MCX Trading Holidays 2026 & Split Session Timings

Understanding MCX Split Sessions (Partial Holidays)

The most unique aspect of the Indian commodity market is the partial holiday structure. On many national or religious holidays where the NSE and BSE are closed for the entire day, the MCX only observes a half-day closure. This is designed to allow Indian traders to react to price movements in the US markets (like the COMEX or NYMEX) which remain open.

• Morning Session (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM IST): On a partial holiday, this session is strictly CLOSED. No trading takes place.
• Evening Session (5:00 PM to 11:30 PM/11:55 PM IST): On a partial holiday, the market wakes up and is fully OPEN. Normal trading, order execution, and price matching resume.

Relying on generic financial news for these dates can be incredibly dangerous, as many portals simply label the entire day as a "Market Holiday." Always refer to our live tracker to see the exact real-time status of the evening session.

Major MCX Holidays in 2026

While the exact calendar is determined by the exchange, holidays generally fall into two categories: Full-Day Closures and Half-Day (Morning) Closures.

Full-Day Closures: On these specific national holidays, both the morning and evening sessions are completely closed. Examples typically include Republic Day (January 26), Independence Day (August 15), Maharashtra Day (May 1), and Gandhi Jayanti (October 2).

Morning Session Closures (Evening Open): These are the days where the 5:00 PM IST restart is activated. These frequently include festivals such as Mahavir Jayanti, Eid-ul-Fitr, Diwali (Balipratipada), and Gurunanak Jayanti. During Diwali, a special Muhurat Trading session is also held, the timings of which are announced by the exchange closer to the festival.

Agri-Commodities vs. Non-Agri Commodities

It is also important to note that the MCX divides its offerings, and holiday timings can occasionally differ based on the asset class:

• Non-Agri Commodities: (Bullion, Base Metals, Energy) These are the assets that typically open for the 5:00 PM evening session on partial holidays to align with international trading.
• Agri-Commodities: (Cotton, Mentha Oil, etc.) These typically remain closed for both the morning and evening sessions on partial holidays.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What time does the MCX open on a partial holiday?

On a designated partial holiday, the morning session is closed, but the evening session officially opens for trading at 5:00 PM IST for non-agri commodities.

Is the MCX open on Saturday and Sunday?

No, the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) operates from Monday to Friday. It is closed on Saturdays and Sundays, except for special designated sessions like Muhurat Trading during Diwali.

Does US Daylight Saving Time affect MCX timings?

Yes. The evening session close time changes based on US Daylight Saving Time. For part of the year, it closes at 11:30 PM IST, and for the rest of the year, it extends to 11:55 PM IST.