Nifty 50 options expire every Thursday. Monthly contracts expire on the last Thursday of the month. If Thursday is a market holiday, expiry moves to the Wednesday before it.
Two months have adjusted expiry dates in 2026:
- March expiry shifts to Wednesday, March 25 (Thursday March 26 is Ram Navami holiday)
- May expiry shifts to Wednesday, May 27 (Thursday May 28 is Bakri Id holiday)
All other months follow the normal Thursday schedule. The full calendar is below.
Nifty 50 Weekly & Monthly Expiry Dates — Full 2026 Calendar
| Month | Weekly Expiry Dates (Thursdays) | Monthly Expiry 2026 | Holiday Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Jan 8, Jan 15, Jan 22, Jan 29 | Jan 29 | Jan 1 is New Year's Day (no expiry). Jan 26 (Republic Day, Monday) does not affect Thursday expiry. |
| February | Feb 5, Feb 12, Feb 19, Feb 26 | Feb 26 | No Thursday holidays. Normal schedule. |
| March | Mar 5, Mar 12, Mar 19, Mar 25 | Mar 25 (Wednesday) | ⚠️ Mar 26 (Thursday) is Ram Navami — a trading holiday. Expiry shifts to Wednesday, Mar 25. |
| April | Apr 2, Apr 9, Apr 16, Apr 23, Apr 30 | Apr 30 | Apr 3 (Good Friday) is a Friday — does not affect Thursday expiry. Normal schedule. |
| May | May 7, May 14, May 21, May 27 | May 27 (Wednesday) | ⚠️ May 28 (Thursday) is Bakri Id — a trading holiday. Expiry shifts to Wednesday, May 27. |
| June | Jun 4, Jun 11, Jun 18, Jun 25 | Jun 25 | Jun 26 (Muharram) is a Friday — does not affect Thursday expiry. Normal schedule. |
| July | Jul 2, Jul 9, Jul 16, Jul 23, Jul 30 | Jul 30 | No Thursday holidays. Normal schedule. |
| August | Aug 6, Aug 13, Aug 20, Aug 27 | Aug 27 | Aug 15 (Independence Day) falls on Saturday — no impact on Thursday expiry. Normal schedule. |
| September | Sep 3, Sep 10, Sep 17, Sep 24 | Sep 24 | Sep 14 (Ganesh Chaturthi) is a Monday — does not affect Thursday expiry. Normal schedule. |
| October | Oct 1, Oct 8, Oct 15, Oct 22, Oct 29 | Oct 29 | Oct 2 (Gandhi Jayanti) is a Friday. Oct 20 (Dussehra) is a Tuesday. No Thursday holidays. Normal schedule. |
| November | Nov 5, Nov 12, Nov 19, Nov 26 | Nov 26 | Nov 10 (Diwali Balipratipada) is a Tuesday. Nov 24 (Guru Nanak Jayanti) is a Tuesday. No Thursday holidays. Normal schedule. |
| December | Dec 3, Dec 10, Dec 17, Dec 24, Dec 31 | Dec 31 | Dec 25 (Christmas) is a Friday — does not affect Thursday expiry. Normal schedule. |
⚠️ Important: Always verify expiry dates on NSE India's official website before placing any trade. NSE may update holiday circulars during the year.
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Nifty Weekly vs Monthly Expiry — What's the Difference?
Nifty has two types of options contracts running at the same time: weekly and monthly.
Weekly contracts expire every Thursday. They are cheaper to buy because they have less time left. Most retail traders use weekly contracts for short-term trades — buying on Monday or Tuesday and exiting before Thursday close.
Monthly contracts expire on the last Thursday of the month. They cost more because they have more time value. Big institutions and hedgers mostly use monthly contracts. On the last Thursday of every month, you will see heavier trading and sharper price swings — especially in the last 30 minutes before 3:30 PM.
A simple way to remember: weekly expiry = every Thursday. Monthly expiry = last Thursday of the month.
What Happens When Nifty Expiry Falls on a Market Holiday?
NSE has a simple rule: if Thursday is a trading holiday, the expiry moves to Wednesday.
This happened twice in 2026 — March and May. Here is what that means for traders:
- Your options position closes one day earlier than usual
- Time decay (the daily loss in option value as expiry approaches) speeds up on that shorter week
- Any pending orders set for Thursday must be updated before Wednesday's close
If you hold an Nifty option in March or May 2026, mark Wednesday in your calendar — not Thursday.
2026 Nifty Expiry: The Two Months to Watch
March 2026 — expiry on Wednesday, March 25
Ram Navami falls on Thursday, March 26, which is a declared NSE trading holiday. The weekly and monthly contracts for March both close on Wednesday, March 25. This means the March monthly contract — which would normally run until the last Thursday — closes one day early.
May 2026 — expiry on Wednesday, May 27
Bakri Id (Eid ul-Adha) falls on Thursday, May 28, which is a declared NSE trading holiday. All Nifty contracts for May close on Wednesday, May 27.
For all other months in 2026, expiry is on the normal Thursday schedule.
How to Use This Nifty Expiry Calendar for Your Trades
Here are three practical ways traders use this calendar:
1. Plan your entry and exit window — Most traders enter Nifty options on Monday or Tuesday of expiry week, when premiums are still reasonable. They exit before 3:00 PM on expiry day to avoid last-minute volatility.
2. Watch for holiday-week shifts — In March and May 2026, the expiry is on Wednesday. If you have an open position on those Thursdays, the market will be closed — your position should already be squared off.
3. Check the monthly expiry date separately — If you trade monthly contracts, the expiry date is the last Thursday — not just any Thursday. Use the "Monthly Expiry 2026" column in the table above to track these.
How Signalz Advisors Trade Around Nifty Expiry
Managing expiry day risk is something every serious trader learns over time. The SEBI-registered advisors on Signalz follow a few clear rules during expiry weeks:
- They check open interest data on Monday of expiry week to spot where most traders have placed their bets. High open interest at a strike price usually acts as a support or resistance level.
- They avoid holding large unprotected positions into the last hour of expiry day (2:30 PM to 3:30 PM), when price moves can be sharp and unpredictable.
- In months where expiry shifts to Wednesday (March and May in 2026), they treat Wednesday afternoon the same way they would treat a regular Thursday expiry close.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What day does Nifty expire each week?
Nifty 50 options expire every Thursday. If Thursday is a stock market holiday, the expiry shifts to Wednesday. This happened in March and May 2026.
What is the Nifty monthly expiry date?
The monthly expiry falls on the last Thursday of each month. For 2026, the adjusted months are March (last Thursday shifts to March 25, a Wednesday) and May (last Thursday shifts to May 27, a Wednesday).
What happens to my Nifty option if I don't sell before expiry?
If your option is in the money (profitable) at expiry, it gets cash-settled automatically by NSE. If it is out of the money (not profitable), it expires worthless and you lose the premium you paid. It is always safer to exit your position before 3:30 PM on expiry day rather than waiting for automatic settlement.
Does Nifty have both weekly and monthly expiry?
Yes. Weekly Nifty contracts expire every Thursday. Monthly contracts expire on the last Thursday of the month. Both types run at the same time — they are different contracts with different expiry dates.
What is the lot size for Nifty options?
The Nifty 50 lot size is currently 75 units per lot. NSE reviews this periodically based on the index level. Always confirm the current lot size on NSE India's official derivatives page before trading.
Which months have adjusted Nifty expiry dates in 2026?
Two months have adjusted expiry dates in 2026. March expiry moves to Wednesday, March 25 (because March 26 is Ram Navami). May expiry moves to Wednesday, May 27 (because May 28 is Bakri Id). All other months follow the normal Thursday schedule.
Where can I check the official Nifty expiry dates?
The official source is the NSE India website: nseindia.com. Go to Products > Derivatives > Equity Derivatives > Expiry Calendar. NSE also publishes circulars whenever a holiday causes an expiry date to shift.
How do I trade Nifty options around expiry on Signalz?
Signalz connects you with SEBI Registered Advisors who share expiry week strategies. You can check free F&O calls on the platform to see how advisors approach expiry day trades before subscribing to a full plan.