Is the Stock Market Open on Dussehra? NSE and BSE Closed Oct 20

NSE and BSE will stay closed on Tuesday, October 20 for Dussehra. MCX will close its morning session and open in the evening.

No, the stock market is not open on Dussehra. The National Stock Exchange, known as NSE, and the Bombay Stock Exchange, known as BSE, will stay closed on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, for Dussehra, according to the NSE holiday calendar reported by LiveMint. Anyone who plans to buy or sell shares that day will need to wait until Wednesday.

Trading will remain shut across the main market segments on both exchanges. Orders placed for Tuesday will not execute. Settlements will shift by a day. The closure creates a shortened trading week, with trade on Monday, October 19, a pause on Tuesday, and a reopening on Wednesday, October 21.

At a glance

Key numbers and dates to know:

Holiday date: Tuesday, October 20, 2026, for Dussehra
NSE and BSE: fully closed for the day
MCX: morning session closed, evening session open
Sensex close on Friday, October 16: 74,729.27, up 413.66 points
Nifty 50 close on Friday, October 16: 23,146.15, up 148.80 points
Nifty IT weekly gain: 11.7 percent, its biggest weekly gain since 2008
October market holidays: two in total, on October 2 and October 20
Next holiday after Dussehra: Tuesday, November 10, for Diwali Balipratipada

What is closed on each exchange

On NSE, trading will remain shut in the capital market, the derivatives market, electronic gold receipts, known as EGR, and the debt market. On BSE, the holiday covers the equity segment, equity derivatives, currency derivatives, NDS-RST and tri-party repo, commodity derivatives, and EGR segments.

The Multi Commodity Exchange, known as MCX, follows a split schedule. Its morning session stays closed on October 20, while its evening session is open. Commodity traders should check the exchange circulars before they place time-sensitive trades, since the split schedule can affect orders and settlement timing.

Why it matters

A market holiday in the middle of the week changes more than the trading calendar. It affects cash planning, delivery schedules, and the timing of trades that need a fixed date. If you placed an order for Tuesday, it will not execute that day. If you expect a settlement on Tuesday, it will shift by a day. Brokers and traders who work with expiry dates, margin calls, or delivery deadlines should read the exchange circulars early and adjust their plans before Monday ends.

The timing also matters because the holiday follows a strong week for Indian shares. The Sensex closed on Friday, October 16, at 74,729.27, up 413.66 points. The Nifty 50 closed at 23,146.15, up 148.80 points. LiveMint described the week as the biggest weekly gains since April. The Nifty IT index rose 11.7 percent on the week, its biggest weekly gain since 2008. A pause after a strong run gives investors a day to review positions, but it also means any reaction to global news will wait until Wednesday.

The October calendar

October 20 is the second and last stock market holiday in October 2026. The first was on October 2 for Gandhi Jayanti. That pattern gives traders two breaks in one month, but no more holidays in October after Dussehra.

The week itself is short and clear. Markets trade on Monday, October 19. They close on Tuesday, October 20. They reopen on Wednesday, October 21. For most investors, the practical step is simple. Finish urgent trades on Monday, confirm settlement dates with your broker, and do not rely on Tuesday execution for any plan that has a deadline.

What happens next

Three stock market holidays remain in 2026 after Dussehra. The next is on Tuesday, November 10, for Diwali Balipratipada. The second is on Tuesday, November 24, for Guru Nanak Jayanti. The third is on Friday, December 25, for Christmas.

Diwali Laxmi Pujan falls on Sunday, November 8. The exchanges will announce Muhurat trading timings separately. Investors who take part in Muhurat trading should wait for that official announcement and should not assume a time based on past years.

For Dussehra week, the advice is direct. Check the NSE and BSE circulars, check the MCX session notice if you trade commodities, and plan for a one-day shift in settlements. Markets return to a normal schedule on Wednesday, October 21.