Is the stock market open on Dussehra (20th Oct 2026)?
Key takeaways:
- NSE and BSE will remain closed on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, for Dussehra, so regular equity trading will not take place.
- 20 October is also an NSE clearing holiday, meaning clearing and settlement activities will be affected and eligible settlements will move to the next working settlement day.
- MCX will follow a separate schedule, with the morning session closed and the evening session open on Dussehra.
- Bank holidays vary by location. Several major cities will observe a bank holiday on 20 October, while some locations will follow different schedules.
- Investors should plan settlements and fund transfers in advance, particularly if their bank is closed, as the holiday can affect the movement of funds and securities.
NSE and BSE are scheduled to remain closed on 20th October for regular trading, as Dussehra is included in the 2026 trading holiday calendar. The holiday will also affect clearing and settlement activities on the day.
Here is what will remain open, what may be affected and what investors should know before the holiday.
Why is Dussehra observed in India?
Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, is an important Hindu festival observed across India. The festival is associated with the victory of good over evil and is marked by religious ceremonies and celebrations.
20th October is listed as Dussehra in the 2026 government’s holiday calendar as well as in the government’s restricted holiday list. The holiday can affect banks and financial-market settlement processes even when stock exchanges continue trading.
Are NSE and BSE open on 20th October 2026?
No, both NSE and BSE will remain closed for trading on Tuesday, 20th October 2026. The 2026 trading holiday calendar lists 20th October as Dussehra and a trading holiday for NSE and BSE.
Investors will therefore not be able to place and execute buy and sell orders through the regular market session.
However, trading and settlement are two different processes. While the exchanges remain closed, the holiday can also affect clearing and settlement-related activities.
Is 20th October a settlement holiday?
Yes. 20th October 2026 is listed as an NSE clearing holiday.
This means trading and settlement activities are both affected by the holiday. For investors, this distinction is important because a trading holiday and a clearing holiday can have different implications for the movement of securities and funds.
Will MCX remain open on Dussehra?
The morning session would be closed and the evening session would be open.
The morning session runs from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., while the evening session runs from 5:00 P.M. to 11:30 P.M./11:55 P.M.
Commodity traders should therefore account for the applicable MCX trading schedule when planning their positions around the date.
Will the T+1 settlement cycle be affected?
Yes. 20th October 2026 is a settlement holiday, so the normal settlement timeline will be adjusted around the holiday.
NSE follows a T+1 rolling settlement cycle for the normal equity segment, with intervening holidays, including bank holidays, NSE holidays, Saturdays and Sundays, excluded when calculating the settlement day.
Since 20th October is a settlement holiday, a trade whose settlement would otherwise fall on the holiday will move to the next applicable settlement day.
Investors should therefore account for this when planning the use of sale proceeds or the receipt of securities.
Will banks remain closed on 20th October 2026?
Bank holidays can vary by location. The 2026 bank-holiday calendar lists Dussehra/Vijaya Dashami on 20th October in Agartala, Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Itanagar, Kolkata, Patna, Ranchi, Shillong, and Vijayawada across all major cities, while Gangtok and Imphal are not listed for the date.
Investors in these locations should account for the bank holiday when planning fund transfers and settlement-related payments. NSE and BSE, however, are scheduled to remain closed for trading on 20th October 2026.
How can the bank holiday affect settlements?
Dussehra holiday may affect investors mainly through settlement and banking processes, even though stock-market trading remains closed. Some important implications include:
- Sale proceeds and securities may be received later than usual.
- Fund transfers linked to settlement obligations may be affected.
- T+1 settlements due on the holiday will move to the next eligible settlement day.
- Banking services may vary depending on the location and bank.
Investors should therefore plan cash requirements, fund transfers and delivery-based transactions in advance rather than assuming that banking operations will remain normal everywhere.
Final thoughts
Indian stock market will remain closed on Tuesday, 20th October 2026, for Dussehra, with NSE and BSE not conducting regular trading. There is also a separate NSE clearing holiday for 20th October. However, investors should check their bank's holiday status and account for any location-specific banking restrictions when planning fund transfers or delivery-based transactions.
MCX, however, will follow a separate schedule, with the morning session closed and the evening session open on Dussehra.
