By vmg@gmail.com 
The festival of Holi 2026 has brought a trading pause for Indian stock market investors this week. Since Holi is being celebrated on different dates across states, many traders were confused about whether markets would remain open.
The holiday calendars of the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) have now clarified that:
👉 Indian stock markets will remain closed on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
Normal trading operations will resume on Wednesday, March 4, 2026.
❌ What Will Remain Closed?
On March 3 (Holi):
- Equity segment – Closed
- Equity Derivatives – Closed
- Securities Lending & Borrowing (SLB) – Closed
- Settlement activities – Closed
There will be no trading or clearing activity across both exchanges.
🪙 Commodity Market Schedule on Holi
Commodity exchanges will follow a slightly different timetable:
| Exchange | Morning Session | Evening Session |
|---|---|---|
| MCX | Closed | Open (5:00 PM – 11:55 PM) |
| NCDEX | Closed | Closed |
- The Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) will reopen for the evening session only.
- The National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) will remain shut for the entire day.
📈 Market Snapshot (As on March 2, 2026 – 3:59 PM)
Here are some of the top gainers ahead of the Holi break:
| Company | Price | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jindal Drilling & Industries Ltd. | ₹522.15 | +76.85 | +17.26% |
| Tejas Networks Ltd. | ₹484.70 | +48.85 | +11.21% |
| Dhruv Consultancy Services Ltd. | ₹30.48 | +2.77 | +10.00% |
| Bhagyanagar India Ltd. | ₹164.86 | +14.96 | +9.98% |
| IIFL Capital Services Ltd. | ₹315.95 | +27.45 | +9.51% |
Markets showed selective buying interest before heading into the festive break.
🕘 Regular Trading Hours (Normal Days)
Indian stock exchanges operate:
- Pre-open session: 9:00 AM – 9:15 AM
- Main session: 9:15 AM – 3:30 PM
- Open: Monday to Friday
- Closed: Saturdays, Sundays & notified holidays
📅 Remaining Stock Market Holidays in 2026
Including Holi, here are the upcoming trading holidays:
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| March 3 | Holi |
| March 26 | Shri Ram Navami |
| March 31 | Shri Mahavir Jayanti |
| April 3 | Good Friday |
| April 14 | Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Jayanti |
| May 1 | Maharashtra Day |
| May 28 | Bakri Id |
| June 26 | Muharram |
| September 14 | Ganesh Chaturthi |
| October 2 | Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti |
| October 20 | Dussehra |
| November 10 | Diwali-Balipratipada |
| November 24 | Prakash Gurpurb Sri Guru Nanak Dev |
| December 25 | Christmas |
📌 Total announced market holidays in 2026: 16 (excluding weekends)
📌 Key Highlights for Investors
✔ NSE & BSE closed on March 3
✔ MCX evening trading session open
✔ NCDEX closed fully
✔ Markets reopen March 4
✔ 16 total trading holidays in 2026
Investors are advised to plan their trades, settlements, and margin requirements accordingly before the holiday.