Nasdaq Sets December Start Date for New Overnight Trading Session

Nasdaq published an Equity Trader Alert on 17 August setting out new trading hours for the Nasdaq Stock Market, with an additional session scheduled to begin on 6 December 2026.

The alert says Nasdaq is engaging with regulators to support nearly continuous U.S. equity trading for 23 hours a day, five days a week. The new overnight session would run from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. Eastern Time.

Nasdaq also outlined operational details that matter for brokers and active traders. Members will need new order-entry ports, routable orders will be accepted, and any orders still open at 4 a.m. Eastern Time will be cancelled and can be re-entered in the subsequent session.

Trade-date treatment will also change across the overnight window. Nasdaq said trades executed between 9 p.m. and midnight Eastern Time will receive the next trading day’s trade date, while trades from midnight through 8 p.m. Eastern Time will carry the current trading day’s trade date.

Why it matters

For traders, 23-hour equity trading changes more than market access. Order routing, order persistence, broker session settings, settlement dates, risk checks, and overnight price bands all become part of the execution decision.

The added session could help global traders react to news before the regular U.S. session, but it also raises questions about liquidity, spreads, halt handling, and how retail brokers expose overnight order types.

What to watch next

Nasdaq listed test dates beginning in September and a pre-production period from 1 November. Traders should watch broker notices for which symbols, order types, and risk controls will be available before the 6 December launch.