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Diwali week 2026 for the markets: a Sunday session, then a Tuesday off

5 days ago
4 min read

Updated: 1 day ago

By MonuKeer News Desk

Updated 24 Oct 2026: added MCX Muhurat timings from MCX's official circular.

Indian exchanges will run their annual Diwali Muhurat trading session on Sunday, 8 November 2026, in the afternoon. Normal continuous trading in equities runs from 2:20 pm to 3:30 pm IST. Two days later, on Tuesday, 10 November, the equity markets are shut for Diwali-Balipratipada.

NSE and BSE confirmed the timings in circulars dated 19 October 2026 (NSE circular NSE/CMTR/76941, BSE notice 20261019-9). Here is the week in order, followed by answers to the questions we expect most.

The week at a glance

Date

What happens

Source

Sun, 8 Nov

Diwali Laxmi Pujan. Special Muhurat session on NSE and BSE (equity and commodity segments)

NSE, BSE circulars

Mon, 9 Nov

Not on NSE's or BSE's 2026 holiday list, so a normal trading day

NSE holiday circular, BSE holiday list

Tue, 10 Nov

Diwali-Balipratipada. Equity and equity-derivatives trading holiday on NSE and BSE

Same as above

Tue, 10 Nov

Commodity markets: morning session closed, evening session open on MCX and on BSE's commodity segment

MCX holiday list, BSE holiday list

Minute by minute: the equity Muhurat session (NSE)

These timings are from the NSE capital market circular. BSE's notice gives the same main windows.

Time (IST)

Session

1:50 – 2:05 pm

Block deal window

2:05 – 2:10 pm

Pre-open order entry (limit and market orders)

2:10 – 2:15 pm

Pre-open order entry, limit orders only (random closure in the last 2 minutes)

2:15 – 2:17 pm

Pre-open order matching and trade confirmation

2:17 – 2:20 pm

Buffer period

2:20 – 3:30 pm

Normal market / continuous trading

3:15 pm

Normal market closes for securities in the closing auction session (CAS)

3:20 – 3:30 pm

CAS order entry

3:30 – 3:35 pm

CAS order matching and trade confirmation

3:50 – 4:00 pm

Post-close session

up to 4:15 pm

Trade modification cut-off

Some stocks follow their own schedule:

  • IPOs and re-listed shares: special pre-open from 2:05 pm to 2:50 pm, then normal trading from 3:05 pm to 3:30 pm.

  • Illiquid stocks in call auction: order entry from 2:25 pm to 3:10 pm on NSE.

BSE's notice also lists a log-in window from 1:15 pm. In a separate notice, BSE says its indices will be calculated on 8 November, with trading running from 2:20 pm to 3:30 pm.

Commodities on Muhurat day

  • NSE commodity derivatives: market opens 2:20 pm and closes 3:30 pm (NSE/COM/76978).

  • BSE commodity derivatives: continuous trading 2:20 pm to 3:30 pm, with trade modification until 4:00 pm (BSE notice 20261019-12).

  • MCX: contracts of all commodities and indices are available for Muhurat trading. Special Session 2:05 pm – 2:19 pm, Trading Session 2:20 pm – 3:30 pm, and Client Code Modification Session 2:20 pm – 3:45 pm (MCX circular MCX/TRD/590/2026, 19 Oct 2026). MCX's holiday page also lists 8 November as a Muhurat trading day.

Questions readers usually ask

Is this a "real" trading session?

Yes. Both NSE circulars say that all trades executed during the Muhurat session "shall result in settlement obligations". Buying and selling during the session works the same way it does on any other trading day.

Why is it in the afternoon and not the evening?

Last year's session also ran in the afternoon, from 1:45 pm to 2:45 pm, as Moneycontrol reported. According to CNBC-TV18, brokers this year had asked the exchanges for a daytime slot through the Brokers' Industry Standards Forum. The final window is 70 minutes long.

What is it for?

By tradition, the session marks the start of a new Vikram Samvat year. This year that is Samvat 2083 (CNBC-TV18). It is a ceremonial occasion with a short trading window. It is not an indicator of where markets will go in the coming year.

Which holidays are left in 2026 after Diwali?

On NSE's and BSE's equity calendars, the remaining weekday holidays are 24 November (Prakash Gurpurb Sri Guru Nanak Dev) and 25 December (Christmas) (NSE, BSE). On 24 November, MCX keeps its evening session open. On 25 December, both its sessions are closed (MCX).

For the earlier 2026 trading holidays, see our May 2026 NSE and BSE holidays and June 2026 Muharram holiday posts, or the full stock market events calendar.

Will derivative expiry dates shift because of the 10 November holiday?

We have not yet seen an exchange notice on this. Rely on NSE's or BSE's own contract notices for any change rather than third-party calendars. We will update this post once we have confirmed it from an exchange source.

Practical notes

  • It is a short session, and some stocks may have thin order books. Look at the order book before placing a market order.

  • Brokers may set their own cut-offs for after-market orders around the session. Check your broker's notice.

  • Settlement follows the normal cycle for trades done that day. The 10 November holiday falls in the same week, so check settlement dates with your broker if you need funds on a specific day.

Sources

Facts verified as of 22 Oct 2026, 11:30 PM IST.

Reported by the MonuKeer News Desk. Edited by Monu Keer, Founder & Editor.

Education only. Not investment advice.

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