Muhurat Trading 2026: NSE Announces Timings & Date for Stock Markets

Traders and investors – its time to mark your calendars! National Stock Exchange has just announced the date and time for this year's Diwali Muhurat Trading 2026 Session through its circular dated 19th Oct, 2026. 

As per circulars issued, NSE and BSE will hold the special session on Sunday, November 8, 2026, on account of Diwali Laxmi Pujan. Normal trading in the cash market will run from 2:20 PM to 3:30 PM. 

Yes, the market will open on a Sunday. No, it's not a glitch.

Normal trading opens at 2:20 PM in every segment. Here's when each one closes.

In the cash market, stocks in the Closing Auction Session (CAS) stop normal trading at 3:15 PM. Pre-open for cash and F&O starts at 2:05 PM.

In Hindi, "Muhurat" means an auspicious time and many investors consider this session a symbolic way to welcome prosperity and begin the new Hindu financial year, known as Samvat. On this auspicious day and time, old account books are closed, new bahi-khatas are opened, and Lakshmi Puja is done for a prosperous year ahead. 

Muhurat trading is the stock market's version of that ritual. It's a short, symbolic session that marks the start of the new Samvat, which is Samvat 2083 this year. BSE has followed the tradition since 1957 and NSE since 1992. Unlike a regular trading day, the session takes place only for a short window for Diwali. 

For most investors, it isn't about making quick money. Many simply place a small token buy, often a stock they plan to hold for years, as shagun for the year ahead.

The NSE has issued separate circulars for the equity cash, F&O and commodity derivatives segments. Here’s a breakdown of the key timings. 

1. Equity Cash Market 

The equity market opens for continuous trading at 2:20 PM. The pre-open session begins earlier, at 2:05 PM.

For securities not covered by the Closing Auction Session (CAS), normal market trading ends at 3:30 PM. The closing auction applies to eligible securities and follows a separate schedule. 

2. Futures and Options (F&O) 

The F&O segment follows a similar opening schedule, with trading continuing until 3:40 PM.

3. Commodity Derivatives 

The commodity derivatives segment will remain open from 2:20 PM to 3:30 PM for Muhurat Trading. The position-limit and collateral setup cut-off, along with the trade modification deadline, is 3:40 PM.

• It's a short session. You get about 70 minutes of normal trading. Volumes can be thin, so prices may swing sharply either way. Use limit orders, as they give you more control than market orders. 
• Trades are real. Every trade in the session creates settlement obligations, just like any regular trading day. A buy is a buy, festive mood or not. So do your research and make informed decision before hitting the buy or sell button. 
• Intraday traders, check your square-off time. Auto square-off timings for this session may differ from a normal day, so plan your exits early. 
• Go with a plan, not FOMO. Festive optimism is real, so don’t get caught up in the sentiment. Stick to stocks you have already researched and buy right!

Muhurat trading is a lovely tradition that has been part of Indian stock markets for decades. 

Use it to start Samvat 2083 with intent, maybe with a long-term pick you've already done your homework on, rather than a festive punt. 

Happy Diwali, and happy investing!

When is Muhurat trading in 2026? 

Muhurat trading in 2026 is on Sunday, November 8, 2026, on account of Diwali Laxmi Pujan. 

What is the Muhurat trading time for 2026? 

Normal trading runs from 2:20 PM to 3:30 PM IST in the cash market and commodity derivatives, and till 3:40 PM in F&O. Pre-open starts at 2:05 PM. 

Do muhurat trades settle like normal trades? 

Yes. All trades executed during the session carry settlement obligations, like any other trading day. Can I trade on the ArihantPlus app during muhurat trading? Yes. You can place orders on the ArihantPlus app during the session timings. 

Do margin rules apply in Muhurat Trading? 

Yes, margin rules remain the same as regular trading. When you made any trade, you require sufficient funds or margin availability in your account for it to execute successfully. There are no special exemptions for margin trading on muhurat day.

Is Diwali a holiday for Indian stock markets? 

Yes, Diwali is a market holiday. The stock exchanges (NSE and BSE) remain closed for regular trading on the main day of Diwali, which is Diwali-Laxmi Pujan. However, they do open for a few hours for the special Muhurat Trading session to honor the tradition. So, while you won't have a full day of trading, you'll still have 70-minute window to make your trades this Diwali.

Where can I find the circular on muhurat trading? 

Click on the following links to find the NSE circulars on Muhurat Trading: 

• Cash Segment
• F&O Segment
• Commodity Segment