New Delhi, December 30, 2025 — Indian investors and traders have received early clarity on the 2026 stock market holiday calendar, with the National Stock Exchange (NSE), Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) announcing their official holiday schedules. These dates are important for planning trading strategies, settlement cycles, portfolio reviews and fund movements throughout the year.
According to the official lists, the Indian markets will observe a total of 15 full-day holidays in 2026, including seven long weekends, providing traders with planned breaks around national and religious observances.
Key Stock Market Holidays for 2026
Here are the main trading holidays when NSE and BSE will remain fully closed across equity, derivatives and currency segments:
- January 26 (Monday): Republic Day
- March 3 (Tuesday): Holi
- March 26 (Thursday): Shri Ram Navami
- March 31 (Tuesday): Shri Mahavir Jayanti
- April 3 (Friday): Good Friday
- April 14 (Tuesday): Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Jayanti
- May 1 (Friday): Maharashtra Day
- May 28 (Thursday): Bakri Id (Eid al-Adha)
- June 26 (Friday): Muharram
- September 14 (Monday): Ganesh Chaturthi
- October 2 (Friday): Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti
- October 20 (Tuesday): Dussehra
- November 10 (Tuesday): Diwali-Balipratipada
- November 24 (Tuesday): Prakash Gurpurb Sri Guru Nanak Dev
- December 25 (Friday): Christmas
These are days when trading is suspended across the cash, derivatives and currency markets. Commodity markets on MCX also remain closed on several of these days.
Weekend and Settlement Non-Trading Days
Several traditional holidays fall on weekends in 2026, meaning they do not require additional market closures:
- February 15 (Sunday): Maha Shivaratri
- March 21 (Saturday): Eid-ul-Fitr (Ramzan Eid)
- August 15 (Saturday): Independence Day
- November 8 (Sunday): Diwali Laxmi Pujan (Muhurat Trading is conducted)
Because these fall on Saturday or Sunday, they do not add extra days off beyond regular weekend closures.
In addition to full-day holidays, the calendar lists settlement holidays — days when markets might be open for trading but post-trade settlement (the transfer of funds and securities) is paused. These often impact fund transfer schedules and clearing for investors.
MCX Trading Schedule
The MCX (Multi Commodity Exchange), while aligned for many holidays, has some differences in session timings on certain days:
- On several holidays when NSE/BSE are closed, MCX may still host evening trading sessions for commodities, depending on the specific holiday and segment.
- On New Year’s Day (January 1, 2026), MCX remains open for the standard session but closes the evening session.
- On major holidays like Republic Day and Christmas, the exchange is fully closed for all sessions.
Investors in commodity futures and options should check MCX-specific timings on holidays, as they may differ from equity market closures.
Why Market Holiday Schedules Matter
Understanding the official holiday calendar is crucial for both active traders and long-term investors:
- Execution Planning: You cannot enter or exit positions on market holidays, so planning around the holiday calendar helps avoid missed trades.
- Settlement Timing: Holidays affect settlement cycles for securities and funds, which could delay crediting or debiting from accounts.
- Margin and Risk Management: Traders in derivatives and margin positions must be aware of holidays for calculating margin requirements and contract expiries.
- Portfolio Review: Holidays provide natural stoppages to review portfolios, rebalance or plan for major events.
With seven long weekends in the official schedule, investors have predictable breaks to plan around market rhythms in 2026.
Tips for Investors and Traders
- Mark the Calendar Early: With the holiday list published in advance, investors can prepare trade plans and set alerts for market-closed days.
- Check Settlement vs Trading Days: Some holidays may affect settlement even if markets are technically open for trading.
- Watch for Muhurat Trading: Certain festivals like Diwali may still include special sessions (e.g., Muhurat Trading) despite general holidays.
- Factor in Weekend Holidays: Even if a holiday falls on a weekend, awareness helps align planning with bank and financial service closures. Zerodha
Summary
The 2026 stock market holiday calendar for NSE, BSE and MCX lists 15 full trading holidays, including key national and religious observances. With seven long weekends, these scheduled market closures provide important planning anchors for investors and traders across equities, derivatives and commodities for the year ahead.
