VIX expiration calendar

VIX Expiration Dates 2026

Standard VIX options expirations are tied to the SPX option cycle 30 days later. Most 2026 standard VIX expirations fall on Wednesday, with a May 2026 Tuesday exception tied to the June SPX holiday adjustment.

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May 2026 exception

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

This is the standard VIX monthly expiration tied to the holiday-adjusted June SPX cycle.

Usual standard pattern

Wednesday

Most standard VIX monthly expirations fall on a Wednesday.

Last trading day

Prior business day

Expiring standard VIX options typically stop trading before the settlement morning.

2026 standard VIX options expiration dates

The last-trade note is included because VIX options are AM-settled and should not be treated like regular PM-settled ETF options.

DateCycleNote
Wednesday, January 21, 2026VIX standardStandard VIX monthly expiration. Last trading day: January 20, 2026.
Wednesday, February 18, 2026VIX standardStandard VIX monthly expiration. Last trading day: February 17, 2026.
Wednesday, March 18, 2026VIX standardStandard VIX monthly expiration. Last trading day: March 17, 2026.
Wednesday, April 15, 2026VIX standardStandard VIX monthly expiration. Last trading day: April 14, 2026.
Tuesday, May 19, 2026VIX standardTuesday exception because the related standard SPX cycle is holiday-adjusted. Last trading day: May 18, 2026.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026VIX standardStandard VIX monthly expiration. Last trading day: June 16, 2026.
Wednesday, July 22, 2026VIX standardStandard VIX monthly expiration. Last trading day: July 21, 2026.
Wednesday, August 19, 2026VIX standardStandard VIX monthly expiration. Last trading day: August 18, 2026.
Wednesday, September 16, 2026VIX standardStandard VIX monthly expiration. Last trading day: September 15, 2026.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026VIX standardStandard VIX monthly expiration. Last trading day: October 20, 2026.
Wednesday, November 18, 2026VIX standardStandard VIX monthly expiration. Last trading day: November 17, 2026.
Wednesday, December 16, 2026VIX standardStandard VIX monthly expiration. Last trading day: December 15, 2026.

VIX expiration dates relative to SPX OpEx

Standard VIX options are dated from the standard SPX options cycle 30 days later. This table makes the 2026 calendar relationship explicit.

VIX monthVIX expirationRelated SPX monthly OpExCalendar logic
JanuaryWednesday, January 21, 2026Friday, February 20, 2026The standard VIX date falls 30 calendar days before the related SPX monthly expiration.
FebruaryWednesday, February 18, 2026Friday, March 20, 2026The standard VIX date falls 30 calendar days before the related SPX monthly expiration.
MarchWednesday, March 18, 2026Friday, April 17, 2026The standard VIX date falls 30 calendar days before the related SPX monthly expiration.
AprilWednesday, April 15, 2026Friday, May 15, 2026The standard VIX date falls 30 calendar days before the related SPX monthly expiration.
MayTuesday, May 19, 2026Thursday, June 18, 2026The related SPX monthly expiration is holiday-adjusted, so the VIX date moves to Tuesday.
JuneWednesday, June 17, 2026Friday, July 17, 2026The standard VIX date falls 30 calendar days before the related SPX monthly expiration.
JulyWednesday, July 22, 2026Friday, August 21, 2026The standard VIX date falls 30 calendar days before the related SPX monthly expiration.
AugustWednesday, August 19, 2026Friday, September 18, 2026The standard VIX date falls 30 calendar days before the related SPX monthly expiration.
SeptemberWednesday, September 16, 2026Friday, October 16, 2026The standard VIX date falls 30 calendar days before the related SPX monthly expiration.
OctoberWednesday, October 21, 2026Friday, November 20, 2026The standard VIX date falls 30 calendar days before the related SPX monthly expiration.
NovemberWednesday, November 18, 2026Friday, December 18, 2026The standard VIX date falls 30 calendar days before the related SPX monthly expiration.
DecemberWednesday, December 16, 2026Friday, January 15, 2027The standard VIX date falls 30 calendar days before the related SPX monthly expiration.

Direct answer

Why VIX dates can differ from equity OpEx

Equity and ETF monthly options normally anchor to the third Friday. Standard VIX options use a different rule: the expiration is calculated from the SPX option cycle 30 days later, and VIX options are AM-settled. That is why a VIX expiration lookup should include the related SPX OpEx date and the last trading day, not only the VIX date.

Last verified

Date-sensitive calendar references on this page were checked on May 7, 2026. Calendar math is useful for planning, but listed contracts and exchange calendars should still be verified before production workflows run.

Sources to verify before production use: Cboe 2026 options calendar and Cboe VIX options specifications.

VIX expiration FAQ

When is the May 2026 VIX expiration?

The May 2026 standard VIX options expiration is Tuesday, May 19, 2026, because the related June standard SPX expiration is holiday-adjusted.

Why do VIX options expire before equity options?

Standard VIX expirations are tied to the SPX option cycle 30 days later, so the date is usually a Wednesday before the following month’s standard SPX expiration.

Do expiring VIX options trade on expiration morning?

VIX options are AM-settled and the last trading day is typically the business day before expiration. Verify the listed contract before trading.

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