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.
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.
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Standard VIX monthly expiration. Last trading day: January 20, 2026.
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Standard VIX monthly expiration. Last trading day: February 17, 2026.
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Standard VIX monthly expiration. Last trading day: March 17, 2026.
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Standard VIX monthly expiration. Last trading day: April 14, 2026.
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Tuesday exception because the related standard SPX cycle is holiday-adjusted. Last trading day: May 18, 2026.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Standard VIX monthly expiration. Last trading day: June 16, 2026.
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Standard VIX monthly expiration. Last trading day: July 21, 2026.
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Standard VIX monthly expiration. Last trading day: August 18, 2026.
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Standard VIX monthly expiration. Last trading day: September 15, 2026.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Standard VIX monthly expiration. Last trading day: October 20, 2026.
Wednesday, November 18, 2026
Standard VIX monthly expiration. Last trading day: November 17, 2026.
Wednesday, December 16, 2026
Standard VIX monthly expiration. Last trading day: December 15, 2026.
Last verified
Date-sensitive calendar references on this page were checked on April 25, 2026. Calendar math is useful for planning, but listed contracts and exchange calendars should still be verified before production workflows run.
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.
Related pages
Quarterly OpEx dates
Compare VIX dates with quarterly equity and index OpEx cycles.
SPXW expiration dates
Review the PM-settled SPXW short-dated index series.
Full expiration calendar
Use the interactive calendar for weekly, monthly, quarterly, and holiday-adjusted OpEx dates.
Next OpEx date
Get the immediate answer for the next standard monthly OpEx and nearby weekly cycles.
Expirations API docs
Fetch listed expiration dates for any underlying ticker with one endpoint.
Options data catalog
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