With Holi 2026 approaching, many investors have been wondering whether trading will pause on March 3 or March 4. The confusion is now cleared. According to the official holiday calendar released by the exchanges, both the National Stock Exchange and the Bombay Stock Exchange will remain closed on March 3, 2026, for Holi. Trading will resume as usual on March 4.
This means Dalal Street will get an early weekday break as markets shut down on Tuesday, March 3, for the festival of colours.
Regular Trading Hours on Normal Days
On regular trading days, equity market activity runs on a structured schedule:
- Pre-open session: 9:00 AM to 9:08 AM for order entry and modifications, with a random closure in the final minute.
- Regular trading session: 9:15 AM to 3:30 PM for both normal and limited physical markets.
- Closing session: 3:40 PM to 4:00 PM.
- Block deal session: Conducted in two windows
- Morning: 8:45 AM to 9:00 AM
- Afternoon: 2:05 PM to 2:20 PM
Trading in the equities segment takes place on all weekdays except Saturdays, Sundays, and exchange-declared holidays.
Full List of Key Market Holidays in 2026
Apart from Holi on March 3, here are other major stock market holidays scheduled for 2026:
- March 26 (Thursday): Shri Ram Navami
- March 31 (Tuesday): Shri Mahavir Jayanti
- April 3 (Friday): Good Friday
- April 14 (Monday): Ambedkar Jayanti
- May 1 (Thursday): Maharashtra Day
- May 28 (Wednesday): Bakri Id
- June 26 (Friday): Muharram
- October 2 (Thursday): Gandhi Jayanti
- October 20 (Monday): Dussehra
- November 10 (Monday): Diwali Balipratipada
- November 24 (Monday): Guru Nanak Jayanti
- December 25 (Thursday): Christmas
Investors are advised to plan their trades and settlements in advance, especially around long weekends and festival breaks, to avoid last-minute disruptions.
With clarity now in place, traders can mark March 3, 2026, as a confirmed market holiday and organize their portfolios accordingly before enjoying the Holi celebrations.
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