India’s major stock exchanges remained closed on Thursday, May 28, 2026, with all trading activities on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) suspended on account of Eid-ul-Adha (Bakrid). The closure applied despite the day not falling on a weekend or involving any mock trading session, leading to confusion among several investors and traders. According to the official trading holiday calendar of Indian exchanges, May 28 was declared a full market holiday.
Trading remained suspended across all major segments, including equity, equity derivatives, currency derivatives, Securities Lending and Borrowing (SLB), and Electronic Gold Receipts (EGR). The closure affects domestic investors as well as foreign institutional investors (FIIs) and global trading participants active in Indian markets.
Confusion regarding the Bakrid holiday date emerged in some regions this year, with discussions around a holiday on May 27 in certain states and institutions. However, most government departments, banks, and financial institutions declared May 28 as the official holiday. Based on this, NSE and BSE kept markets closed on Thursday, May 28.
Trading holidays in Indian stock markets are determined according to a pre-declared annual calendar. Investors are required to track these holidays in advance to avoid disruptions related to trading, investment, and settlement planning.
Commodity market participants also faced changes to trading activity on the day. On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), the morning trading session remained closed, while trading was expected to resume for a limited duration during the evening session. Investors trading in gold, silver, crude oil, and other commodity products were required to monitor trading timings accordingly.
International commodity markets remained open, and fluctuations in global prices could continue during the period.
This marked the second market closure in India during May 2026. Earlier, trading on NSE and BSE remained suspended on May 1 on account of Maharashtra Day and Labour Day. Indian stock exchanges observe trading holidays throughout the year on national and religious occasions.
Markets are expected to remain closed later in 2026 on occasions including Muharram, Ganesh Chaturthi, Dussehra, Diwali, and Christmas. NSE and BSE holidays remain relevant for global investors and international trading firms due to continued participation by foreign investors in Indian financial markets.
When Indian markets remain closed, foreign investors are required to plan order execution, portfolio rebalancing, and hedging activities accordingly. Market closures in India may also influence regional trading sentiment in Asia.
Following the holiday, Indian stock markets are scheduled to reopen during normal trading hours on Friday, May 29, 2026. Under standard practice, Indian stock markets remain closed on Saturdays and Sundays, while additional closures are declared on festivals and special occasions through the trading holiday calendar.
