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ES futures trading hours
When E-mini S&P 500 futures trade, when they pause, and how that defines a session in replay. Always confirm holiday hours with CME Group.
Per CME Group, ES trades on CME Globex from Sunday 6:00 p.m. to Friday 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, with a daily maintenance period from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. ET. Holiday schedules differ.
Key times (Eastern Time)
6:00 p.m.
CME Globex reopens after the daily break and the next trading day begins.
9:30 a.m.
U.S. stock market cash open. It is also when an expiring ES contract stops trading — normally on the 3rd Friday of Mar/Jun/Sep/Dec (June 2026: Thursday, June 18, per CME).
4:00 p.m.
U.S. cash market close.
5:00 p.m.
Daily close and 60-minute maintenance break.
How a replay session is dated
| Feature | Item | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Session start | 6:00 p.m. ET | Previous evening |
| Session end | 5:00 p.m. ET | Named trading date |
Hours can change, and holiday schedules differ.
Sources: CME Group: E-mini S&P 500 specs (opens in a new tab)
Why it matters
Pick your window
Test the same time block every session so results compare.
Mind daylight saving
Times above are Eastern; your local time shifts when clocks change.
Overnight vs day
Test overnight and cash-session hours separately rather than mixing them in one sample.
Frequently asked questions
Does ES trade 24 hours?
Nearly — 23 hours a day from Sunday evening to Friday afternoon, with a daily maintenance break from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. ET (CME Group).
What time does ES open on Sunday?
6:00 p.m. Eastern Time, per CME Group.
Related
Replay the ES open
ES is included with Pro and Pro+; eligible new accounts can try Pro for $1 for 3 days, then $12.99/month unless cancelled.