The London forex session runs from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM London time. For most of the year that is 3:00 AM to 12:00 PM Eastern Time, 2:00 AM to 11:00 AM Central Time and 12:00 AM to 9:00 AM Pacific Time.
Loading the live session clock…
| Session | Local hours | New York (ET: EST/EDT) | UTC / GMT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 7:00 to 16:00 | 3:00 PM to 12:00 AM | 8:00 PM to 5:00 AM |
| Tokyo | 9:00 to 18:00 | 7:00 PM to 4:00 AM | 12:00 AM to 9:00 AM |
| London | 8:00 to 17:00 | 3:00 AM to 12:00 PM | 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| New York | 8:00 to 17:00 | 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM | 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM |
Times for the week of 4 November 2026, with daylight saving applied automatically. Session hours are the common market convention; brokers and platforms may use slightly different windows.
The forex market runs from Sunday 5:00 PM to Friday 5:00 PM New York time. Session hours follow the common market convention; holidays and broker hours can differ.
London session time this week
| Session | Local hours | New York (ET: EST/EDT) | Chicago (CT: CST/CDT) | Denver (MT) | Arizona (MST, no DST) | Los Angeles (PT: PST/PDT) | India (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | 8:00 to 17:00 | 3:00 AM to 12:00 PM | 2:00 AM to 11:00 AM | 1:00 AM to 10:00 AM | 1:00 AM to 10:00 AM | 12:00 AM to 9:00 AM | 1:30 PM to 10:30 PM |
Times for the week of 4 November 2026, with daylight saving applied automatically. Session hours are the common market convention; brokers and platforms may use slightly different windows.
The weeks when London is one hour different
The US and the UK change their clocks on different dates. The US moves forward on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November (NIST); the UK moves forward on the last Sunday in March and back on the last Sunday in October (GOV.UK). In those gaps (about three weeks in March and one week around the end of October) the London session opens at 4:00 AM Eastern Time instead of 3:00 AM. The table above already includes this.
Why the London session is the biggest
Sales desks in the United Kingdom handled about 38% of global foreign exchange turnover in April 2025, the largest share of any country (BIS Triennial Survey). The London session overlaps with Tokyo in the early morning and with New York from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM Eastern Time; see session overlaps.
There is no official schedule for forex sessions: the foreign exchange market is traded over the counter between banks and brokers around the world. The session hours on this site follow the common market convention (each centre from its morning to its late afternoon). Exchange hours are quoted from the exchanges themselves.
Sources
- BIS Triennial Survey 2025, OTC foreign exchange turnover (read 3 Nov 2026)
- NIST, daylight saving time (read 3 Nov 2026)
- GOV.UK, when do the clocks change (read 3 Nov 2026)
Frequently asked questions
What time does the London session open in EST?
At 3:00 AM Eastern Time for most of the year (8:00 AM London time). For about three weeks in March and one week around early November it opens at 4:00 AM ET.
What time does the London session open in PST?
At 12:00 AM (midnight) Pacific Time for most of the year, and 1:00 AM during the short periods when the US and UK clock changes do not line up.
What time does the London session open in CST?
At 2:00 AM Central Time for most of the year, and 3:00 AM during the few weeks when the clock changes do not line up.
When do London markets open?
The London forex session starts at 8:00 AM London time. The London Stock Exchange also opens its main trading in the morning London time; check the exchange for exact auction times.
By the Market Session Times Editorial Team. Updated 3 November 2026. General information only, not financial advice. Trading carries a high risk of loss. Check your broker for its exact trading hours and holiday schedule.