The stock market has defined trading days, and staying aware of holidays keeps plans on track. A single missed trading holiday might shift settlements, delay trades, or change an expiry plan without warning.
Having a clear knowledge of the NSE Holiday 2026 helps in understanding the market closures that affect equity trades, F&O expiry dates, and the T+1 settlement cycle. Planning around these dates helps the investors to avoid last-minute adjustments.
This blog covers the official NSE holiday list, weekend overlaps, long weekends, settlement impact, expiry changes, and Muhurat Trading details for 2026.
How many NSE holidays are there in 2026?
In 2026, the NSE will remain closed for 15 trading sessions due to major festivals and public observances. These closures cover Equity, F&O, and Currency trading segments.
NSE trading holidays 2026 (official list – 15 days)
As per the trading holidays published by NSE, the stock market will remain shut on the following dates:
| Dates | Day | Holiday |
| 26 January 2026 | Monday | Republic Day |
| 3 March 2026 | Tuesday | Holi |
| 26 March 2026 | Thursday | Shri Ram Navami |
| 31 March 2026 | Tuesday | Shri Mahavir Jayanti |
| 3 April 2026 | Friday | Good Friday |
| 14 April 2026 | Tuesday | Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Jayanti |
| 1 May 2026 | Friday | Maharashtra Day |
| 28 May 2026 | Thursday | Bakri Id |
| 26 June 2026 | Friday | Muharram |
| 14 September 2026 | Monday | Ganesh Chaturthi |
| 2 October 2026 | Friday | Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti |
| 20 October 2026 | Tuesday | Dussehra |
| 10 November 2026 | Tuesday | Diwali-Balipratipada |
| 24 November 2026 | Tuesday | Prakash Gurpurb Sri Guru Nanak Dev |
| 25 December 2026 | Friday | Christmas |
NSE holidays in 2026 falling on weekends (no extra closure)
In 2026, a few festivals fall on the weekends. However, these days don’t lead to extra market closures, but they still matter for financial planning. The weekend holidays include:
| Dates | Day | Holiday |
| 15 February 2026 | Sunday | Mahashivratri |
| 21 March 2026 | Saturday | Id-Ul-Fitr (Ramadan Eid) |
| 15 August 2026 | Saturday | Independence Day |
| 8 November 2026 | Sunday | Diwali Laxmi Puja |
Long weekends in 2026 (for traders & investors)
One of the highlights of the NSE holiday calendar 2026 is the number of long weekends. There are seven occasions where a holiday lands on a Friday or Monday, giving market participants a smooth three-day break.
| Dates | Day | Holiday |
| 26 January 2026 | Monday | Republic Day |
| 3 April 2026 | Friday | Good Friday |
| 1 May 2026 | Friday | Maharashtra Day |
| 26 June 2026 | Friday | Muharram |
| 14 September 2026 | Monday | Ganesh Chaturthi |
| 2 October 2026 | Friday | Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti |
| 25 December 2026 | Friday | Christmas |
What’s closed on NSE holidays (Equity, F&O, Currency?)
- Equity: On NSE holidays, equity trading is completely closed, including intraday trades, delivery-based transactions, and price discovery in the cash market.
- F&O: The equity derivatives trading is fully closed, and the open positions stay intact. And the expiry dates may shift if the holiday falls on a Thursday.
- Currency: The currency derivatives trading is closed for the day, and the open positions remain active on the NSE holidays and continue on the next trading day, with settlements moving ahead by one day.
How NSE holidays affect settlement (T+1 timeline)
NSE holidays and bank holidays pause the T+1 settlement process because the fund and share transfers do not happen on the non-working days. This means the shares bought or money from a sale are credited only on the next working day after the holiday. As a result, the timelines extend, which can affect short-term strategies and immediate liquidity needs.
How does it affect the T+1 timeline?
The T+1 timeline counts only the business days. Weekends, NSE holidays, and bank holidays are excluded from the settlement cycle. So, if a holiday falls between the trade date and settlement, the credit of shares or funds is delayed by one working day.
How NSE holidays affect F&O expiry (Thursday rule)
Previously, the F&O contracts expired on Thursdays, and in case of holidays, the expiry was advanced to the previous day or Wednesday.
As per the recent updates, the F&O contracts expiry will take place on the Tuesdays of each month, effective from 1 September 2025. When an NSE holiday falls on a Tuesday, the expiry is advanced to the previous trading day, that is Monday.
This shift is important for the traders, as the position adjustments, rollovers, and margin planning must be completed earlier than usual to avoid a last-minute rush.
Muhurat Trading 2026 (Date + What to expect?)
In 2026, Diwali Laxmi Puja falls on Sunday, 8 November 2025, which is why it does not appear as a regular NSE trading holiday. Since the market remains closed on Sundays, there is no additional weekday closure.
Even so, NSE will hold Muhurat Trading on 8 November 2026, following its long-standing Diwali tradition. Historically, this session is conducted for about one hour in the evening and is symbolic in nature.
Based on past NSE Muhurat Trading sessions, market participation is usually moderate, liquidity remains low, and price movements are limited. Most investors place small, long-term or ceremonial trades rather than active positions. Normal settlement rules apply, and exact session timings are announced closer to Diwali.
Commodity segment note (if you cover it): full vs partial closures
The Commodity Derivatives Segment (CDS), which includes Gold, Silver, and Crude Oil, follows a different holiday schedule. Since commodity prices are influenced by global markets, trading may remain partially open on the Indian festivals and NSE holidays, which allows the traders to respond to international price movements.
Bottom Line
NSE Holiday 2026 includes 15 full trading holidays, which impact equity, F&O, currency trading, settlements, and expiry schedules. Knowing these dates beforehand helps the investors in planning trades, managing liquidity, and avoiding settlement or expiry surprises. From long weekends to Muhurat Trading and T+1 delays, aligning the strategies with the market calendar keeps the decisions smooth and stress-free.
FAQ‘s
There are 15 full NSE trading holidays in 2026. On these days, Equity, Equity Derivatives, and Currency Derivatives segments will remain closed due to national and religious observances.
In 2026, Mahashivratri, Id-Ul-Fitr, Independence Day, and Diwali Laxmi Pujan fall on weekends. Since these dates already fall on Saturdays or Sundays, they do not create additional market closures.
Yes, mutual fund orders can be placed on NSE holidays. However, the order is processed on the next working day, and NAV is allotted based on applicable cut-off rules.
March 2026 has the highest number of NSE trading holidays, with multiple festival-related closures, making it a month when investors should plan carefully.
F&O contracts now follow a Tuesday expiry schedule, effective from 1 September 2025. If the scheduled expiry day is a trading holiday, the expiry shifts to the previous working day, as notified by the exchange.
Muhurat Trading in 2026 will be held on Sunday, 8 November, on the occasion of Diwali Laxmi Pujan. The exact one-hour trading window will be announced closer to the festival.
Yes, NSE and bank holidays delay the T+1 settlement cycle. The shares or funds are credited on the next working day, which can impact short-term trades and liquidity planning.
