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Options Expiration Calendar 2026

US monthly equity and index options expire on the third Friday of each month. Four times a year — March, June, September and December — that Friday is a triple witching session, when index futures, index options, single-stock options and stock futures all expire at once and volume concentrates into the close. In 2026 the June expiration shifts to Thursday, June 18 because Friday, June 19 is the Juneteenth market holiday.

Next options expiration

The next monthly OpEx is Friday, Oct 16, 2026. Monthly equity options stop trading at the 4:00pm ET close (1:00pm ET on early-close days).

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Countdown
Session type
Standard monthly expiration
Last trading time
4:00pm ET (equity options)
Note
Third Friday; standard monthly OpEx.

2026 monthly options expiration dates

MonthExpiration dateDaySessionNote
JanuaryJan 16, 2026FridayMonthly OpExThird Friday; standard monthly OpEx.
FebruaryFeb 20, 2026FridayMonthly OpExThird Friday; standard monthly OpEx.
MarchMar 20, 2026FridayTriple witchingQuarterly triple witching — index futures, index options, stock options and stock futures expire together.
AprilApr 17, 2026FridayMonthly OpExThird Friday; standard monthly OpEx.
MayMay 15, 2026FridayMonthly OpExThird Friday; standard monthly OpEx.
JuneJun 18, 2026ThursdayTriple witchingMoved to Thursday — Friday Jun 19 is the Juneteenth market holiday. Quarterly triple witching.
JulyJul 17, 2026FridayMonthly OpExThird Friday; standard monthly OpEx.
AugustAug 21, 2026FridayMonthly OpExThird Friday; standard monthly OpEx.
SeptemberSep 18, 2026FridayTriple witchingQuarterly triple witching — index futures, index options, stock options and stock futures expire together.
OctoberOct 16, 2026FridayMonthly OpExThird Friday; standard monthly OpEx.
NovemberNov 20, 2026FridayMonthly OpExThird Friday; standard monthly OpEx.
DecemberDec 18, 2026FridayTriple witchingQuarterly triple witching — the final expiration session of 2026.

Monthly cycle dates. Weekly and daily expirations are not listed. Times are Eastern Time.

2026 triple witching dates

QuarterDateDayWhat expires
Q1 2026Mar 20, 2026FridayIndex futures, index options, stock options, stock futures
Q2 2026Jun 18, 2026ThursdayIndex futures, index options, stock options, stock futures
Q3 2026Sep 18, 2026FridayIndex futures, index options, stock options, stock futures
Q4 2026Dec 18, 2026FridayIndex futures, index options, stock options, stock futures

Triple witching (also called quadruple witching) sessions are among the highest-volume trading days of the year. Open interest rolls into new quarterly contracts, index rebalancing flows land in the closing auction, and the final hour often sees outsized volume relative to a normal Friday.

Frequently asked questions

When do monthly options expire in 2026?

US monthly equity and index options expire on the third Friday of each month in 2026, with one exception: June expiration moves to Thursday, June 18 because Friday, June 19 is the Juneteenth market holiday.

What are the triple witching dates in 2026?

The four quarterly triple witching sessions in 2026 are March 20, June 18 (Thursday, holiday-adjusted), September 18, and December 18. On these days index futures, index options, single-stock options and stock futures all expire in the same session.

What time do options stop trading on expiration day?

Most monthly equity options stop trading at the 4:00pm ET market close on expiration Friday. Some index products settle differently — cash-settled index options like SPX monthly contracts settle off the opening print (AM settlement), so their last trading day is the Thursday before expiration.

Do weekly options follow this calendar?

No. Weekly options expire every Friday (and daily options expire every session). This calendar covers the standard monthly expiration cycle and the quarterly triple witching sessions, which concentrate the largest open interest and volume.

Related calendars