As global markets prepare to ring in the new year 2026 with closures, Indian investors might wonder about the status of domestic trading. Contrary to some international exchanges, key Indian bourses will commence the year in active mode. The National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) will remain open for trading on the first day of the year, January 1, 2026.
Complete 2026 Trading Holiday Calendar for NSE and BSE
According to the official holiday list published by the NSE, Indian equity markets will observe a total of fifteen trading holidays in the year 2026. Investors and traders are advised to mark their calendars to avoid any disruption in their trading activities. The distribution of these holidays is uneven across the months, with some periods seeing continuous trading.
Notably, the months of February, July, and August will have no trading holidays at all, offering uninterrupted market sessions. Meanwhile, the month of March will witness the highest number of breaks, with three market holidays scheduled.
Month-by-Month Breakdown of Market Closures
The holiday schedule for 2026 is spread across various cultural and national occasions. Here is a detailed look at the planned closures:
January 2026: Markets will be closed only on Monday, January 26 for Republic Day celebrations.
March 2026: This month has three holidays. Trading will halt on Tuesday, March 3 for Holi and again on Thursday, March 26 for Shri Ram Navami.
April 2026: Two holidays are scheduled. Exchanges will remain shut on Friday, April 3 for Good Friday and on Tuesday, April 14 for Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Jayanti.
May 2026: Two breaks are planned. There will be no trading on Friday, May 1 for Maharashtra Day and on Thursday, May 28 for Bakri Id.
June 2026: A single holiday falls on Friday, June 26 for Muharram.
September 2026: Markets will be closed on Monday, September 14 for Ganesh Chaturthi.
October 2026: Two holidays are set. Trading stops on Friday, October 2 for Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti and on Tuesday, October 20 for Dussehra.
November 2026: This month also has two closures. Exchanges will remain shut on Tuesday, November 10 for Diwali/Balipratipada and on Thursday, November 26 for Prakash Gurpurb Sri Guru Nanak Dev.
December 2026: The final trading holiday of the year will be on Friday, December 25 for Christmas.
Key Implications for Investors and Traders
This structured holiday calendar is crucial for planning investment strategies, especially for derivatives traders dealing with expiry contracts. The confirmation that markets are open on January 1, 2026, provides clarity for those aligning their portfolios at the start of the year.
Investors are strongly recommended to verify the holiday schedule directly on the official NSE website (nseindia.com) for any last-minute changes or notifications issued by the exchanges or market regulator SEBI. Staying informed about these non-trading days helps in managing cash flows, settlement cycles, and mitigating risks associated with market closures.
