Free Economic Calendar 2026 for Forex Traders
Our free economic calendar provides real-time tracking of all major economic events that impact forex, stocks, and commodities markets. Track Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP), Consumer Price Index (CPI), Gross Domestic Product (GDP) releases, and interest rate decisions from major central banks including the Federal Reserve (FOMC), European Central Bank (ECB), Bank of England (BOE), and Bank of Japan (BOJ).
What is an Economic Calendar?
An economic calendar is a schedule of upcoming economic data releases and events that can cause market volatility. Forex traders, stock investors, and financial professionals use economic calendars to anticipate market movements and plan trading strategies. Events are typically categorized by impact level: high impact (red), medium impact (orange), and low impact (gray).
High Impact Economic Events in 2026
The most important high-impact economic events for forex traders include:
- Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP) - Released first Friday of each month at 8:30 AM ET. Measures US employment change excluding farm workers. Major impact on USD pairs.
- FOMC Interest Rate Decision - Federal Reserve meets 8 times yearly. Rate decisions at 2:00 PM ET with press conference at 2:30 PM ET.
- Consumer Price Index (CPI) - US CPI released around 10th-15th monthly at 8:30 AM ET. Key inflation indicator affecting Fed policy.
- ECB Interest Rate Decision - European Central Bank meets every 6 weeks. Major impact on EUR pairs.
- BOE Interest Rate Decision - Bank of England meets 8 times yearly. Major impact on GBP pairs.
- GDP (Gross Domestic Product) - Quarterly economic growth measure. Released in advance, preliminary, and final readings.
NFP Dates 2026 - Non-Farm Payrolls Schedule
Non-Farm Payrolls is released on the first Friday of every month at 8:30 AM Eastern Time (ET). NFP measures the monthly change in US employment excluding agricultural workers. It is one of the most market-moving events in forex, often causing 50-100+ pip moves in USD pairs within minutes of release. Traders should be aware of increased spreads and potential slippage during NFP releases.
FOMC Meeting Dates 2026 - Federal Reserve Schedule
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) holds 8 scheduled meetings per year to set US monetary policy and interest rates. FOMC decisions are announced at 2:00 PM ET, followed by the Fed Chair press conference at 2:30 PM ET. The Fed also releases economic projections (dot plot) at four meetings per year. FOMC decisions significantly impact USD, stocks, and bond markets.
How to Use the Economic Calendar
To effectively use our economic calendar for trading:
- Filter by currency (USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, AUD, CAD, CHF, NZD) to focus on relevant events
- Filter by impact level to see only high-impact events that move markets
- Compare forecast vs previous values to understand market expectations
- Use countdown timers to prepare for upcoming releases
- Avoid opening positions before high-impact events unless you have a news trading strategy
Economic Calendar by Currency
USD Events: NFP, FOMC, CPI, GDP, Retail Sales, ISM PMI, Unemployment Claims, Consumer Confidence
EUR Events: ECB Rate Decision, German ZEW, Eurozone CPI, GDP, PMI, Unemployment
GBP Events: BOE Rate Decision, UK CPI, GDP, Employment, Retail Sales, PMI
JPY Events: BOJ Rate Decision, Tankan Survey, CPI, GDP, Trade Balance
AUD Events: RBA Rate Decision, Employment Change, CPI, GDP, Trade Balance
CAD Events: BOC Rate Decision, Employment Change, CPI, GDP, Retail Sales
Understanding Impact Levels
High Impact (Red): Events that typically cause major market moves of 30-100+ pips. Includes central bank decisions, NFP, CPI, GDP. Expect increased volatility and wider spreads.
Medium Impact (Orange): Events that can cause moderate market moves of 15-30 pips. Includes retail sales, PMI data, housing data. May cause short-term volatility.
Low Impact (Gray): Events with minimal market impact, usually under 15 pips. Includes minor economic indicators and speeches. Generally safe to trade through.
Central Bank Meeting Schedule 2026
Major central banks hold regular meetings to set monetary policy:
- Federal Reserve (FOMC): 8 meetings per year, decisions at 2:00 PM ET
- European Central Bank (ECB): Every 6 weeks, decisions at 1:45 PM CET
- Bank of England (BOE): 8 meetings per year, decisions at 12:00 PM GMT
- Bank of Japan (BOJ): 8 meetings per year, decisions vary
- Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA): First Tuesday of each month except January
- Bank of Canada (BOC): 8 meetings per year
- Swiss National Bank (SNB): Quarterly meetings
- Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ): 7 meetings per year