, Wellington, from November 19 to 23, with play starting at 11 AM local time. New Zealand is seven and a half hours ahead of India in November, so day three starts at about 3:30 AM IST on Saturday, November 21. We report no scores because the match has not started at the time of writing. Our tour schedule lists every fixture.
Formula 1: Las Vegas Grand Prix
Formula 1 lists the Las Vegas Grand Prix for Saturday, November 21, 2026, at 8 PM local time on the city's street circuit. That is about 9:30 AM IST on Sunday, November 22. Check the broadcaster's listing on race day, because session times can change.
Practical Details to Check
- Holidays: November 21, 2026 is a Saturday and not a national gazetted holiday in India. Banks follow their usual Saturday rules.
- Weddings and travel: Tulsi Vivah traditionally opens the wedding season, so venues and trains may be busier in late November.
- Goa: IFFI runs until November 28; book stays early.
- Late nights: cricket fans in India will need an early alarm, and F1 fans a Sunday-morning slot.
Frequently Asked Questions
What day of the week is November 21, 2026?
Saturday, calculated as the research date of November 14, 2026, plus seven days.
What is celebrated on November 21, 2026?
World Television Day worldwide; Tulsi Vivah in many Indian calendars; Armed Forces Day in Bangladesh; and the Day of Dignity and Freedom in Ukraine.
Is Tulsi Vivah on November 21, 2026?
Drik Panchang data, as summarised by HinduTone, lists Tulsi Vivah on Saturday, November 21. Some families perform it on a different day of the Kartik Shukla fortnight, so follow your tradition.
When did C. V. Raman die?
On November 21, 1970, in Bangalore.
What time is the Las Vegas Grand Prix in India?
The race starts at 8 PM local time on November 21, which is about 9:30 AM IST on Sunday, November 22.
Conclusion
November 21, 2026 brings together screens, science and ceremony: the UN's World Television Day, the memory of C. V. Raman, Tulsi Vivah in Indian homes and temples, and a sporting weekend that runs from Wellington to Las Vegas. Start with our World Television Day 2026 guide. Our previous daily preview is the November 20 guide.
