Muhurat Trading 2026: Date, Timings & Historical Returns
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The stock market will open on a Sunday this Diwali. NSE and BSE have scheduled Muhurat Trading for 8 November 2026, with the equity session beginning at 2:20 PM. But there is a detail worth noticing: not every stock follows the same closing process this year.
Muhurat Trading is a long-standing Diwali tradition when investors welcome a new Samvat year by participating in a special stock market session. The occasion may be symbolic, but the transactions are real. Orders can be executed, charges can apply and completed trades create settlement obligations.
Here are the confirmed timings, what the new closing auction means, how different investments work during the session and what the Nifty and Sensex have done over the past ten Muhurat sessions.
Muhurat Trading 2026 is on Sunday, 8 November 2026, for Diwali Laxmi Pujan. The NSE equity pre-open begins at 2:05 PM and continuous trading begins at 2:20 PM IST. Continuous trading ends at 3:15 PM for Closing Auction Session (CAS) securities and 3:30 PM for non-CAS securities. The scheduled settlement date for normal T+1 NSE equity trades executed on 8 November is Monday, 9 November 2026.
Muhurat Trading 2026: Official NSE Date and Timings
NSE's capital market circular NSE/CMTR/76941, dated 19 October 2026, confirms the Sunday, 8 November session and its equity-market timetable. The main continuous trading window opens at 2:20 PM, but the market does not have one common closing time for every security.
| Session | Start | End |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-open: limit and market order entry, changes and cancellations | 2:05 PM | 2:10 PM |
| Pre-open: limit orders only* | 2:10 PM | 2:15 PM |
| Pre-open matching and confirmation | 2:15 PM | 2:17 PM |
| Pre-open buffer | 2:17 PM | 2:20 PM |
| Continuous trading begins | 2:20 PM | Varies by security |
| Continuous trading for CAS securities | 2:20 PM | 3:15 PM |
| Transition to Closing Auction Session (CAS) | 3:15 PM | 3:20 PM |
| CAS: limit and market order entry, changes and cancellations | 3:20 PM | 3:25 PM |
| CAS: limit orders only* | 3:25 PM | 3:30 PM |
| CAS order matching and confirmation | 3:30 PM | 3:35 PM |
| Continuous trading for non-CAS securities | 2:20 PM | 3:30 PM |
| Post-close session | 3:50 PM | 4:00 PM |
All times are IST. *The limit-order-only phases of pre-open (2:10–2:15 PM) and CAS (3:25–3:30 PM) are subject to system-driven random closure in their last two minutes. During these phases, market orders cannot be modified or cancelled. Source: NSE circular NSE/CMTR/76941, pages 1–2. The table shows NSE equity-segment timings; BSE has separately notified its Muhurat equity session, with continuous trading from 2:20 PM to 3:30 PM.
Why are there two closing times? Securities covered by the Closing Auction Session stop continuous trading at 3:15 PM and enter a separate closing-price process. Non-CAS securities continue trading until 3:30 PM. So the often-used description of Muhurat Trading as a uniform one-hour session does not accurately describe the full 2026 schedule.
Other special trading windows
NSE has also specified separate windows for block deals, IPO or relisted securities, and illiquid securities. Most retail investors looking to buy a normally traded listed stock will be concerned primarily with the pre-open, continuous market and applicable closing auction.
| Additional NSE window | Timing |
|---|---|
| Block deals | 1:50 PM–2:05 PM |
| Special pre-open for IPO and relisted securities | 2:05 PM–2:50 PM* |
| Normal market for stocks in special pre-open | 3:05 PM–3:30 PM |
| Call auction for illiquid securities | 2:25 PM–3:10 PM* |
| Trade modification cut-off | 4:15 PM |
*Subject to the applicable random-closure rules in NSE's circular. These are specialised sessions and are not additional general trading hours.
What Is Muhurat Trading and Why Is It Celebrated?
In Indian tradition, a muhurat is a time considered auspicious for beginning something important. Stock exchanges observe a special trading session around Diwali Laxmi Pujan to mark the beginning of a new Samvat year. The 2026 session welcomes Samvat 2083.
For some investors and families, buying a share or an exchange-traded fund during Muhurat Trading has a cultural meaning. It can mark a fresh start or continue a practice followed across generations. Others simply watch the special session without placing a trade.
The tradition, however, does not change how investment risk works. A share bought during Muhurat Trading can rise or fall like a share bought on any regular trading day.
How Does Muhurat Trading Work in 2026?
Investors can generally use their existing broker accounts to place eligible exchange orders during the special session. The familiar distinction between a market order and a limit order still matters. A market order prioritises execution at available prices, while a limit order specifies the maximum purchase price or minimum sale price you are willing to accept.
What changes in 2026 is the closing process for certain stocks.
What is the Closing Auction Session (CAS)?
CAS is a separate auction designed to help determine the closing price of eligible securities. Instead of relying only on the last trade during continuous trading, the exchange collects eligible buy and sell orders and matches them through the auction process.
For the 8 November NSE session, continuous trading in CAS securities ends at 3:15 PM. The exchange then allows time for the transition, order entry and matching. For non-CAS securities, normal continuous trading continues until 3:30 PM.
Before placing an order: Check whether your security is subject to CAS. In the first five minutes of both the pre-open and CAS order-entry windows, NSE permits limit and market orders to be entered, modified or cancelled. In the next five-minute phase, only limit orders can be entered, modified or cancelled; market orders cannot be changed or cancelled. The final two minutes of each limit-only phase are subject to random closure. A placed order is not a guarantee of execution.
Trading in futures, options, currencies or commodities may follow separate segment notices. The NSE capital market circular quoted here should not be treated as the timetable for every derivative or commodity contract.
Can You Buy Stocks, ETFs and Mutual Funds During Muhurat Trading?
These instruments are often mentioned together, but they do not all work in the same way.
| Investment | What happens during Muhurat Trading? |
|---|---|
| Listed shares | Eligible listed stocks can be traded through the exchange during their applicable trading windows, subject to broker and market rules. |
| ETFs | Exchange-traded funds, where eligible and available for trading, are bought and sold through the exchange at market prices. Available liquidity and bid-ask spreads matter. |
| Mutual funds and SIPs | Mutual fund transactions do not automatically receive a special Sunday NAV. Platform acceptance, scheme business days, applicable cut-offs and receipt of funds determine processing and the NAV that applies. |
For example, buying an ETF on the exchange is different from placing a purchase request in an index mutual fund. The ETF can trade at a quoted market price during the session. The mutual fund purchase follows its own order-processing and NAV rules.
AMFI's guidance on applicable NAV explains why the timing of the request and the availability of money with the fund are important. For a broader comparison, read Finnovate's guide to index funds and ETFs.
Muhurat Trading 2026 Settlement Date and Market Holidays
Muhurat Trading is a special session, not a practice trade. Executed orders create actual settlement obligations.
According to NSE Clearing's November 2026 settlement calendar, normal rolling T+1 equity trades executed on Sunday, 8 November 2026 are scheduled to settle on Monday, 9 November 2026. This is listed explicitly as settlement number 2026211 in Annexure A.
The credit of purchased securities to your broker account or demat holdings can depend on broker and depository processing. Other settlement types may have different arrangements, so check the applicable settlement calendar if your transaction is not a standard T+1 equity trade.
Muhurat Trading Historical Returns: Nifty and Sensex, 2016–2025
The markets have often closed higher during Muhurat Trading, but not every year has been positive. The table below compares the closing level of each benchmark with its previous trading-day close. These are session-day returns, not gains from the Muhurat opening price and not full-year investment returns.
| Year | Nifty 50 close | Nifty change | Sensex close | Sensex change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25,868.60 | +0.10% | 84,426.34 | +0.07% |
| 2024 | 24,304.35 | +0.40% | 79,724.12 | +0.42% |
| 2023 | 19,525.55 | +0.51% | 65,259.45 | +0.54% |
| 2022 | 17,730.75 | +0.87% | 59,831.66 | +0.87% |
| 2021 | 17,916.80 | +0.49% | 60,067.62 | +0.49% |
| 2020 | 12,780.25 | +0.47% | 43,637.98 | +0.45% |
| 2019 | 11,627.15 | +0.37% | 39,250.20 | +0.49% |
| 2018 | 10,598.40 | +0.65% | 35,237.68 | +0.70% |
| 2017 | 10,146.55 | -0.63% | 32,389.96 | -0.59% |
| 2016 | 8,625.70 | -0.14% | 27,930.21 | -0.04% |
Historical closing levels and percentage movements are based on published NSE/BSE index data and contemporary market reports. Each percentage is the change from the previous trading day’s close to the Muhurat session close, not the change from the session opening level. Figures exclude dividends, taxes and trading costs. Sources are listed below.
Both the Nifty and Sensex closed higher in eight of the ten Muhurat sessions from 2016 to 2025. The two exceptions were 2016 and 2017. Most of the positive moves were modest, and this small historical sample does not tell us whether the 2026 session or the year ahead will be positive.
The 2025 session is a good example of why the headline needs context. Nifty rose 0.10% and Sensex gained just 0.07%. Both ended in the green, but the moves were small. One festive session offers a snapshot of market activity, not a dependable guide to what happens over the next 12 months.
What Does the Longer History of Muhurat Trading Reveal?
Beyond the Sensex and Nifty, the more interesting change has been in who participates. NSE's November 2024 Market Pulse study reported that 24.5 lakh individual investors participated in that year's Muhurat cash-market session. Their share of buy-side traded value reached 63.4%, compared with 33% during regular October 2024 trading.
Historical sessions have also produced very different outcomes across company sizes. According to NSE Market Pulse, November 2024, Figure 107 (page 82), the Nifty Microcap 250 outperformed four other broad-market indices in 17 of the 19 Muhurat sessions from 2006 through 2024. The historical values for periods before the index's launch were back-calculated, and an index's performance cannot be treated as an executable return.
Then there is the 2008 session, when Nifty rose more than 6% against the previous close amid the global financial crisis. Put together, these observations show why Muhurat Trading is worth studying as a part of India's market history, even though its returns are not a forecast.
What Should Investors Keep in Mind Before Muhurat Trading?
Muhurat Trading carries an emotional significance for many people. Participating in that tradition is a personal choice. It does not, by itself, establish whether a particular stock, ETF or fund belongs in a portfolio.
- Know what you are buying. A familiar company name or a festive recommendation is not a substitute for understanding the investment and its risks.
- Check the order type and session. Confirm the applicable market window and understand that an order can remain unfilled. A limit order can control the price you are willing to accept but cannot guarantee execution.
- Allow for costs. Brokerage, exchange-related charges and applicable taxes can affect the total cost of a transaction. Any broker-specific offers should be checked directly.
- Think about the existing portfolio. Before adding another holding, consider whether it fits your asset allocation, investment horizon and financial goals.
If you are using Diwali as an occasion to review your finances, our asset allocation guide and portfolio review checklist are useful starting points.
Finnovate's perspective: The meaning attached to Muhurat Trading can be personal. The investment decision should still rest on the same questions that matter on any other day: what you own, why you own it, the risk involved and the role it plays in your financial plan.
Key Takeaways
- Muhurat Trading 2026 takes place on Sunday, 8 November, marking Samvat 2083.
- NSE's equity pre-open begins at 2:05 PM IST; continuous trading begins at 2:20 PM.
- CAS securities move out of continuous trading at 3:15 PM, while non-CAS securities continue until 3:30 PM.
- Normal T+1 NSE equity trades executed on 8 November are scheduled to settle on Monday, 9 November.
- Nifty and Sensex closed higher in eight of the past ten Muhurat sessions, but historical performance does not predict future returns.
FAQs
1. When is Muhurat Trading in 2026?
Muhurat Trading takes place on Sunday, 8 November 2026, on Diwali Laxmi Pujan. The session marks the beginning of Samvat 2083.
2. What time does Muhurat Trading start and end in 2026?
The NSE equity pre-open starts at 2:05 PM IST and continuous trading starts at 2:20 PM. Continuous trading ends at 3:15 PM for CAS securities and 3:30 PM for non-CAS securities. CAS and post-close windows continue afterward.
3. Is the stock market open on Sunday, 8 November 2026?
Yes, for the special Muhurat Trading session. This is an exception to the usual Sunday market closure. Check the timetable for your market segment and security.
4. Can I buy shares or ETFs during Muhurat Trading?
Eligible listed shares and exchange-traded funds can be traded in the applicable exchange windows through participating brokers. Trading depends on availability, order rules and execution conditions.
5. When will shares bought during Muhurat Trading 2026 settle?
NSE Clearing's published November 2026 calendar lists Monday, 9 November as the settlement date for normal T+1 equity trades executed on Sunday, 8 November. Other segments or settlement types may follow separate schedules.
6. Is the stock market closed after Diwali 2026?
Monday, 9 November is not listed as an NSE equity trading holiday. Tuesday, 10 November 2026, is a trading holiday for Diwali Balipratipada.
7. Does Muhurat Trading always end with a gain?
No. Nifty and Sensex fell during the 2016 and 2017 Muhurat sessions. A positive session is neither guaranteed nor evidence of a positive return over the following year.
Sources
- NSE trading holidays and circular information.
- NCL/CMPT/76729: Settlement calendar for November 2026
- BSE Notices & Circulars.
- NSE Economic Policy and Research
- NSE Indices historical data; Business Standard's 21 October 2025 market close report.
- AMFI: Applicable NAV and cut-off rules for mutual fund transactions.
Trading arrangements and circulars are subject to subsequent exchange changes. This article reflects notices available as of 19 October 2026. Past index returns use published session-close changes against the previous trading day's close.
Disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes and is not investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Investments in securities markets are subject to market risks. Exchange, broker and fund rules may change, and investors should check the latest official notices before placing a transaction.
