Nasdaq to Launch Overnight Trading Session from 9 PM to 4 AM ET in December 2026

Nasdaq has announced plans to implement an overnight trading session from 9 PM to 4 AM ET, beginning on December 6, 2026. This initiative aims to create a nearly continuous trading environment for US equities, pending necessary approvals from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and readiness of the Securities Information Processor.

The new trading schedule will allow Nasdaq to operate for 23 hours a day, five days a week, with trading commencing at 9 PM ET on Sunday and concluding at 8 PM ET on Friday. A one-hour pause for processing will occur each evening from 8 PM to 9 PM ET, while existing trading hours from 4 AM to 8 PM ET will remain unchanged.

Orders that are still open at 4 AM from the overnight session will be canceled and must be resubmitted during the next trading session. Although Nasdaq will support routable orders overnight, certain order types, including market orders, will not be available. To enhance security during overnight trading, orders outside designated price bands will be rejected, with these bands set to 20% away from reference prices.

This move follows the SEC's accelerated approval of Nasdaq's proposal to extend trading hours, aligning with similar changes at the New York Stock Exchange and the 24X Exchange. Nasdaq President Tal Cohen emphasized that this evolution is intended to cater to global investors across various time zones while ensuring liquidity and transparency. However, the SEC has acknowledged potential challenges, such as thinner liquidity and wider bid-ask spreads during overnight sessions.

As the December 2026 launch date approaches, industry stakeholders are focused on ensuring that data feed reliability and clearing processes are adequately prepared to handle trades executed during the overnight hours.