Understanding the list of stock market holidays in India is crucial for investors and traders; by making an investment strategy, order planning, and settlements easily. Generally, both, the two stock markets-National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) follow an equal stock market calendar for equities trading, though separate timelines may apply to different sections.

The article provides: NSE holidays, BSE holidays, special trading sessions timing, and Muhurat trading timing of the year 2026 along with general market trading times.

This Article is the part of Stock Market

Is the Stock Market Open Today?

If you are searching if the stock market will be open today, Wednesday, 19th August, 2026, trading across both NSE & BSE equity markets will continue as scheduled. 19th August is one of the trading holidays for equity markets for the year 2026 from the 20 holidays, while the next holiday on the list for NSE equity market trading day shall be Ganesh Chaturthi to be observe on 14th September, 2026. Trading on NSE on regular basis of equity market is from 09:15 Hrs to 15:30 Hrs IST. While pre-open session for trading is from 09:00 AM.

Stock Market Holidays India 2026

Some of the common festivals and holidays that are list in the annual holiday calendar are: Republic Day, Holi, Good Friday, Ganesh Chaturthi, Dussehra, Diwali and Christmas. Note also that specific market segments may have individual holiday calendars.

Date	Day	Holiday
January 26	Monday	Republic Day
March 3	Tuesday	Holi
March 26	Thursday	Shri Ram Navami
March 31	Tuesday	Mahavir Jayanti
April 3	Friday	Good Friday
April 14	Tuesday	Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Jayanti
May 1	Friday	Maharashtra Day
May 28	Thursday	Bakri Id
June 26	Friday	Muharram
September 14	Monday	Ganesh Chaturthi
October 2	Friday	Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti
October 20	Tuesday	Dussehra
November 10	Tuesday	Diwali-Balipratipada
November 24	Tuesday	Guru Nanak Jayanti
December 25	Friday	Christmas

The dates above correspond to the 2026 NSE equity/F&O holiday schedule; the exchange notes that some holidays applicable to other segments may differ.

NSE Holidays vs BSE Holidays

For equity traders both NSE holidays & BSE holidays tend to be on the same days as both are cover by one unified Indian securities market & holiday rules. However, this is not always true, and not all products may be on the same holiday day e.g. On certain days, equity derivatives, currency derivatives, debt or other segments may not be traded on exchange where the cash or equity part of the exchange would be open. However, for equity investors this is mostly not the case.

Market	Normal Equity Trading	Holiday Check
NSE	9:15 AM–3:30 PM	NSE holiday calendar
BSE	Generally 9:15 AM–3:30 PM	BSE holiday calendar
NSE F&O	9:15 AM–3:30 PM	Segment-specific calendar
Special/Muhurat Session	Exchange-announced timings	Separate circular

What is Muhurat Trading?

Muhurat trading occurs around the auspicious occasion of Diwali Laxmi Pujan, generally observed with a belief that the first trade of the new Samvat year would bring prosperity. For next year too, Muhurat Trading will be done, while Diwali Laxmi Pujan will be on the same day (November 8, 2026). SEBI/ NSE will notify the actual timing of this trading.

This means investors should not rely on normal 9:15 AM–3:30 PM timings for the Muhurat session. The exchange’s official circular should be check closer to Diwali.

Special Sessions and Market Holidays

A market holiday does not necessarily mean there can never be any exchange activity. NSE can conduct special or contingency sessions for operational testing and recovery preparedness. NSE publishes calendars for such contingency drills and mock trading sessions.

It is also important to distinguish between a trading holiday and a settlement holiday. Holidays, weekends and other non-working days can affect the settlement timeline of trades. NSE states that intervening holidays and weekends are exclude when determining settlement days.

How Traders Can Prepare for an Indian Stock Market Holiday

Before placing an order around a holiday, investors should:

• Check the official NSE and BSE holiday calendars.
• Confirm whether the holiday applies to the specific segment being traded.
• Check settlement dates for trades placed immediately before a holiday.
• Verify special-session timings instead of assuming normal market hours.
• Check the exchange notification for the final Muhurat trading timing.
• Review pending orders with the broker before a long weekend.

Final Takeaway

Monitoring the Indian stock market holidays helps traders to stay clear from missing a trading opportunity, or ending up with an unusual settlement. Though equity holidays at both NSE and BSE have similarity, scheduled Holidays for specific segment differ. On special occasion such as Diwali one should pay close attention to the notice in regards, for the market operates on separate notified hours for the Muhurat Trading. The trader is urged to check the stock exchange website regularly before commencing a trading day.