NSE holidays matter because they change the way we plan trades, expiry weeks, option-chain checks, settlement expectations, and capital availability. A closed trading day is not just a date on a calendar. It can affect how we review open positions, how much time value remains in an options contract, when we analyse charts, and when…
NSE holidays matter because they change the way we plan trades, expiry weeks, option-chain checks, settlement expectations, and capital availability. A closed trading day is not just a date on a calendar. It can affect how we review open positions, how much time value remains in an options contract, when we analyse charts, and when we prepare for the next market session.
Below is the NSE holidays 2026 list for the equity, equity derivatives, and SLB segments, followed by weekend holidays, trading timings, and a practical way to plan around the calendar.
NSE Holidays 2026 List
The following weekday holidays are listed for NSE trading in 2026 across the equity, equity derivatives, and SLB segments.
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 15 January 2026 | Thursday | Municipal Corporation Election – Maharashtra |
| 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 |
When we read this table, the first thing to notice is the spacing of holidays around weekends and expiry cycles. A Monday or Friday holiday can create a long weekend, while a Tuesday or Thursday holiday can split the trading week. For F&O traders, that matters because fewer trading sessions can change how we experience time decay, liquidity, and adjustment windows.
Before planning an options position around any holiday-shortened week, it helps to check the contract view in Nubra Option Chain, review the price structure on Nubra Charts, and model possible payoff behaviour in Nubra Strategy Builder. These tools are for analysis and planning; they do not predict market outcomes.
NSE Holidays Falling on Weekends in 2026
Some exchange holidays fall on Saturdays or Sundays. Since NSE is already closed on weekends, these dates do not reduce the regular weekday trading calendar, but they are still useful to track for Muhurat Trading, settlement awareness, and broader market planning.
| Date | 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 Pujan |
The most important weekend entry is Diwali Laxmi Pujan on 8 November 2026. NSE has stated that Muhurat Trading will be conducted on that day, with exact timings to be notified separately. That means we should treat the date differently from a regular Sunday. It is not a full normal trading session, but it can still be relevant for traders who follow Muhurat Trading activity.
NSE Trading Timings in 2026
On regular trading days, the equity market follows the usual NSE session structure:
| Session | Timing |
|---|---|
| Pre-open order entry and modification | 9:00 AM to 9:08 AM |
| Regular market session | 9:15 AM to 3:30 PM |
| Closing session | 3:40 PM to 4:00 PM |
| Block deal morning window | 8:45 AM to 9:00 AM |
| Block deal afternoon window | 2:05 PM to 2:20 PM |
These timings matter more in short trading weeks. If a holiday falls near expiry, we have fewer regular sessions to observe price action, implied volatility, open interest changes, and volume behaviour. A plan that looks manageable in a five-session week may need a closer review in a three- or four-session week.
For example, if we are studying a multi-leg options setup, we may want to look at the option chain for liquidity and OI, check whether the chart is moving cleanly or gapping around the holiday, and then use a strategy builder to understand maximum loss, breakeven levels, and payoff shape. The aim is not to find a certain outcome. The aim is to understand the trade-off before entering a position.
How NSE Holidays Can Affect F&O Planning
NSE holidays are especially relevant for F&O traders because expiry, theta, margin planning, and liquidity all depend on the number of active trading sessions left. A holiday does not pause the calendar life of an options contract, but it does reduce the number of market sessions available to react.
That is why we should be careful with assumptions during holiday-shortened weeks. Spreads, straddles, strangles, and other multi-leg strategies can behave differently when there is less time for adjustment. A position carried before a long weekend may open into a different volatility environment when trading resumes. For a deeper options workflow, you can also read Nubra’s guide to 10 options strategies every investor should know.
Expiry weeks deserve an extra check. If an NSE holiday comes close to an index or stock F&O expiry, it is useful to confirm the applicable expiry calendar, review OI build-up, and avoid assuming that the week will behave like a normal five-day cycle. Nubra’s guide on rules every trader must follow on Nifty options expiry day can help frame the practical discipline required around expiry.
How to Use the NSE Holiday Calendar
A simple way to use the 2026 holiday calendar is to review it month by month, then mark the dates that sit near planned trades, expiry days, earnings periods, or major market events.
For positional traders, the calendar helps with holding-period expectations. For intraday traders, it helps avoid planning a trade for a closed session or misreading a long weekend gap. For options traders, it helps with expiry preparation, theta awareness, and liquidity checks. For anyone studying charts, it helps explain why some candles, gaps, or volume patterns may look different around holidays. Nubra’s guide to top trading patterns in charts is useful when reviewing those post-holiday price structures.
The practical workflow is straightforward:
- Check whether the date is a trading day.
- Review whether the holiday falls near expiry or a planned holding period.
- Analyse market structure through the option chain and charts.
- Model the strategy before placing a trade.
- Recheck official exchange updates if the date is close to a special session such as Muhurat Trading.
Muhurat Trading in 2026
Muhurat Trading in 2026 is scheduled for Sunday, 8 November 2026, on account of Diwali Laxmi Pujan. The exact trading window is expected to be notified separately by the exchange.
We should not treat Muhurat Trading as a regular full-day session. It is typically a short special session, and trading decisions should still be based on a clear process, liquidity review, and risk awareness. If participating, it is better to know the session timing in advance, avoid rushed order placement, and check whether the intended instrument is active and liquid during that window.
Conclusion
The NSE holidays 2026 calendar is more than a list of closed market dates. It helps us plan around expiry weeks, long weekends, Muhurat Trading, and short trading cycles. For active Indian traders, a practical use of this calendar is to combine it with option-chain checks, chart analysis, and strategy modelling before taking market exposure.
FAQs
How Many NSE Weekday Trading Holidays are there in 2026?
There are 16 weekday trading holidays listed above for the NSE equity, equity derivatives, and SLB segments in 2026, including 15 January 2026 for Municipal Corporation Election – Maharashtra.
Is NSE open on Saturdays and Sundays?
No. NSE is normally closed on Saturdays and Sundays. If a listed holiday falls on a weekend, it usually does not reduce the regular weekday trading calendar.
Is Muhurat Trading a full Trading Day?
No. Muhurat Trading is a special Diwali trading session, not a full regular trading day. For 2026, it is scheduled for Sunday, 8 November 2026, and the exact timing is expected separately.
Do NSE Holidays Affect Options Trading?
Yes, NSE holidays can affect options planning because they reduce the number of active market sessions available before expiry. Traders still need to consider time decay, liquidity, OI, volatility, and gap risk.
Should We Trade Before a Long Market Holiday?
That depends on the trader’s strategy, risk appetite, and position plan. A long holiday can increase gap risk when the market reopens, so it is useful to review open positions, possible outcomes, and exit plans before carrying trades.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, financial advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any securities or financial products. Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks. Please read all related documents carefully before investing. Readers should conduct their own research and consult a SEBI-registered investment adviser or other qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
