Forex markets are open Sunday evening through Friday afternoon in the United States, but the exact times depend on which currency pair you trade and where you are located.

The foreign exchange market does not have a single opening bell or closing time. Instead, it operates across four major trading sessions that overlap: Sydney, Tokyo, London, and New York. Each session opens and closes on its own schedule, and currency pairs trade during whichever sessions their two currencies are active.

Whether forex is open right now depends on what time it is where you are, what day of the week it is, and which currency pair you want to trade. A pair like EUR/USD (euro and US dollar) trades during more hours than a pair like NZD/JPY (New Zealand dollar and Japanese yen) because the euro and dollar markets overlap more broadly.

Key Takeaways

  • The forex market opens Sunday at 5 p.m. Eastern Time with the Sydney session and closes Friday at 4 p.m. Eastern Time when New York closes.
  • Each of the four major sessions — Sydney, Tokyo, London, and New York — has its own open and close time, and they overlap in specific windows.
  • Currency pairs trade only when both of their underlying markets are open, so EUR/USD trades more hours than pairs involving Asian or Pacific currencies alone.
  • Most retail forex brokers allow trading during all four sessions, but some restrict trading during low-volume hours or on weekends.

The Four Trading Sessions and Their Hours

The Sydney session opens first, at 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday. It runs until 2 a.m. Eastern Time on Monday. During this window, traders in Australia and New Zealand are active, and pairs involving the Australian dollar (AUD) and New Zealand dollar (NZD) see the most volume.

The Tokyo session opens at 7 p.m. Eastern Time Sunday and closes at 4 a.m. Eastern Time Monday. This is when Japanese yen (JPY) pairs and other Asian currencies trade most actively. Sydney and Tokyo overlap from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Eastern Time.

The London session opens at 3 a.m. Eastern Time Monday and closes at 12 p.m. (noon) Eastern Time. London is the largest forex hub by trading volume. The London and Tokyo sessions overlap from 3 a.m. to 4 a.m. Eastern Time, and London and New York overlap from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The New York session opens at 8 a.m. Eastern Time and closes at 4 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. This is when the US dollar (USD) and North American pairs trade most actively. After New York closes on Friday at 4 p.m., the forex market does not reopen until Sunday at 5 p.m.

Which Pairs Trade During Which Hours

A currency pair trades whenever at least one of its two underlying markets is open. EUR/USD trades nearly 24 hours a day Monday through Friday because the euro market (London) and dollar market (New York) are active during most of the day. Pairs like GBP/USD and USD/JPY also trade almost continuously during the week.

Pairs involving only Asian or Pacific currencies, such as AUD/JPY or NZD/JPY, trade primarily during the Sydney and Tokyo sessions. They see much lower volume during London and New York hours because neither the Australian nor Japanese markets are open then.

Exotic pairs — those involving smaller or emerging-market currencies — may trade only during one or two sessions. Your broker's platform will show you the bid-ask spread (the difference between buy and sell prices) for each pair at any given time. A wide spread usually means few traders are active in that pair at that moment.

Weekend and Holiday Closures

The forex market is closed Saturday and Sunday morning (until 5 p.m. Eastern Time Sunday). It does not reopen until the Sydney session begins on Sunday evening. This means you cannot trade forex on Saturday at all, and you cannot trade on Sunday morning or early afternoon in the United States.

The market also closes on major holidays when the New York session does not run. These include New Year's Day, Independence Day (July 4), Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Some brokers may close on additional holidays observed in other countries, such as Boxing Day (December 26) or Easter Monday. Check your broker's holiday calendar before the holiday week.

On days when one market is closed for a holiday but others are open, pairs involving that currency may trade at reduced volume or with wider spreads. For example, if the US market is closed but London is open, EUR/USD may still trade, but with fewer participants.

How to Check If Forex Is Open Right Now

Your broker's trading platform will show you the current bid and ask price for any pair you want to trade. If the prices are updating and the spread is tight (narrow), the market is actively trading. If the prices are frozen or the spread is very wide, volume is low or the market is closed.

Most brokers display a market hours indicator or calendar on their website or app. This shows which sessions are currently open and when each session opens and closes. Some brokers also send notifications when a new session begins or when a major economic event is about to happen.

You can also calculate it yourself: note the current time in your time zone, convert it to Eastern Time, and compare it to the session hours listed above. If the time falls within one of the four sessions and it is not a weekend or holiday, the market is open.

Trading During Low-Volume Hours

The overlap between sessions — particularly the London-New York overlap from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Eastern Time — sees the highest volume and tightest spreads. If you trade during these hours, you will usually get prices closer to what you expect.

The hours between sessions, such as 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. Eastern Time (between Tokyo close and London open), see much lower volume. Spreads widen, prices move in larger jumps, and your order may take longer to fill. Some retail brokers restrict trading or charge higher commissions during these windows.

If you are new to forex trading, it is often easier to trade during the London-New York overlap when volume is high and prices are more predictable. As you gain experience, you can explore trading during other sessions if you understand the risks of lower liquidity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I trade forex on Sunday?

Yes, but only after 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, when the Sydney session opens. You cannot trade on Sunday morning or afternoon in the United States. The market remains closed until the Sydney session begins.

What happens to my open trades when the market closes on Friday?

Your open trades remain open over the weekend. The market will not reopen until Sunday at 5 p.m. Eastern Time, so your position will not change during that time. However, prices may gap (jump) when the market reopens if major news occurred over the weekend.

Do all forex brokers have the same market hours?

Most brokers follow the same four-session schedule, but some may close during low-volume hours or restrict certain pairs. Check your broker's hours before you open an account. Some brokers also offer extended hours trading, though spreads are usually wider.

Is forex open on Christmas or New Year's Day?

No. The forex market is closed on major US holidays, including New Year's Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Some brokers may also close on holidays observed in other countries. Your broker's website should list all closure dates for the year.

Why does the spread get wider at certain times?

The spread widens when fewer traders are active in a pair, which usually happens between sessions or during low-volume hours. Fewer buyers and sellers means prices move in larger steps. Spreads tighten again when a new session opens and more traders enter the market.