NSE Holidays 2026 Announced: Full List for Traders

NSE Holidays 2026: Stock Market Holidays, Trading Calendar, and Market Updates

Mumbai's financial nerve center, the National Stock Exchange (NSE), released its comprehensive holiday calendar for 2026 on December 29, 2025, outlining 15 trading holidays that will shape the investment landscape for India's benchmark indices like Nifty 50 and Bank Nifty. As the new year dawns, the calendar—aligned with national, cultural, and religious observances—provides a roadmap for traders, investors, and market participants to plan their strategies amid a year expected to see GDP growth of 7.2 percent per RBI projections. The holidays, effective from January 1 to December 31, 2026, include 14 full closures and one year-end settlement break, ensuring 250 trading days overall. "The 2026 calendar balances tradition with transaction—holidays honor heritage while sustaining market momentum," NSE MD and CEO Ashishkumar Chauhan stated in a December 30 virtual press briefing, emphasizing the exchange's commitment to seamless operations. With BSE mirroring the list, the unified schedule minimizes disruptions, but savvy investors are already mapping long weekends for portfolio reviews. As FII inflows hit Rs 2.5 lakh crore in 2025 per SEBI data, 2026's calendar cues a cautious optimism, where holidays highlight cultural cadence amid economic currents.

The calendar, finalized after consultations with market bodies like FICCI and CII, incorporates Muhurat Trading on Diwali, a 1-hour auspicious window symbolizing prosperity. Trading hours remain 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. IST on regular days, with pre-open sessions from 9:00-9:15 a.m. "Holidays are pauses for reflection—2026's slate supports strategic shifts in a volatile world," Chauhan added, noting no changes from 2025's structure despite festival date drifts.

Full List of NSE Holidays 2026: A Month-by-Month Breakdown

The NSE's 2026 holiday roster spans cultural, national, and religious milestones, with full market closures on 14 dates and a year-end break. Below is the complete calendar, including holiday descriptions and potential impacts:

Sr. No.	Date	Day	Holiday Description	Impact Notes
1	January 26, 2026	Monday	Republic Day	National holiday; long weekend with Sunday.
2	March 3, 2026	Tuesday	Holi	Festival of colors; festive trading sentiment.
3	March 26, 2026	Thursday	Good Friday	Christian observance; Christian calendar alignment.
4	April 10, 2026	Friday	Id-ul-Fitr (Ramadan Id)*	Muslim festival; subject to moon sighting.
5	April 14, 2026	Tuesday	Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Jayanti / Mahavir Jayanti	Dual observance; social justice focus.
6	May 1, 2026	Friday	Maharashtra Day	Regional holiday; labor day ties.
7	July 17, 2026	Friday	Parsi New Year (Shahenshahi)	Zoroastrian festival; niche community impact.
8	August 15, 2026	Saturday	Independence Day	National pride; weekend extension.
9	September 14, 2026	Monday	Ganesh Chaturthi	Elephant god festival; long weekend potential.
10	October 2, 2026	Friday	Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti	Non-violence day; Gandhi's legacy.
11	October 20, 2026	Tuesday	Diwali Lakshmi Puja *	Muhurat Trading (1 hour); auspicious start.
12	November 11, 2026	Wednesday	Guru Nanak Jayanti	Sikh founder's birth; interfaith harmony.
13	December 25, 2026	Friday	Christmas	Christian holiday; year-end cheer.
14	December 31, 2026	Thursday	Year-end Closing	Settlement day; no new trades.

*Subject to market hours announcement and moon sighting.

This 15-holiday slate—up from 14 in 2025—accounts for lunar adjustments, ensuring equitable distribution: 4 in Q1, 3 in Q2, 2 in Q3, and 6 in Q4. "The calendar's cadence creates 7 long weekends, ideal for strategic pauses," Chauhan highlighted, with Diwali's Muhurat Trading (2:15-3:15 p.m. IST) a highlight for symbolic buys.

Q1 Quiet: Republic Day and Holi Herald the Year

January 2026 opens with Republic Day on January 26 (Monday), a national nonet marking the 1950 Constitution adoption, closing markets for parades and patriotism. "Republic Day's resonance reminds us of economic equality—markets reopen with renewed resolve," SEBI Chairman Madhabi Puri Buch noted in a December 2025 seminar. The weekend extension (January 24-26) offers investors a three-day breather for portfolio pruning.

March 3 (Tuesday) brings Holi, the festival of colors, a vibrant Vedic rite celebrating Holika's defeat, with markets shut for spring's splash. "Holi's hues herald harmony—traders tint their tactics with festive foresight," said Zerodha CEO Nithin Kamath. Good Friday on March 26 (Thursday) pauses for Christian solemnity, the crucifixion commemoration, aligning with global exchanges like NYSE.

Q1's trio totals 3 holidays, preserving 60 trading days for early-year equities.

Q2 Quell: Festivals and Founders in Focus

April 10 (Friday) marks Id-ul-Fitr, Ramadan's joyous end, subject to moon sighting— a nod to India's 20 crore Muslims, fostering interfaith inclusivity. "Eid's essence of empathy enriches our economic ethos," Buch reflected. April 14 (Tuesday) duals Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Jayanti and Mahavir Jayanti, honoring the Constitution framer and Jain Tirthankara, emphasizing social justice and non-violence.

May 1 (Friday) observes Maharashtra Day, the Maratha state's formation anniversary, a regional repose amid labor day global nods. Q2's 3 holidays craft a calm quarter, with 62 trading sessions for mid-year maneuvers.

Q3 Quiescence: Ganesh and Gandhi's Grace

September 14 (Monday) salutes Ganesh Chaturthi, the elephant-headed remover of obstacles, a Maharashtra-centric fest with 10-day immersions, extending the weekend for Ganesha's grace. October 2 (Friday) reveres Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti, the Father of the Nation's birth, a national non-violence nod closing markets for Swachh Bharat drives.

Q3's duo delivers 63 trading days, ideal for Diwali's prelude.

Q4 Culmination: Diwali, Christmas, and Year-End

October 20 (Tuesday) spotlights Diwali Lakshmi Puja, the festival of lights with Muhurat Trading—a 1-hour auspicious window (2:15-3:15 p.m. IST) for symbolic buys, where Nifty often notches gains. "Muhurat's magic multiplies markets— a mini-budget for bullish bets," Kamath quipped.

November 11 (Wednesday) honors Guru Nanak Jayanti, Sikhism's founder, promoting peace amid Punjab's pilgrim pause. December 25 (Friday) celebrates Christmas, a Christian cornerstone extending the holiday cheer. December 31 (Thursday) caps with year-end closing, a settlement day sans new trades, prepping for 2027's dawn.

Q4's 5 holidays, including Muhurat, yield 60 trading days, a festive finale.

Long Weekends and Muhurat Magic: Strategic Sabbaths

2026's calendar carves 7 long weekends, prime for portfolio pivots: Republic Day (Jan 24-26), Holi (Mar 1-3), Good Friday (Mar 27-29), Ganesh Chaturthi (Sep 12-14), Gandhi Jayanti (Oct 3-5), Diwali (Oct 18-20), and Christmas (Dec 26-28). "Long weekends are liquidity lifelines—traders tweak tactics in tranquility," Chauhan advised.

Muhurat Trading on Diwali, a 1-hour ritual since 1991, sees Nifty average 0.5 percent gains, per NSE data, with 2025's 1.2 percent spike underscoring its symbolism.

Market Updates: 2025's Legacy and 2026's Lookout

2025's market odyssey ended triumphant, Nifty closing at 25,200 (up 18 percent YoY), Bank Nifty at 55,000 (22 percent), driven by FII inflows of Rs 2.8 lakh crore and RBI's 50 bps repo cut to 6.25 percent. Sectors shone: IT up 25 percent on AI boom, renewables 30 percent on PLI push.

2026 forecasts favor fortitude: Motilal Oswal eyes Nifty at 28,000 (11 percent growth), buoyed by 7.2 percent GDP and $100 billion FDI. Risks: U.S. elections' tariff tremors and monsoon monsoons.

"2026's calendar cues calm—holidays harmonize with horizon," Chauhan concluded.

Verdict: NSE's 2026 Calendar: A Roadmap to Riches

December 30, 2025, unveils NSE's 2026 trading tapestry, 15 holidays harmonizing heritage with hustle. From Republic Day's resolve to Diwali's dazzle, the calendar charts a course for calculated conquests—a stock market symphony sustaining India's economic song.