Traders and investors can now mark their calendars for the upcoming year. The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has released its official trading holiday calendar 2026. This schedule is crucial for planning your trading strategies, portfolio rebalancing, and settlement cycles well in advance.
The new list covers 15 scheduled market closures, offering one more holiday than the current year. Here is everything you need to know about the NSE holiday calendar 2026, including the long weekends and a special update regarding Diwali.
The List of Trading Holidays 2026
The equity, equity derivatives, and currency derivatives markets will remain closed on 15 specific days in 2026. The year kicks off with a closure for Republic Day in January and wraps up with Christmas in December.
According to the List of Trading holidays 2026, the market will be shut on the following dates:
| Date | Day | Occasion |
|---|---|---|
| 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, 2026 | Tuesday | Diwali-Balipratipada |
| November 24, 2026 | Tuesday | Prakash Gurpurb Sri Guru Nanak Dev |
| December 25, 2026 | Friday | Christmas |
This comprehensive list of market closures ensures that participants have clarity on non-trading days under the exchange bye-laws.
(Source: NSE)
Plan Your Vacations: 7 Long Weekends
One of the most exciting aspects of the NSE holiday calendar 2026 is the abundance of long weekends. There are seven instances where a holiday falls on either a Friday or a Monday, creating a perfect three-day break for market participants.
| Date | Day | Occasion |
|---|---|---|
| January 26, 2026 | Monday | Republic Day |
| April 03, 2026 | Friday | Good Friday |
| May 01, 2026 | Friday | Maharashtra Day |
| June 26, 2026 | Friday | Muharram |
| September 14, 2026 | Monday | Ganesh Chaturthi |
| October 02, 2026 | Friday | Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti |
| December 25, 2026 | Friday | Christmas |
(Source: NSE)
Holidays Falling on Weekends
Several major festivals in 2026 fall on Saturdays or Sundays. While these do not result in additional market closures, they are key dates for the financial calendar. The holidays falling on weekends are:
| Date | Day | Occasion |
|---|---|---|
| February 15, 2026 | Sunday | Mahashivratri |
| March 21, 2026 | Saturday | Id-Ul-Fitr (Ramadan Eid) |
| August 15, 2026 | Saturday | Independence Day |
| November 08, 2026 | Sunday | Diwali Laxmi Pujan (Muhurat Trading) |
(Source: NSE)
The Weekend Surprise and Muhurat Trading
A key detail in the circular is the “missing” Diwali holiday from the weekday list. In 2026, Diwali Laxmi Pujan falls on Sunday, November 8. Since it is already a weekend, it does not result in a standard market closure.
However, traditions will continue. The exchanges will conduct the symbolic Muhurat Trading session on November 8. This special one-hour session is considered auspicious for wealth creation, and the specific timings will be notified by the exchanges closer to the festival.
(Source: NSE, Economic Times)
Market Outlook for 2026
Beyond the official trading holiday calendar 2026, investors are looking forward to a potential recovery year. Global brokerages like Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs have flagged expectations for markets to regain lost ground. Domestic firms are also optimistic, with ICICI Direct projecting the Nifty could move towards the 30,000 level, while Kotak Securities has outlined a bull-case target of over 32,000.
The Bottomline
With 15 scheduled closures and 7 long weekends, the NSE’s 2026 calendar offers ample opportunities for traders to recharge. As the market eyes a potential recovery year, investors should keep these dates handy to effectively plan their portfolios, settlement cycles, and strategies around the upcoming holidays and the much-awaited Muhurat Trading session.
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