Stock Market Opens Sunday for Budget 2026: BSE and NSE Announce February 1 Trading Schedule
In an unprecedented move, Indian stock markets will remain open on Sunday, February 1, 2026, allowing investors to respond promptly to the Union Budget presentation by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Both the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) have confirmed full-day trading sessions, despite the weekend timing. This decision marks a rare exception in the trading calendar, as markets typically close on Sundays and select public holidays.
Details of the Trading Schedule
The BSE and NSE have issued circulars outlining the trading hours for Budget day. The pre-open session will commence at 9 am and conclude at 9:08 am, followed by regular trading from 9:15 am to 3:30 pm. While the core segments of equity, futures and options, and commodity derivatives will operate as usual, the BSE has specified that certain specialized sessions will not take place. Specifically, trading in the T+0 Settlement Session and the Auction Session for settlement defaults will be suspended on this day. This operational adjustment is significant, as it allows investors to react immediately to the budgetary announcements, which can influence market dynamics.
Impact on Market Operations
The decision to open markets on a Sunday is a notable deviation from the norm for Dalal Street. Historically, stock exchanges in India remain closed on weekends and select public holidays, making February 1 one of the few Sundays with active trading in recent years. This will be the first time since 2000 that the Union Budget is presented on a Sunday. In recent years, there have been instances where the Budget presentation has occurred on a Saturday, such as in 2025 and 2015, but this Sunday session is particularly rare.
Upcoming Market Holidays
Despite this unique trading opportunity, the overall holiday calendar for Indian stock exchanges remains unchanged. In 2026, the markets will observe 16 public holidays, with the next scheduled closure on January 26. Key holidays in the first half of the year include Holi on March 3, Ram Navami on March 26, and Mahavir Jayanti on March 31. The markets will also close for significant occasions such as Ambedkar Jayanti on April 14 and Bakri Id on May 28. In the latter half of the year, trading will be suspended on holidays like Muharram on June 26 and Diwali Balipratipada on November 10, culminating with Christmas on December 25, which will be the final market holiday of 2026.
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