Diwali Muhurat Trading 2026: Date, Timings for Equity, F&O and Commodity

Diwali Muhurat Trading 2026: Overview

Every year on Diwali, the Indian stock exchanges hold a special one-off trading session called Muhurat Trading. It marks the start of the new Hindu financial year (Samvat), and many investors place a symbolic first trade of the year.

In 2026, Muhurat Trading falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026, on the occasion of Diwali Laxmi Pujan. Two things make this year unusual:

• It is held in the afternoon and not in the evening. Reports say this is the first afternoon session since the tradition was formalised about 69 years ago.
• It is the first Muhurat session after the introduction of the Closing Auction Session (CAS), a new way to set the closing price.

The exchanges, NSE and BSE, announced the schedule in circulars issued on 19 October 2026.

Muhurat Trading 2026 Timings: Equity (Capital Market)

Order entry in some sessions closes at a random time in the last minutes, as specified in the exchange circulars.

Muhurat Trading 2026 Timings: Derivatives (F&O and Currency)

Muhurat Trading 2026 Timings: Commodity Derivatives

Please check the latest circular from your exchange and broker for the exact segment-wise timings before you trade.

What Is the Closing Auction Session (CAS)?

The Closing Auction Session is a new mechanism that determines the closing price of eligible stocks through an auction at the end of the day, instead of relying only on the last few minutes of continuous trading.

In the 2026 Muhurat session, here is how it works for CAS-eligible securities:

1. 3:00 PM – 3:15 PM: A volume-weighted average price (VWAP) is calculated to set a reference price.
2. 3:15 PM: Continuous trading stops for these securities.
3. 3:20 PM – 3:30 PM: Investors place orders for the auction.
4. 3:30 PM – 3:35 PM: Orders are matched and the closing price is set.

Securities that are not part of CAS continue to trade until 3:30 PM.

What Is Muhurat Trading?

"Muhurat" means an auspicious time. Muhurat Trading is a short, symbolic trading session held on Diwali, the festival of Goddess Lakshmi, who is associated with wealth. Traders and investors traditionally see it as a good time to start the new financial year by buying shares and investing in Lakshmi's name.

Many investors use the session to make small, symbolic purchases, often long-term holdings that they plan to keep through the year.

An auspicious date does not guarantee a profit or remove market risk.

A Brief History of Muhurat Trading

• The BSE began the Muhurat Trading tradition in 1957, and the NSE followed in 1992.
• The session has traditionally been held in the evening, around the time of Laxmi Pujan.
• Since the 2026 session falls on a Sunday afternoon, it is a departure from the usual pattern.

Muhurat Trading 2026: Key Rules and Points to Know

• Real trades. Trades made during the session are real exchange transactions and create settlement obligations. They are not symbolic or reversible.
• Who can trade. Any investor with a demat and trading account can place orders.
• Settlement. Settlement follows the usual norms. Check with your broker about the settlement date for trades on a Sunday.
• Order types. Pre-open allows market and limit orders in the first few minutes, then limit orders only. In the closing auction, limit orders only are accepted in the last five minutes.
• Different windows for different securities. Stocks in CAS, special pre-open (such as newly listed securities) and illiquid call auctions follow their own windows. Check which applies to your stock.
• Execution is not guaranteed. Placing an order does not mean it gets executed. Always check your order status.
• Possible volatility. Muhurat sessions are short, and prices can move sharply on low volume.

Muhurat Trading Tips for Investors

1. Know the date and time. It is on Sunday, 8 November, and starts at 2:20 PM.
2. Plan before the session. Decide what you want to buy and your limit price in advance.
3. Use limit orders. They help you avoid paying more than you intended.
4. Keep it symbolic or long term. Do not treat the date as a trading signal.
5. Check your broker's platform. Make sure your app works and your funds and margin are in place.
6. Understand the new closing auction. It is being used in a Muhurat session for the first time.
7. Do not borrow to invest. Avoid leverage because of the short window and the possibility of volatility.
8. Be careful with F&O. Derivatives carry higher risk, and the short session can add to it.

Key Takeaways

• Muhurat Trading 2026 is on Sunday, 8 November, with normal trading from 2:20 PM.
• It is an afternoon session and the first with the Closing Auction Session.
• Trades are real and create settlement obligations.
• Check segment-wise timings in the exchange circulars.
• Keep expectations realistic: the auspicious timing does not remove risk.