Forex market is open right now
Currently tracking 4 major trading sessions Market operates 24 hours a day, 5 days a week
Live Session Status
Which of the four major forex sessions are currently active right now
Quick Answer
Is forex open today?
Yes, if today is Monday through Friday (before 5:00 PM ET on Friday). No, if today is Saturday, or Sunday before 5:00 PM ET.
Is forex open right now?
Check the live status at the top of this page. The market is open roughly 71% of the week — 120 out of 168 hours.
When does it open / close?
Opens Sunday 5:00 PM ET (22:00 UTC) when Sydney starts.
Closes Friday 5:00 PM ET (22:00 UTC) when New York ends.
Why does it stay open 24/5?
Forex is decentralized. As one financial center closes (Tokyo), the next opens (London), and activity rotates continuously across the globe.
Weekly Schedule — Day by Day
Exactly when the forex market is open or closed each day of the week, in multiple time zones
| Day | Market Status | UTC Hours | EST Hours | GMT Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Open all day | 00:00 – 24:00 | 00:00 – 24:00 | 00:00 – 24:00 | Full activity, all sessions active in rotation |
| Tuesday | Open all day | 00:00 – 24:00 | 00:00 – 24:00 | 00:00 – 24:00 | Typically highest mid-week volume |
| Wednesday | Open all day | 00:00 – 24:00 | 00:00 – 24:00 | 00:00 – 24:00 | Peak liquidity day; FOMC meetings often fall here |
| Thursday | Open all day | 00:00 – 24:00 | 00:00 – 24:00 | 00:00 – 24:00 | ECB and BoE rate decisions often on Thursdays |
| Friday | Open until close | 00:00 – 22:00 | 00:00 – 17:00 | 00:00 – 22:00 | NFP release (first Friday). Market closes at 22:00 UTC |
| Saturday | Closed all day | — | — | — | No interbank trading; some brokers offer crypto only |
| Sunday | Reopens at 22:00 UTC | 22:00 – 24:00 | 17:00 – 24:00 | 22:00 – 24:00 | Sydney session opens. Thin liquidity first hour |
How to Tell If Forex Is Open Right Now
The simplest rule: if the current time in New York is between Sunday 5:00 PM and Friday 5:00 PM, the forex market is open. Outside that window, the market is closed and no live interbank pricing is available.
This page uses your browser's timezone to show the real-time market status at the top. If the status indicator is green, you can trade. If it is pink, the market is closed for the weekend and you will see the countdown to Sunday's reopen.
Why 5:00 PM Eastern Time?
The 5:00 PM ET reference point isn't arbitrary — it is the traditional New York bank close. Because New York is the last major center to finish each trading day, it marks the handoff: on Sundays it passes the torch to Sydney (which is already in Monday local time), and on Fridays it ends the trading week.
Every broker, data vendor, and institutional desk uses this same Sunday-to-Friday 5 PM ET schedule, which is why you will see it referenced everywhere in forex education.
Holiday Exceptions
Forex is technically open on most holidays since it is a decentralized global market. However, on the following days liquidity drops so low that most retail brokers widen spreads significantly or halt trading on certain pairs:
- Christmas Day (Dec 25) — Most major centers closed. Near-zero interbank flow.
- New Year's Day (Jan 1) — Similar to Christmas. Most desks on holiday.
- Good Friday — UK and US markets closed; reduced London and New York flow.
- US Independence Day (Jul 4) — Reduced USD liquidity.
- UK Bank Holidays — Thin London session.
- Japanese holidays (Golden Week, Obon) — Thin Tokyo session.
For a complete 2026 holiday calendar, see Forex Market Hours on Holidays 2026.
What Happens Between Sessions
Even during open hours, liquidity is not uniform. Between the New York close (22:00 UTC) and the Sydney open (also 22:00 UTC), there is a brief one-hour lull known informally as the "dead zone." Spreads typically widen 2–5× during this window, and retail brokers may temporarily halt trading on exotic pairs.
The same applies during major news events: if a central bank unexpectedly shifts policy, spreads can momentarily widen even during peak hours. Always check the market status, but also be aware of event risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the forex market open today?
The forex market is open today if today is Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday before 5:00 PM ET. It is closed on Saturday and on Sunday before 5:00 PM ET. The weekly schedule is fixed: open continuously from Sunday 5 PM ET through Friday 5 PM ET.
Is the forex market open right now?
Check the live status indicator at the top of this page. It shows in real time whether the market is open, based on your browser's timezone converted to New York time. The market is open roughly 71% of the week (120 of 168 hours).
Is forex open on weekends?
No. The forex market is closed on Saturdays and on Sunday mornings before 5:00 PM ET. Some brokers offer cryptocurrency trading on weekends, but interbank forex currency pairs are not quoted during this window.
Is forex open on Sunday?
The forex market reopens on Sunday evening at 5:00 PM ET (22:00 UTC), which is Monday morning in Sydney. Before that time on Sunday, it is closed. The first hour after reopen typically has thin liquidity and wider spreads.
Is forex open on Friday?
Yes, forex is open on Friday, but it closes at 5:00 PM ET (22:00 UTC) for the weekend. The final hour often sees reduced liquidity as traders close positions ahead of the weekend gap risk.
Is forex open on holidays like Christmas or New Year's?
Technically yes — forex is decentralized, so it stays open — but liquidity collapses on Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday, and other major bank holidays. Brokers typically widen spreads dramatically, and many halt trading on certain exotic pairs. In practice, retail traders should avoid these days.
What time does forex open and close each week?
Opens every Sunday at 5:00 PM ET / 22:00 UTC / 10:00 PM GMT (Sydney session begins). Closes every Friday at 5:00 PM ET / 22:00 UTC / 10:00 PM GMT (New York session ends). That is 120 continuous trading hours per week.
How long does the forex market stay open in a week?
120 hours per week — 24 hours a day, 5 days a week. The remaining 48 hours (Friday 5 PM ET through Sunday 5 PM ET) are the weekly close.
Can I trade forex on Saturday?
No, Saturday is fully closed. You cannot open, close, or modify forex positions at interbank prices. Some brokers offer weekend cryptocurrency trading as a separate product, but that is not traditional forex.
What timezone does the forex market use?
The industry reference is Eastern Time (ET) based on New York, because New York is the last major financial center to close each day. All brokers, data feeds, and education materials reference Sunday 5 PM ET to Friday 5 PM ET as the canonical trading week.