Exchanges operate strictly as per their notified annual calendar, and March 3 was the designated closure for Holi this year. Even though celebrations spill over into March 4 in many states, there is no trading halt across the equity, derivatives or currency segments on Wednesday.
Stock market holiday calendar 2026
In total, Indian exchanges will observe 15 trading holidays in 2026, spanning key national and religious events.The next scheduled holidays are Ram Navami on March 26 and Mahavir Jayanti on March 31. April will see markets closed for Good Friday on April 3 and Ambedkar Jayanti on April 14. Maharashtra Day on May 1 will also be a non-trading day.
In the first half of the year, Bakri Id on May 28 and Muharram on June 26 are marked as holidays. Later in the year, trading will remain suspended for Ganesh Chaturthi on September 14 and Gandhi Jayanti on October 2. Dussehra falls on October 20, followed by Diwali Balipratipada on November 10 and Guru Nanak Jayanti on November 24. The final market holiday of 2026 will be Christmas on December 25.
Independence Day on August 15 falls on a weekend in 2026, meaning there is no additional weekday closure beyond the regular Saturday break.
Markets brace for war-driven volatility
The resumption of trading comes against the backdrop of heightened geopolitical stress. Escalating hostilities between the United States, Israel and Iran have unsettled global financial markets, triggering a surge in crude oil prices and prompting a shift toward risk aversion.
On Monday, Indian equities saw heavy selling pressure as investors reacted to the expanding conflict in West Asia. The Sensex and Nifty opened sharply lower and remained under pressure for most of the session before trimming some intraday losses. Broader indices, including midcaps and smallcaps, also declined, reflecting widespread caution.
The core concern for Indian markets remains oil. With tensions threatening energy flows through the Middle East, crude prices have risen sharply, stoking fears of imported inflation, pressure on the rupee and a widening current account deficit. Any sustained disruption could complicate the interest rate outlook and weigh on corporate margins, particularly in oil-intensive sectors.
Market participants are also factoring in global cues. Wall Street has corrected sharply to the evolving situation. The trajectory of crude prices and the duration of the conflict are likely to dictate near-term sentiment.
Technically, analysts say the Nifty is hovering near important support levels after the recent slide. A break below recent swing lows could extend the correction, while any stabilisation in oil prices may offer room for a relief bounce.
Given the uncertain backdrop, brokers are advising investors to avoid aggressive positioning and focus on capital preservation. With geopolitical developments still unfolding, the immediate outlook hinges less on festival calendars and more on energy markets and global risk sentiment.
(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by experts are their own. These do not represent the views of Economic Times.)