Introduction
For traders and investors, knowing the market holiday schedule in advance is essential for planning trades and avoiding surprises. Both the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) observe specific holidays during the year when no trading activity takes place or operates on restricted timings. In this blog post, we’ll provide the NSE holiday list 2026 and the MCX holiday list 2026, highlight differences between their schedules, and offer tips on how to utilize this information for effective trading.
FAQ about NSE, BSE, and MCX Trading Holiday List
India is the small version of the world. That is why there is a celebration every other day. But closing the share bazaar every couple of days can not be possible. Hence the stock market of India decided to publish a list of holidays every year so that people could know on which days the market will remain closed. So that traders could map up their figures and people could enjoy their festival as well. That is why NSE, BSE, and MCX provide holidays.
As the market stays closed on Saturdays and Sundays if any holiday falls under that then the holiday does not continue on Mondays. That means you can start trading on Monday normally like the way you do after any Sunday.
No, the market remains closed for just one day that is Dussehra. Though the celebration started and continues for the next nine days the market stays closed for only one day which is the last day.
No, there is very few occasion when the MCX market remains closed for both the morning session and evening session. Good Friday and Republic Day are those occasions when the market stays closed for both sessions.
NSE Holiday List 2026
The National Stock Exchange observes the following holidays in 2026:
Full-Day Trading Holidays
| Sr. No. | Date | Day | Holiday / Occasion |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 January 2026 | Monday | Republic Day |
| 2 | 03 March 2026 | Tuesday | Holi |
| 3 | 26 March 2026 | Thursday | Shri Ram Navami |
| 4 | 31 March 2026 | Tuesday | Shri Mahavir Jayanti |
| 5 | 03 April 2026 | Friday | Good Friday |
| 6 | 14 April 2026 | Tuesday | Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Jayanti |
| 7 | 01 May 2026 | Friday | Maharashtra Day |
| 8 | 28 May 2026 | Thursday | Bakri Id |
| 9 | 26 June 2026 | Friday | Muharram |
| 10 | 14 September 2026 | Monday | Ganesh Chaturthi |
| 11 | 02 October 2026 | Friday | Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti |
| 12 | 20 October 2026 | Tuesday | Dussehra |
| 13 | 10 November 2026 | Tuesday | Diwali – Balipratipada |
| 14 | 24 November 2026 | Tuesday | Prakash Gurpurb of Sri Guru Nanak Dev |
| 15 | 25 December 2026 | Friday | Christmas |
Special Note on Diwali Laxmi Pujan
November 8, 2026 will be observed as a special trading holiday on account of Diwali Laxmi Pujan.
However, Muhurat Trading will take place on this day. The exact trading timings for the Muhurat session will be announced later through an official circular.
Holidays Falling on Weekends (Saturday / Sunday)
| Sr. No. | Date | Day | Holiday / Occasion |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 February 2026 | Sunday | Mahashivratri |
| 2 | 21 March 2026 | Saturday | Id-Ul-Fitr (Ramzan Eid) |
| 3 | 15 August 2026 | Saturday | Independence Day |
| 4 | 08 November 2026 | Sunday | Diwali Laxmi Pujan* |
*Muhurat Trading applicable (refer to special note above).
Equity Market Trading Timings
Trading in the equity segment is conducted on all working days, excluding weekends and officially declared exchange holidays.
A) Pre-Open Session
| Activity | Time |
|---|---|
| Order Entry & Modification – Open | 09:00 AM |
| Order Entry & Modification – Close | 09:08 AM* |
*The last one minute has a random closure. Order matching begins immediately after pre-open order entry closes.
B) Regular Trading Session
| Segment | Time |
|---|---|
| Market Open | 09:15 AM |
| Market Close | 03:30 PM |
C) Closing Session
| Session | Time |
|---|---|
| Closing Session | 03:40 PM – 04:00 PM |
D) Block Deal Sessions
| Window | Time |
|---|---|
| Morning Block Deal Window | 08:45 AM – 09:00 AM |
| Afternoon Block Deal Window | 02:05 PM – 02:20 PM |
MCX Holiday List 2026
The table below outlines the official MCX (Multi Commodity Exchange) holidays for 2026, clearly indicating whether morning and evening trading sessions will remain open or closed on each holiday.
| Date | Day | Occasion | Morning Session (10:00 AM – 5:00 PM) | Evening Session (5:00 PM – 11:30/11:55 PM) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 January 2026 | Thursday | New Year’s Day | Open | Closed |
| 26 January 2026 | Monday | Republic Day | Closed | Closed |
| 03 March 2026 | Tuesday | Holi (Second Day) | Closed | Open |
| 26 March 2026 | Thursday | Shri Ram Navami | Closed | Open |
| 31 March 2026 | Tuesday | Shri Mahavir Jayanti | Closed | Open |
| 03 April 2026 | Friday | Good Friday | Closed | Closed |
| 14 April 2026 | Tuesday | Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Jayanti | Closed | Open |
| 01 May 2026 | Friday | Maharashtra Day | Closed | Open |
| 28 May 2026 | Thursday | Bakri Id | Closed | Open |
| 26 June 2026 | Friday | Muharram | Closed | Open |
| 14 September 2026 | Monday | Ganesh Chaturthi | Closed | Open |
| 02 October 2026 | Friday | Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti | Closed | Closed |
| 20 October 2026 | Tuesday | Dussehra | Closed | Open |
| 10 November 2026 | Tuesday | Diwali – Balipratipada | Closed | Open |
| 24 November 2026 | Tuesday | Guru Nanak Jayanti | Closed | Open |
| 25 December 2026 | Friday | Christmas | Closed | Closed |
Important Trading Insight
On certain holidays, MCX remains closed for the morning session but resumes trading in the evening session. Traders should plan positions and risk management accordingly, especially for commodities active during global market hours.
Holidays Falling on Weekends (No Impact on Trading Days)
The following holidays occur on Saturdays or Sundays and therefore do not affect regular MCX trading schedules:
| Holiday | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| Mahashivratri | 15 February 2026 | Sunday |
| Id-Ul-Fitr (Ramadan Eid) | 21 March 2026 | Saturday |
| Independence Day | 15 August 2026 | Saturday |
| Diwali Laxmi Pujan* | 08 November 2026 | Sunday |
*Diwali Laxmi Pujan is traditionally associated with special Muhurat Trading, subject to official MCX notification.
How to Plan Your Trades Around Market Holidays
- Mark the Dates: Keep the holiday schedules for both NSE and MCX handy to avoid trading surprises.
- Adjust Trading Strategies: Plan around full-day closures or restricted hours, especially for commodities trading on MCX.
- Prepare for Muhurat Trading: Don’t miss Diwali Muhurat Trading on November 08, 2026, a symbolic session for auspicious trades.
- Monitor International Markets: Indian holidays don’t affect global markets. Keep an eye on international trading sessions for additional opportunities.
Conclusion
Understanding the NSE holiday list 2026 and MCX holiday list 2026 is vital for planning your trading year. By aligning your strategies with these schedules, you can make better decisions, avoid downtime, and capitalize on every opportunity.
To stay updated, bookmark this guide and share it with fellow traders. Here’s to a well-planned and profitable trading year!
