The foreign exchange market runs 24 hours a day, 5 days a week, but not every hour carries the same liquidity or volatility. Knowing the forex market opening hours and how each of the forex trading sessions behaves helps traders pick the right window to watch the market, avoid widened spreads and trade more effectively.
In this article, Backcom.io sets out the full forex trading hours in UTC, covering the four sessions — Sydney, Tokyo, London and New York — and points out the windows with the most liquidity and movement. Every time on this page is stated in UTC (GMT+0), so you only need to add your own offset once.
Last updated: August 2026. Session times in UTC shift by about an hour when the US, UK and Australia switch between summer and winter time (DST). UTC itself never changes.
Forex Market Opening Hours in UTC
In UTC, the forex market opening hours begin late on Sunday evening and run continuously until Friday evening. Forex has no single central exchange; it operates as a relay between the financial centres of Sydney, Tokyo, London and New York.
As of August 2026, the quick summary is:
- Trading week opens: around 21:00 – 22:00 UTC on Sunday.
- Trading week closes: around 21:00 UTC on Friday.
- Market availability: effectively continuous, 24 hours a day from Monday to Friday.
- The exact times at each broker can differ by a few minutes, or by about an hour because of DST and the broker’s own schedule.
OANDA, for example, currently publishes forex trading from roughly 17:05 Sunday to 16:59 Friday New York time. During the period when the US observes DST, as in August 2026, that corresponds to about 21:05 UTC Sunday to 20:59 UTC Friday.
Why Does Forex Trade 24 Hours a Day?
The market runs 24/5 because the forex trading sessions open one after another across time zones:
- Sydney starts the cycle.
- Tokyo picks up from the Australian session.
- London opens before the Asian session has fully closed.
- New York keeps going while London is still trading.
As one financial centre closes, another has already opened. That relay is what keeps forex trading hours almost unbroken through the working week.
Can You Trade on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays?
Normally, forex does not trade on Saturday and Sunday. Traders cannot open or close forex positions as they would during the week until the market reopens late on Sunday UTC.
Beyond the weekend, keep in mind:
- Christmas and New Year: many markets close or shorten their trading day.
- Major US, UK or European holidays: liquidity can drop sharply.
- Ahead of the weekend close or a holiday, spreads can widen because liquidity is thin.
- On reopening, price can gap if major news broke while the market was shut.
So alongside the general forex market opening hours, check your broker’s own calendar — especially before weekends and holiday periods.
The 4 Forex Trading Sessions in UTC
A trading day divides into 4 main forex trading sessions: Sydney, Tokyo, London and New York. Because UTC never observes DST, it is the session times themselves that move against UTC — London and New York shift with Northern Hemisphere DST, while Sydney shifts with Australian DST, which falls in the opposite half of the year.
Session Times Table in UTC
| Session | Northern summer, Apr–Oct (UTC) | Northern winter, Nov–Mar (UTC) | Pairs to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney (Australia) | 22:00 – 07:00 | 21:00 – 06:00 | AUD/USD, NZD/USD, AUD/JPY |
| Tokyo (Asia) | 00:00 – 09:00 | 00:00 – 09:00 | USD/JPY, EUR/JPY, AUD/JPY |
| London (Europe) | 07:00 – 16:00 | 08:00 – 17:00 | EUR/USD, GBP/USD, EUR/GBP |
| New York (US) | 12:00 – 21:00 | 13:00 – 22:00 | EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, USD/CAD |
Note: Sydney runs opposite to the other two: Australia is on standard time (UTC+10) during the Northern summer and on daylight time (UTC+11) during the Northern winter, which is why its UTC window moves the other way. Tokyo never shifts, because Japan does not use DST. The US, UK and Australia also do not switch on the same dates, so for a few weeks each year the times drift temporarily. Vantage recommends checking the current hours with your broker whenever DST changes.
The Sydney Session (Australian Session)
Sydney is the session that opens the new cycle after the weekend, and it usually carries lower liquidity than London or New York.
Key characteristics:
- More active in AUD and NZD.
- Pairs to watch: AUD/USD, NZD/USD, AUD/JPY.
- Movement is usually moderate unless there is major economic news from Australia, New Zealand or China.
- At the Sunday reopen, watch for gaps and widened spreads after the weekend.
The Tokyo Session (Asian Session): 00:00 – 09:00 UTC
Tokyo runs roughly 00:00 – 09:00 UTC and stays fixed year-round because Japan does not observe DST — one of the few sessions whose UTC window never moves.
This is the window where:
- The JPY tends to be more active.
- Common pairs include USD/JPY, EUR/JPY, GBP/JPY and AUD/JPY.
- Volatility is generally lower than in the European and US sessions.
- It suits traders who prefer range trading or short Asian-market moves.
The London Session (European Session)
London is one of the largest foreign exchange centres in the world and usually brings high liquidity into the market.
London session forex trading hours in UTC:
- Northern summer (BST): approximately 07:00 – 16:00 UTC.
- Northern winter (GMT): approximately 08:00 – 17:00 UTC.
Local London hours stay at 08:00 – 17:00 all year; it is the UTC equivalent that moves, because the clock in London runs an hour ahead of UTC in summer. Once London opens, pairs such as EUR/USD, GBP/USD, EUR/GBP and USD/CHF typically become more active, and the rise in liquidity can tighten spreads on the majors compared with quieter hours.
The New York Session (US Session)
The New York session matters most to traders working with USD and XAU/USD, because the bulk of major US economic data is released during or close to it.
New York session times in UTC:
- Northern summer (EDT): approximately 12:00 – 21:00 UTC.
- Northern winter (EST): approximately 13:00 – 22:00 UTC.
Instruments that typically move hardest include:
- EUR/USD
- GBP/USD
- USD/JPY
- USD/CAD
- XAU/USD
The London New York overlap — the stretch when both centres are open — usually brings a sharp rise in liquidity and traded volume. It is the single most worthwhile window of the whole day.
Session times reference: Vantage Markets – Forex Trading Sessions.
Summer and Winter Time (DST): Why Forex Trading Hours Change Twice a Year
One point to watch is that forex trading hours are not fixed all year round when expressed in UTC. The cause is DST (Daylight Saving Time) — the practice of moving clocks forward or back by an hour, used in the US, the UK, Australia and many other countries.
UTC has no DST and never changes, which is exactly why it is a useful reference. When those financial centres move their clocks, the session times expressed in UTC move by about an hour — the market shifts, not the reference.
DST Changeover Dates in 2026
During 2026:
- United States: DST begins 08/03/2026 and ends 01/11/2026.
- United Kingdom: summer time begins 29/03/2026 and ends 25/10/2026.
- Sydney (Australia): DST ends 05/04/2026 and restarts 04/10/2026.
- UTC: no clock change, ever.
As of August 2026, the US and UK are both on summer time, so the current reference is:
| Session | Current time in UTC |
|---|---|
| London | Around 07:00 – 16:00 |
| New York | Around 12:00 – 21:00 |
When the US and UK return to winter time, these two forex trading sessions shift about an hour later in UTC:
- London: 08:00 – 17:00 UTC
- New York: 13:00 – 22:00 UTC
Why Do Session Times Drift in Certain Weeks?
The US, UK and Australia do not change DST on the same day. In 2026, for instance, the US starts DST on 08/03 while the UK does not switch until 29/03.
As a result, during certain weeks in March, October and November:
- The London and New York opening times in UTC can differ from the usual table.
- The duration of the London New York overlap changes too.
- US data release times in UTC can land an hour earlier or later.
So do not memorise one fixed set of forex trading hours for the whole year. Check DST whenever you move into March, October and November, particularly if you usually trade the European–US sessions or trade the news.
You can look up the current DST changeover calendar at Timeanddate – Daylight Saving Time.
The Best Time to Trade Forex, in UTC
Not every hour offers the same liquidity or volatility. The window that stands out is the middle of the UTC day, when the London and New York sessions run together.
The Golden Window: The London New York Overlap
The stretch when London and New York are both open usually delivers:
- High liquidity
- Stronger price movement
- Typically tighter spreads on the major pairs
- A concentration of US economic data releases
In UTC, the overlap falls at:
- Northern summer: 12:00 – 16:00 UTC
- Northern winter: 13:00 – 17:00 UTC
This four-hour block is widely considered the best time to trade forex: liquidity is at its deepest and the majors are at their most tradeable. Add your own UTC offset to see where it lands on your clock — for example UTC+1 makes it 13:00 – 17:00, and UTC-5 makes it 07:00 – 11:00.
Choosing a Window Based on the Pair You Trade
Traders can favour the forex trading sessions that suit each instrument:
| Pair / Instrument | Window worth watching |
|---|---|
| EUR/USD | London – New York |
| GBP/USD | London – New York |
| USD/JPY | Tokyo and New York |
| AUD/USD | Sydney – Tokyo |
| XAU/USD | London – New York, especially the US session |
If you trade pairs involving EUR, GBP or USD, the midday-to-late-afternoon forex trading hours in UTC generally deserve more attention because liquidity is deeper.
Windows to Avoid
New traders do not have to trade 24/5. Some moments call for caution:
- The Sunday reopen at the start of the Sydney session: gaps can appear after the weekend.
- Low-liquidity gaps between sessions: spreads can widen.
- Immediately before and after major news: price can swing hard and slippage runs high.
- Thinly attended periods: technical signals tend to be less reliable.
Beginners should favour windows with solid liquidity rather than entering simply because the market happens to be open. Working out the best time to trade forex for your particular pair and strategy matters more than screen time.
US Economic Data Release Times in UTC
Beyond the forex trading hours themselves, traders need to track when US economic data lands. These are the moments when the USD, gold and the major pairs tend to move hardest, particularly during the New York session.
US Data Release Times Converted to UTC
| Economic release | Northern summer, EDT (UTC) | Northern winter, EST (UTC) |
|---|---|---|
| Non-farm Payrolls (NFP) | 12:30 | 13:30 |
| US CPI | 12:30 | 13:30 |
| US GDP | 12:30 | 13:30 |
| US PCE | 12:30 | 13:30 |
| FOMC rate decision | 18:00 | 19:00 |
| Fed press conference | 18:30 | 19:30 |
The BLS confirms that the Employment Situation and CPI are usually released at 08:30 US Eastern time; the BEA also uses the 08:30 ET slot for many GDP and Personal Income and Outlays reports, PCE among them. In UTC that is 12:30 while the US is on EDT and 13:30 while it is on EST.
What Should Traders Watch When US Data Lands?
During those moments:
- USD and XAU/USD can move sharply within minutes.
- Spreads can widen and slippage can appear.
- Price usually reacts to the gap between Actual – Forecast – Previous.
- Do not enter the moment a release hits unless you are used to trading high volatility.
The FOMC interest rate decision in particular is normally published at 14:00 ET — 18:00 UTC in summer, 19:00 UTC in winter — followed by the Fed Chair’s press conference half an hour later. Traders should follow both the rate decision and the tone of the press conference to judge how the USD, gold and wider markets will react.
It is worth understanding what the Fed, US GDP and the PCE index each measure, since Fed rate decisions drive gold and the USD, GDP shows how fast the US economy is growing, and PCE is the inflation gauge the Fed watches most closely.
Combining forex trading hours with the economic calendar lets a trader see in advance which windows are likely to turn volatile, and manage risk accordingly.
Note: Release times in UTC move by an hour when the US switches between DST and winter time, so check the day’s economic calendar before trading.
Summary
Forex trading hours run almost continuously 24/5, but no trader needs to watch the market all day. What matters is picking the right session and the right window for the instrument being traded.
In UTC terms:
- Tokyo session (00:00 – 09:00 UTC): good for following the JPY and Asian pairs, and the only window that never shifts.
- London session (07:00 – 16:00 UTC in summer): liquidity jumps and EUR and GBP become active.
- New York session (12:00 – 21:00 UTC in summer): the USD, gold and US economic data move hardest.
- The window most worth watching: 12:00 – 16:00 UTC in the Northern summer or 13:00 – 17:00 UTC in the Northern winter, during the London New York overlap.
Because UTC never observes DST, recheck the forex market opening hours whenever the US, UK or Australia switch between summer and winter time, so you are never an hour out.
If you trade forex, gold or CFDs regularly, you can look at the trading rebate programme at Backcom.io to cut your costs, and follow more analysis on the Backcom.io knowledge section.
Frequently Asked Questions About Forex Trading Hours (FAQ)
What Time Does the Forex Market Open in UTC?
The forex market opening hours usually begin around 21:00 – 22:00 UTC on Sunday, depending on DST and each broker’s schedule. The market then runs almost continuously 24/5 until roughly 21:00 UTC on Friday.
Which Forex Trading Session Is the Most Volatile?
The most volatile stretch is usually the London New York overlap. Liquidity is high, the major pairs trade actively and spreads tend to be more competitive. In UTC this window falls at 12:00 – 16:00 during the Northern summer or 13:00 – 17:00 during the Northern winter.
When Is Gold (XAU/USD) Most Active?
XAU/USD usually moves hardest during the New York session, especially when the US releases CPI, NFP, PCE, GDP or an Fed rate decision. Roughly 12:00 – 16:00 UTC is generally the best time to trade forex and gold while the US is on DST.
