Muhurat Trading 2026: Date, Expected Time and How It Works
Diwali Muhurat trading 2026 is on Sunday 8 November. What the NSE has confirmed, likely timings from past years, how settlement works and what to watch.
By Balaji Anbazhagan
· 4 min read
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Diwali Muhurat trading 2026 will be held on Sunday, 8 November 2026, the day of Lakshmi Puja. The NSE confirmed the date in its 2026 holiday calendar, but the exact timings have not been announced yet. The exchanges usually publish them by circular a couple of weeks before Diwali. Here is what is confirmed, what to expect, and how the session works.
The short answer
- Date: Sunday, 8 November 2026, on both NSE and BSE.
- Timings: not announced yet. Expect a circular in late October.
- Length: a special session of about one hour, with a short pre-open before it.
- Settlement: trades are settled like a normal trading day’s, so delivery and pay-in rules apply.
- Holiday: Lakshmi Puja falls on a Sunday, but the market is closed on Tuesday, 10 November for Diwali Balipratipada.
What has been confirmed
The NSE’s holiday circular for 2026 lists 8 November 2026 as the day of Muhurat trading and says the timings “shall be notified subsequently”. The BSE follows the same date. As of early October, no timing circular has been issued.
You can see every 2026 trading holiday, including Muhurat trading, on our stock market holidays page.
When will it start? Past years give a clue
The time is set each year according to the auspicious muhurat for that Diwali, so it moves around. Most years it has been in the evening, but 2025 was an exception.
| Year | Date | Normal market session |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Tuesday, 21 October | 1:45 pm to 2:45 pm |
| 2024 | Friday, 1 November | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm |
| 2023 | Sunday, 12 November | 6:15 pm to 7:15 pm |
| 2026 | Sunday, 8 November | To be announced |
Some websites already show 6:00 pm to 7:15 pm for 2026. Treat any time as unconfirmed until the NSE or BSE publishes its circular. We will update this post when it does.
How Muhurat trading works
Muhurat trading marks the start of the new Samvat, the Hindu financial year that many traders and business families follow. Samvat 2083 begins with this session. Many investors place a small, symbolic order for good luck, often in a company they already plan to hold for years.
A typical session has these parts:
| Part | What happens |
|---|---|
| Block deal window | Large trades between institutions, before the main session |
| Pre-open session | Orders are collected and an opening price is found, as on a normal morning |
| Normal market session | About an hour of regular trading in equity, F&O, currency and commodities |
| Closing session | Orders at the closing price |
Things to keep in mind
| Point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Trades settle normally | If you buy shares, you must have the funds. If you sell shares you hold, they leave your demat account. |
| Intraday positions are squared off | Brokers close open intraday trades before the session ends, as on any day. |
| Brokerage and charges apply | It is a normal session for charges: brokerage, STT, exchange fees, stamp duty and GST. |
| Volumes are thin | With fewer participants, prices can move sharply on small orders. Use limit orders. |
| It does not predict the year | A green or red Muhurat session says nothing reliable about the next 12 months. |
To work out what a trade will cost you in charges, use the brokerage calculator. If you are adding to a stock you already own, the stock average calculator shows your new average price.
Should you trade on Muhurat day?
There is no financial advantage to buying on Muhurat day. If you want to follow the tradition, a sensible way is to put a small amount into an investment you would have made anyway, such as a few shares of a company you know well, or a lump sum into an index fund. Avoid trading derivatives in a short, thin session just because it is auspicious.
Frequently asked questions
When is Muhurat trading in 2026? On Sunday, 8 November 2026, the day of Diwali Lakshmi Puja, on both NSE and BSE.
What is the Muhurat trading time for 2026? It has not been announced yet. The exchanges usually issue a circular with the exact schedule in the second half of October. In recent years the main session has started at 6:00 pm or 6:15 pm, except in 2025, when it ran from 1:45 pm to 2:45 pm.
Is the stock market closed on Diwali 2026? Diwali Lakshmi Puja falls on Sunday, 8 November, when the market opens only for the special Muhurat session. NSE and BSE are then closed on Tuesday, 10 November, for Diwali Balipratipada. Monday, 9 November, is a normal trading day.
Do Muhurat trades get settled? Yes. They are settled like trades on a normal day, so normal pay-in, delivery and margin rules apply.
Can I buy mutual funds during Muhurat trading? Mutual fund orders are not processed by the stock exchange session in the same way. An order placed on a Sunday gets the next business day’s NAV. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) can be bought during the session like shares.
Sources
- NSE, circular NSE/CMTR/71775, “Trading holidays for the calendar year 2026”, 12 December 2025: nseindia.com
- Multibagg, “Muhurat Trading: Date and Session Timings (2026)”: multibagg.ai
- Business Today, “Diwali Muhurat Trading 2025 on NSE, BSE set for Oct 21; check timings”, 21 October 2025: businesstoday.in
- Bajaj Finserv, “Diwali Muhurat Trading 2026 - Date, Timing and Importance”: bajajfinserv.in
This article is for general information and education, not financial, tax or investment advice. Rules and rates change; check official sources or consult a qualified professional before acting. See our disclaimer.