Earnings season is the recurring stretch each quarter when most publicly traded companies report results. The Q3 2026 season — covering July–September results — opened Tuesday, October 13, 2026 with the big US banks and peaked October 26–30. The Q4 2026 season opens the same way in mid-January 2027. Each season then peaks over the following couple of weeks as technology and consumer names follow.
Q1–Q4 2026 earnings season start & end dates
Reporting clusters into four predictable windows. Each season starts when the big US banks report (about two to three weeks after the quarter closes), peaks over the next couple of weeks as the mega-cap names follow, then winds down as smaller companies trail off. Exact dates shift a little each year; here are the approximate 2026 windows:
| Season | Reports for | Starts (approx.) | Peak weeks | Winds down |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q4 2025 / FY | Oct–Dec 2025 | Mid-January 2026 | Late Jan → early Feb | Late February |
| Q1 2026 | Jan–Mar 2026 | Mid-April 2026 | Late April | Mid-May |
| Q2 2026 | Apr–Jun 2026 | July 14, 2026 (banks BMO) | Late July | Mid-to-late August |
| Q3 2026 | Jul–Sep 2026 | October 13, 2026 (banks BMO) | Oct 26–30 | Mid-November |
| Q4 2026 / FY | Oct–Dec 2026 | Mid-January 2027 | Late Jan → early Feb | Late February 2027 |
| Quarter | Quarter dates | Results reported |
|---|---|---|
| Q2 2026 | April 1 – June 30, 2026 | July 14 – late August 2026 |
| Q3 2026 | July 1 – September 30, 2026 | October 13 – mid-November 2026 |
| Q4 2026 | October 1 – December 31, 2026 | Mid-January – late February 2027 |
| Q1 2027 | January 1 – March 31, 2027 | Mid-April – mid-May 2027 |
How long does earnings season last?
From the first major reports to the tail end, a season runs roughly six weeks. But the part that matters most for markets is the two-to-three-week peak when the largest, most-watched companies report within days of each other. Smaller companies keep reporting after the mega-caps are done, so the calendar thins out gradually rather than stopping all at once.
Why options volatility spikes during earnings season
Each earnings report is a scheduled unknown. In the days before the date, implied volatility climbs — the IV rush — because the market is pricing in a potentially large move. The moment results are out, that uncertainty is resolved and implied volatility collapses, the IV crush. During earnings season dozens of names go through this rush-then-crush cycle at once, which is why options activity and implied moves cluster in these weeks.
How to track earnings season
Knowing the season is one thing; knowing which names report on a given day, and how big a move the market is pricing, is what matters week to week. A couple of ways to stay on top of it:
- Check the Earnings This Week page for a weekly preview of the most liquid names and their expected moves.
- Use the EarningsWatcher Calendar for the full schedule, with the implied move and volatility metrics attached to each report.
Frequently asked questions
When is earnings season?
Earnings season happens four times a year, roughly two to six weeks after each fiscal quarter ends. The main US windows are mid-January to late February, mid-April to mid-May, mid-July to mid-August, and mid-October to mid-November. Each season kicks off when the big banks report and peaks over the following two to three weeks.
How long does earnings season last?
Each earnings season lasts about six weeks from the first major reports to the tail end, but the busiest stretch is a roughly two-to-three-week peak when the largest companies report. Smaller companies continue reporting after the mega-caps are done.
Why does options volatility rise during earnings season?
Each earnings report is a scheduled unknown, so implied volatility builds into the date (the IV rush) and then collapses once results are out (the IV crush). During earnings season many names go through this cycle at once, which is why options activity and implied moves cluster in these weeks.
What are the Q3 2026 dates?
The Q3 2026 quarter ran July 1 – September 30, 2026. The Q3 2026 reporting season for those results began Tuesday, October 13, 2026, when JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, Citigroup and Goldman Sachs reported before the open, peaked October 26–30 and ends in late November with Nvidia (November 17) and Walmart (November 19). Q4 2026 is October 1 – December 31, 2026, reported from mid-January 2027.
When do bank stocks report Q3 2026 earnings?
JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, Citigroup and Goldman Sachs report Q3 2026 results on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, before the market open; Bank of America and Morgan Stanley follow on Wednesday, October 14. See the bank earnings calendar for implied moves and per-bank history.
When does Q3 2026 earnings season start?
The Q3 2026 reporting season began Tuesday, October 13, 2026 with the big banks, covering results for the July–September 2026 quarter. The peak week was October 26–30, when Microsoft and Alphabet (October 28) and Visa (October 27) reported. The last large reports are Home Depot and Nvidia on November 17, Target on November 18 and Walmart on November 19 — confirm each on a live earnings calendar.
When does Q4 2026 earnings season start?
The Q4 2026 reporting season, covering October–December 2026 results and full-year 2026, starts in mid-January 2027 when JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, Citigroup and the other big US banks report. The banks confirm their exact dates in December. The season peaks in late January and early February 2027 and winds down by late February.
This article is educational and does not constitute financial advice. Reporting windows are typical ranges and vary year to year; always confirm specific dates on a live calendar.