Indian Stock Market Holiday Calendar 2026: NSE and BSE Release Full Schedule for the New Year

By flnt News Today USA : As the curtains draw on 2025, investors in the Indian equity markets are shifting their focus toward the new year. Following the final trading break of this year on December 25 for Christmas, both the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) have resumed normal operations today, December 26. However, with 2026 just days away, the official trading holiday calendar has been released, providing a roadmap for market participants to plan their investment strategies and settlement cycles.

The upcoming year will see a total of 15 scheduled trading holidays falling on weekdays—one more than in 2025. These holidays apply across all major segments, including Equities, Equity Derivatives, and the SLR (Securities Lending and Borrowing) segment.

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Key Highlights of the 2026 Trading Calendar

The 2026 schedule offers a mix of national, cultural, and religious holidays. For the first half of the year, investors will face several mid-week breaks, particularly in March and April, which are historically volatile periods due to financial year-end activities.

Full List of NSE/BSE Trading Holidays (Weekdays) 2026

Date	Day	Holiday
January 26, 2026	Monday	Republic Day
March 03, 2026	Tuesday	Holi
March 26, 2026	Thursday	Shri Ram Navami
March 31, 2026	Tuesday	Shri Mahavir Jayanti
April 03, 2026	Friday	Good Friday
April 14, 2026	Tuesday	Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Jayanti
May 01, 2026	Friday	Maharashtra Day
May 28, 2026	Thursday	Bakri-Id
June 26, 2026	Friday	Muharram
September 14, 2026	Monday	Ganesh Chaturthi
October 02, 2026	Friday	Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti
October 20, 2026	Tuesday	Dussehra
November 10,

Frequently Asked Questions: Indian Stock Market Holidays 2026

As investors transition into the new trading year, several questions arise regarding market timings, settlement cycles, and the impact of holidays on trading strategies. Here are the most frequently asked questions regarding the NSE and BSE 2026 holiday calendar.

1. How many trading holidays are there in 2026?

The Indian stock markets will observe 15 scheduled holidays on weekdays in 2026. This is an increase from the 14 holidays observed in 2025. These dates cover major national and religious festivals where trading across Equity, Derivatives, and SLB segments will be suspended.

2. Which major festivals fall on weekends in 2026?

Several significant holidays fall on Saturdays or Sundays in 2026. Because the markets are already closed on weekends, these do not result in additional trading breaks. These include:

• Mahashivratri
• Eid-ul-Fitr
• Independence Day (August 15)
• Diwali Laxmi Pujan (November 8)

3. What is Muhurat Trading, and will it happen in 2026?

Muhurat Trading is a symbolic one-hour trading session held on the day of Diwali, as it is considered auspicious to invest for the New Year (Samvat). In 2026, Diwali falls on Sunday, November 8. Despite being a weekend, the exchanges will open for a special one-hour window. The exact timings will be notified by the NSE and BSE closer to the date.

4. Are Commodity Markets closed on the same days?

Not necessarily. The Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) often follows a different schedule. On certain holidays, the MCX may be closed for the morning session (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM) but remain open for the evening session (5:00 PM to 11:30/11:55 PM) to align with global commodity prices. Investors should check the specific MCX circular for each holiday.

5. How do these holidays affect settlement cycles?

India currently follows a T+1 settlement cycle. If you sell shares on a day followed by a market holiday, the funds and the delivery of securities will be pushed to the next working day. For example, if you trade on Wednesday, March 25, and Thursday, March 26 is a holiday (Ram Navami), your settlement will be finalized on Friday, March 27.

6. Can I still place orders on a market holiday?

While the live market is closed, most brokerage platforms allow you to place AMO (After Market Orders). These orders are collected by the broker and queued for execution as soon as the market opens on the next trading day at 9:15 AM.

7. Why do some years have more holidays than others?

The number of trading holidays fluctuates based on whether major festivals fall on weekdays or weekends. If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the stock market “loses” that holiday. In 2026, more festivals fall on mid-week days compared to 2025, resulting in the higher count of 15 days.\

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