NSE Releases Official Trading Holidays for 2026: 7 Long Weekends for Investors

Update (Jan 14, 2026): NSE and BSE officially declared January 15, 2026, as a trading holiday due to the BMC Elections. This was initially announced as a settlement holiday but has been upgraded to a full trading holiday.

The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) has officially released its trading holiday calendar for the year 2026 via Circular Ref. No: 212/2025. In a move that will help traders and investors plan their year ahead, the exchange has notified 16 weekdays where the equity, derivative, and SLB segments will remain closed.

Notably, the 2026 calendar is a “Long Weekend Bonanza” for market participants, featuring seven holidays falling on either a Monday or a Friday.

Complete List of Stock Market Holidays 2026

According to the official circular (Download Ref No: NSE/FAOP/71777), the following are the dates when the Indian stock markets will remain closed for trading:

Key Analysis for Traders

1. The “Long Weekend” Year

The 2026 calendar is unique because nearly 50% of the trading holidays create a long weekend. This is significant for traders who carry overnight positions, as risk management becomes crucial during 3-day market closures.

• Monday Holidays (Extended Weekend): Republic Day (Jan 26) and Ganesh Chaturthi (Sep 14).
• Friday Holidays (Extended Weekend): Good Friday (Apr 3), Maharashtra Day (May 1), Muharram (Jun 26), Gandhi Jayanti (Oct 2), and Christmas (Dec 25).

2. The Missing Holidays (Weekend Exclusions)

Investors might notice missing major festivals like Independence Day or Mahashivratri. This is because the NSE circular only lists holidays that disrupt the standard Monday-Friday trading schedule.

• Mahashivratri: Falls on Sunday, Feb 15, 2026.
• Id-Ul-Fitr (Ramadan Eid): Falls on Saturday, Mar 21, 2026.
• Independence Day: Falls on Saturday, Aug 15, 2026.

3. Diwali Muhurat Trading 2026

While the list mentions Diwali-Balipratipada on November 10 (Tuesday) as a full holiday, traders should note the schedule for the auspicious Muhurat Trading.

• Laxmi Pujan: Typically falls a day or two before Balipratipada. For 2026, Laxmi Pujan is expected on Sunday, November 8, 2026.
• Market Status: The market will likely open for a special one-hour session on Sunday evening (Nov 8) and remain closed on Tuesday (Nov 10) for Balipratipada.

Impact on F&O Expiry

Traders in the Futures & Options (F&O) segment must adjust their strategies for months with mid-week holidays.

• March 2026: Heavy holiday density (Holi, Ram Navami, Mahavir Jayanti) may lead to lower liquidity and higher volatility in the March series.
• Weekly Expiry: For any weekly contracts expiring on a Thursday (like Nifty 50), if a holiday falls on that day (e.g., March 26 – Ram Navami), the expiry will shift to the previous trading day (Wednesday, March 25).
  • Since Jan 15 is a Thursday, the weekly F&O expiry for that week will likely shift to Wednesday, Jan 14.

The NSE 2026 holiday calendar offers clarity for market participants to plan their trading and leaves efficiently. With 16 confirmed weekday holidays and a high frequency of long weekends, traders should remain vigilant about settlement cycles and margin requirements during these extended breaks.

Tags: NSE Trading Holidays 2026, Stock Market Holidays India, BSE Holidays 2026, Share Market Closed List, Muhurat Trading 2026, NSE Circular 212/2025, F&O Expiry Adjustment, Market Holiday Calendar PDF