Indian stock markets will observe 15 trading holidays in 2026, one more than the previous year, creating seven long weekends for investors. The National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) have released their official holiday calendar, providing early clarity on market closures while confirming that trading will continue normally on New Year's Day, January 1, 2026.

Both exchanges will remain operational on January 1, 2026, with regular trading hours, even as markets across China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, France, Germany, the UAE, the UK, and the US remain closed for New Year's Day celebrations.

Complete Holiday Schedule 2026

The 2026 calendar includes closures for key national and religious observances that fall on weekdays throughout the year:

Seven Long Weekends for Market Participants

The 2026 schedule delivers seven long weekends, creating three-day breaks when holidays fall on Fridays or Mondays. These extended breaks provide predictable pauses in the trading year, offering market participants opportunities to plan around periods of reduced liquidity and operational downtime.

Several other holidays fall on weekends and do not impact trading days, including Mahashivratri (February 15), Eid ul Fitr (March 21), and Independence Day (August 15). Diwali Laxmi Pujan falls on Sunday, November 8, with exchanges planning to hold the traditional Muhurat Trading session despite regular trading remaining closed.

Standard Trading Schedule

Markets will operate with regular trading hours on all other weekdays:

Market Outlook and Planning

The advance visibility into these closures provides traders and portfolio managers with practical planning tools around market operations. Global and domestic brokerages are increasingly positioning 2026 as a potential recovery year for Indian equities, with firms like Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, and Goldman Sachs pointing to opportunities for markets to recover as earnings stabilize and policy support strengthens.

Stock exchanges retain the authority to modify trading schedules as needed, with flexibility to extend, shorten, or adjust trading hours based on market conditions and requirements.

The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) has officially announced its holiday calendar for 2026, outlining 15 trading holidays that fall on weekdays. These scheduled closures will suspend trading activities across both NSE and BSE platforms due to national observances and various festivals celebrated throughout the year.

Trading Holiday Overview for 2026

The complete holiday structure for 2026 includes 19 total trading holidays, with four falling on weekends that do not affect regular trading operations. Since equity trading occurs Monday through Friday, weekend holidays do not result in additional market closures.

The NSE calendar remains subject to potential modifications based on changes in public holidays announced by the Central government or Maharashtra state government. Such adjustments could either add additional trading holidays or alter the timing of scheduled non-trading days.

January 2026 Trading Schedule

January 2026 features a single weekday trading holiday scheduled for January 26, marking Republic Day celebrations nationwide. This holiday falls on a Monday, creating an extended weekend break for market participants at the beginning of the year.

Monthly Distribution Pattern

The holiday distribution across 2026 shows varying patterns throughout the year. March emerges as the month with the highest concentration of trading holidays, featuring closures for Holi, Ram Navami, and Mahavir Jayanti. Meanwhile, February, July, and August will maintain regular weekday trading schedules with closures only on weekends.

Regional Considerations

Both NSE and BSE, headquartered in Mumbai, observe Ganesh Chaturthi as an official trading holiday. This reflects Maharashtra's cultural significance of the festival, which is celebrated with considerable prominence throughout the state. The inclusion of regional festivals alongside national holidays demonstrates the exchanges' consideration of local cultural observances in their operational calendar.