MCX Holidays 2026 (Commodity Market Holiday List India)

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.

Is MCX Open Today in India?

The Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) is open Monday to Friday with two trading sessions. The morning session runs from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, while the evening session continues until 11:30 PM or 11:55 PM depending on global market timings.

On certain Indian holidays, MCX may remain closed during the morning session but reopen in the evening session at 5:00 PM. Always check the live market status before trading.

Last updated: June 18, 2026 – This MCX holiday list 2026 is cross-checked against official exchange circulars and updated within hours of any announcement.

MCX Holiday List 2026 – Impact by Commodity Type

The MCX holiday list 2026 affects different commodity segments differently. Understanding how each asset class behaves during holidays can save you from unexpected losses.

Bullion (Gold & Silver) During MCX Holidays

Gold and silver futures on MCX are heavily influenced by COMEX (New York) prices. On partial holidays when the morning session is closed, the evening session reopens specifically to allow bullion traders to align positions with international markets. If you hold gold or silver positions, never assume the entire day is a holiday – always check the evening session status.

Base Metals (Copper, Aluminium, Zinc, Lead) on MCX Trading Holidays

Base metals follow LME (London Metal Exchange) and SHFE (Shanghai) benchmarks. During Indian festivals when MCX is partially closed, LME may be fully operational. A gap-up or gap-down opening in the evening session is common. Our MCX trading holidays calendar helps you plan entries and exits around these volatility windows.

Energy (Crude Oil & Natural Gas) During MCX Closed Days

Crude oil and natural gas are the most globally correlated commodities on MCX. NYMEX (US) and ICE (Europe) continue trading even when Indian markets are observing holidays. The commodity market holiday list 2026 above shows exactly which evening sessions remain open so energy traders can react to global inventory data releases and OPEC announcements that may occur during Indian daytime hours.

Agri-Commodities on MCX Holidays

Unlike bullion, metals, and energy, agri-commodities (such as cotton, mentha oil, CPO, and kapas) typically remain closed for both morning and evening sessions on partial holidays. This is because agri-commodity pricing is primarily domestic and does not need to align with international markets. If you trade only agri commodities, treat partial holidays as full closures for your positions.

MCX Holiday Calendar 2026 – NSE/BSE vs MCX Comparison

Print or bookmark this MCX holiday calendar 2026 to avoid the most common trading mistake: assuming MCX follows NSE holiday rules. The table below highlights the critical differences:

Holiday	Date (2026)	NSE/BSE	MCX
Holi	Mar 4, 2026	🔴 Full Closed	🟢 Evening Open
Diwali Balipratipada	Nov 10, 2026	🔴 Full Closed	🟢 Evening Open
Republic Day	Jan 26, 2026	🔴 Full Closed	🔴 Full Closed
Gandhi Jayanti	Oct 2, 2026	🔴 Full Closed	🔴 Full Closed

For the complete equity market calendar, visit our NSE & BSE Holidays 2026 page. Remember, on 7 out of 11 partial holidays, MCX evening session is open while NSE/BSE remain shut.

Settlement & Contract Expiry During MCX Holidays 2026

When a commodity futures contract expiry date coincides with an MCX trading holiday, the exchange prepones or postpones the settlement. This directly impacts your MTM and delivery obligations.

• If expiry falls on a full holiday: Settlement is typically moved to the previous trading day.
• If expiry falls on a partial holiday: The morning session is closed, so settlement may occur in the evening session or shift to the next day – check the official MCX circular 3-5 days prior.
• Commodity options expiry follow the same adjustment.

Muhurat Trading 2026 – MCX Special Diwali Session

MCX conducts a symbolic Muhurat Trading session around Diwali. In 2026, Diwali Laxmi Pujan falls on Sunday, November 8 (market already closed). The Muhurat window is typically scheduled on the evening of Balipratipada (Nov 10, a partial holiday) or on a nearby day. The exact timing (usually 60-90 minutes) is announced by the exchange 7-10 days before Diwali. Bookmark this page – we update the MCX Muhurat Trading 2026 timings the moment the circular is out.

Why MCX Has Partial Holidays – The Global Market Connection

The partial holiday system exists because commodity prices are discovered globally. If MCX closed for the full day on every Indian festival, domestic traders would face 24+ hours of unhedged risk. Key international exchanges driving this:

• COMEX (New York): Gold & silver benchmark – overlaps with MCX evening session.
• NYMEX (New York): Crude oil & natural gas pricing – active during MCX evening hours.
• LME (London): Base metals benchmark – partially overlaps with MCX evening session.
• SHFE (Shanghai): Influences base metals during MCX morning hours.

MCX Holiday Trading Strategies – How to Profit from Partial Closures

Smart traders use the MCX holidays 2026 calendar to their advantage:

• Pre-holiday position sizing: Reduce positions ahead of full closures to avoid gap risk.
• Evening session breakout trades: On partial holidays, international cues often cause a strong directional move at 5:00 PM. Use this for breakout entries.
• Arbitrage opportunities: When NSE is closed but MCX is open, divergence between domestic equity sentiment and commodity prices can create arbitrage in related stocks the next day.
• Agri-commodity avoidance: Don't initiate fresh agri positions on a partial holiday day – liquidity will be zero even in the evening.

Extended FAQ – MCX Holidays 2026

Is MCX open on Diwali 2026?

Diwali Laxmi Pujan (Nov 8) is Sunday – market already closed. Balipratipada (Nov 10) is a partial holiday: morning closed, evening open at 5:00 PM. Muhurat trading may also take place.

Is MCX open on Holi 2026?

Holi falls on March 4, 2026 (Wednesday). It's a partial holiday: morning session closed, evening session open at 5:00 PM.

Can I trade MCX when NSE and BSE are closed?

Yes, often you can. On many festivals, NSE and BSE remain fully closed while MCX reopens for the evening session at 5:00 PM. Always check the MCX-specific holiday list rather than relying on equity market holiday calendars.

Where can I download the official MCX Holidays 2026 PDF?

The official circular is published on mcxindia.com. We update this page within hours of any official release – bookmark it as your go-to MCX calendar 2026.

What happens to my open positions during an MCX holiday?

Positions remain intact but MTM is not calculated on closed days. Margins may increase after long holidays, and stop-loss orders won't trigger, creating gap risk. Ensure adequate margin before extended closures.

How do I know if today is an MCX holiday?

Visit our Live Market Status Dashboard to instantly check whether MCX is open or closed right now. It calculates the current session status in real-time based on the official holiday calendar.

Are MCX trading timings changing in 2026?

No changes announced. Standard timings remain: morning 9:00 AM–5:00 PM, evening 5:00 PM–11:30/11:55 PM IST. Any revision will be updated on our Trading Timings page immediately.

MCX Holidays 2026 – Quick Summary

Also check: NSE/BSE Holidays 2026 | Clearing Holidays | Trading Timings | Live Market Status