NSE Market Holidays 2026: Official Trading Calendar for Equity & F&O
The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has released its official list of trading holidays for the 2026 calendar year, a crucial piece of information for all participants in the Indian stock market. This schedule dictates when the Equity, Equity Derivatives (F&O), and Currency Derivative segments will be fully closed for the day.
The confirmed list includes 15 official holidays, though many of these fall on weekends. The total number of full weekday closures for 2026 stands at 10 days, providing a consistent and predictable schedule for the trading year.
Official List of Full-Day Market Holidays in 2026
This table details the official full-day holidays when trading in the cash and derivatives segments will be suspended:
- January 26, 2026: Republic Day (Monday)
- March 3, 2026: Holi (Tuesday)
- March 26, 2026: Shri Ram Navami (Thursday)
- March 31, 2026: Shri Mahavir Jayanti (Tuesday)
- April 3, 2026: Good Friday (Friday)
- April 14, 2026: Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Jayanti (Tuesday)
- May 1, 2026: Maharashtra Day (Friday)
- May 28, 2026: Bakri Id (Thursday)
- June 26, 2026: Muharram (Friday)
- September 14, 2026: Ganesh Chaturthi (Monday)
- October 2, 2026: Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti (Friday)
- October 20, 2026: Dussehra (Tuesday)
- November 10, 2026: Diwali – Balipratipada (Tuesday)
- November 24, 2026: Prakash Gurpurb Sri Guru Nanak Dev (Tuesday)
- December 25, 2026: Christmas (Friday)
Weekend Holidays (No Impact on Trading Week)
The following days are official holidays but fall on a Saturday or Sunday:
- February 15, 2026: Mahashivratri (Sunday)
- March 21, 2026: Id-Ul-Fitr (Ramadan Eid) (Saturday)
- August 15, 2026: Independence Day (Saturday)
- November 8, 2026: Diwali – Laxmi Pujan (Sunday)
Trader’s Perspective and Actionable Steps
The 2026 calendar is interesting because it features several holidays clustered around mid-week or extending weekends, potentially giving traders up to seven long weekends. While this offers a welcome break—and I think everyone in the market needs that time to recharge—it requires strategic planning.
For F&O traders, the five Tuesday closures are the most critical dates: Holi, Mahavir Jayanti, Ambedkar Jayanti, Dussehra, and Balipratipada. Since the market is closed, any weekly options expiring that week will typically have their expiry date adjusted. Traders must check with their broker for the precise adjustment, as this change can drastically affect time decay calculations and potential profit/loss scenarios.
SIP Management: Long-term investors with automated Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) or Systematic Transfer Plans (STPs) set for a holiday date should note that the transaction will be executed on the Next Business Day. For example, if your SIP is scheduled for Tuesday, March 3rd (Holi), the order will be processed on Wednesday, March 4th. This minor timing shift means your allocated NAV will be based on March 4th’s closing price, not March 3rd’s.
Diwali 2026 Muhurat Trading
The most unique trading event of the year, Muhurat Trading, will be held on Sunday, November 8, 2026 (Laxmi Pujan). Even though Sunday is a standard weekly holiday, the NSE conducts this symbolic, hour-long session in the evening to mark the beginning of the Hindu Samvat year. This tradition holds high importance, and it’s a moment when everyone hopes for prosperity, making it a very sentimental day for the Indian investor community.
DISCLAIMER: This trading holiday list is based on recent official NSE circulars and reputable financial news sources. The dates for lunar/festival holidays are provisional and subject to change by official authorities. Figures may shift once final official updates arrive. Always cross-verify with the latest official NSE announcements before making critical trading or investment decisions.
Written by: Anil Sinha – Market Analyst – Naukri Sarkari – https://www.naukri-sarkari.com
