Muhurat Trading 2026 will take place on Sunday, 8 November, for Diwali Laxmi Pujan. Equity trading on NSE and BSE begins at 2:20 PM, following pre-open from 2:05 PM to 2:20 PM. Continuous trading ends at 3:15 PM for Closing Auction Session (CAS) securities and 3:30 PM for non-CAS securities. NSE futures and options trade until 3:40 PM.
The timings have been announced in the exchanges’ 19 October circulars. The afternoon schedule applies to this year’s session; do not use timings from an earlier Diwali.
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Muhurat Trading 2026 Timings for NSE and BSE
The table below covers the main equity-market sessions on 8 November 2026. F&O hours appear separately below.
The limit-only phases can close randomly within their final two minutes. Market orders cannot be changed or cancelled during those phases. IPOs, relisted shares and illiquid securities have separate arrangements.
Sources: NSE equity circular NSE/CMTR/76941 and BSE equity notice 20261019-9, both dated 19 October 2026.
Why are there different closing times?
CAS is an auction used to determine the closing price of eligible securities. For these shares, continuous trading stops before the auction begins. Other shares continue trading until 3:30 PM.
Check which session applies to the security you want to trade. The 4:15 PM modification deadline is an administrative cutoff, not an extension of normal trading.
Muhurat Trading 2026 F&O and MCX Timings
NSE futures and options trading runs from 2:20 PM to 3:40 PM on 8 November 2026. The trade modification window ends at 3:50 PM, according to NSE F&O circular NSE/FAOP/76940.
BSE equity derivatives and MCX have announced their own schedules for the session:
MCX also runs a special session from 2:05 PM to 2:19 PM, before trading begins.
Sources: BSE equity derivatives notice 20261019-10 and MCX circular MCX/TRD/590/2026, both dated 19 October 2026.
Do not apply the equity closing time to F&O. Check your broker’s notice for supported contracts, order types and intraday square-off deadlines, which may be earlier than the exchange close. Each exchange sets its own modification cutoff, so check the one that applies to your segment.
If you are new to derivatives, read our futures vs options guide before placing a trade.
Practise entries, exits and adjustments on historical option-chain data with AlgoTest’s Option Simulator.
Is the Stock Market Open on Diwali 2026?
NSE and BSE will open for the special Muhurat session on Sunday, 8 November, rather than a full regular trading day.
See the full index expiry calendar for November.
What Is Muhurat Trading?
Muhurat trading is a special Diwali market session in which investors make trades to mark an auspicious beginning. The 2026 occasion is associated with Samvat 2083 in the stock-market tradition.
These are real transactions. A small ceremonial purchase still creates an investment exposure, and the exchange circulars confirm that executed trades create settlement obligations.
The occasion does not guarantee positive returns. The price you pay, the investment’s quality and your risk remain relevant.
Commodity traders should check the separate MCX holiday schedule.
How to Prepare for Muhurat Trading
Check your account before the session. Confirm available funds or margin, active trading segments and your broker’s special-session instructions.
Decide what you want to buy or trade. Set your budget and reason for entering before the market opens. Avoid choosing a stock solely because it appears on a festive stock-picks list.
Check the bid-ask spread. Liquidity can vary by security. A limit order controls the price you accept, although it may remain unfilled.
Set an exit plan for short-term trades. Know your broker’s square-off time and the session applicable to your instrument. Our trading risk-management guide explains position sizing and loss limits.
Review automated strategies before enabling them. Check entry times, exits, broker availability and any platform instructions for the special session. A strategy configured for regular market hours needs a separate review.
Check our NSE and BSE share-market holiday list for the wider calendar.
Test your options trading plan before Diwali
Use AlgoTest Backtesting to check your options strategy’s drawdowns and results across historical sessions. If you want to practise selecting strikes and adjusting positions, replay historical option-chain data in the AlgoTest Simulator before risking money.
A backtest across regular sessions helps you examine your rules, but it does not establish how they will perform in a shorter Muhurat session. Confirm that any historical data and execution platform you use support the dates, instruments and special hours you need.
AlgoTest helps you move from an idea to a strategy you can inspect and test before deciding whether to deploy it.
Join us as we simplify algo trading in India.
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FAQs
What is the Muhurat Trading 2026 date?
Muhurat Trading 2026 is scheduled for Sunday, 8 November, on Diwali Laxmi Pujan.
Is Muhurat Trading 2026 in the afternoon or evening?
It is in the afternoon. Equity continuous trading begins at 2:20 PM IST. The detailed table above shows the pre-open, auction and closing phases.
Can I trade Nifty futures and options during Muhurat trading?
NSE has announced an F&O session from 2:20 PM to 3:40 PM. Confirm your broker’s participation, supported contracts and order restrictions before trading.
Is Muhurat trading free of brokerage and taxes?
Do not assume it is free. Any brokerage waiver depends on the broker’s offer, while applicable statutory charges and settlement obligations still need to be considered. Check the offer’s terms and your broker’s charge schedule.
Does the stock market always rise during Muhurat trading?
No. Festive sentiment does not determine returns. Stocks and derivatives can fall during the session, and an auspicious date is not a substitute for assessing risk.
Can I use the NSE schedule for MCX Muhurat trading?
No. MCX runs its own schedule: a special session from 2:05 PM to 2:19 PM, then trading from 2:20 PM to 3:30 PM, as per MCX circular MCX/TRD/590/2026. Confirm your broker’s announcement before trading.