There are approximately 52 forex trading weeks in a year, aligning with the standard 52-week calendar. However, the number of active trading weeks can vary slightly due to public holidays, market closures, and year-end liquidity conditions. In most years, the forex market is open for trading 5 days a week, from Monday to Friday, giving traders around 260 trading days annually.

How The Forex Calendar Works

The forex market operates on a 24-hour cycle, starting Sunday evening (GMT) and closing Friday night. This round-the-clock schedule spans the major global sessions:

• Sydney Session
• Tokyo Session
• London Session
• New York Session

Since weekends (Saturday and Sunday) are non-trading days, the calendar generally delivers 5 trading days per week × 52 weeks = 260 trading days.

Exceptions to Full-Year Trading

Not every week of the year offers full 5-day trading. Some weeks may be shortened due to:

1. Bank Holidays

Forex liquidity depends on global banks. During major holidays like:

• Christmas
• New Year’s Day
• Good Friday
• US Thanksgiving

Market hours are reduced or platforms close early.

2. End-of-Year Illiquidity

In the final two weeks of December, trading volume drops significantly. Institutional traders pause, spreads widen, and volatility decreases.

3. Maintenance Downtime

Rarely, brokers may pause operations briefly for system upgrades or unexpected events, but this doesn’t affect the global market.

Breakdown Summary

Category	Value
Total Calendar Weeks	52 weeks
Normal Trading Days/Week	5 (Monday to Friday)
Total Trading Days/Year	Around 260
Average Trading Weeks/Year	50 to 52

Key Takeaways

• There are approximately 52 forex trading weeks per year
• Forex operates 5 days per week, excluding weekends
• Year-end holidays and global bank closures may reduce actual trading days
• Liquidity and volatility vary depending on the week and session
• Traders should plan around global market schedules and holiday calendars

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days is the forex market open per year?

Roughly 260 days per year, assuming 5 trading days per week.

Are all 52 weeks of the year equally active in forex?

No. Holiday weeks like Christmas and New Year have reduced activity and liquidity.

Does forex trade on weekends?

No. Forex is closed from Friday evening to Sunday evening GMT.

What is the best forex trading week?

The first and second weeks of the month tend to be the most active due to economic data releases like NFP and interest rate announcements.

Can I trade forex during holidays?

Technically yes, but spreads may widen and execution can be less reliable during major holidays.