Every rollover date for /ES, /NQ, /CL, /GC, and more—so you always know when to switch to the new front month.
Sign Up FreeTraders forget to roll and end up in a thin, illiquid contract with wide spreads and erratic fills.
During rollover week, bid/ask spreads widen on the old contract. Slippage eats into profits.
Continuous contract charts can show false signals around roll dates if you’re not aware of the transition.
TopStep Calendar marks every rollover date on your calendar with advance alerts, so you always switch contracts on time.
Get notified 2 days before each rollover so you have time to plan your contract switch.
Rollover dates for equity indices, energy, metals, and agricultural futures—all in one place.
See rollover dates alongside your trading performance so you can adjust strategy during roll week.
Quarterly roll dates for major CME futures contracts. Roll typically occurs on the second Thursday before each quarterly expiration for equity index futures.
| Contract | Q1→Q2 Roll | Q2→Q3 Roll | Q3→Q4 Roll | Q4→Q1 Roll |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| /ES (S&P 500) | Mar 13 | Jun 12 | Sep 11 | Dec 11 |
| /NQ (Nasdaq 100) | Mar 13 | Jun 12 | Sep 11 | Dec 11 |
| /YM (Dow) | Mar 13 | Jun 12 | Sep 11 | Dec 11 |
| /RTY (Russell 2000) | Mar 13 | Jun 12 | Sep 11 | Dec 11 |
| /CL (Crude Oil) | Monthly | Monthly | Monthly | Monthly |
| /GC (Gold) | Bi-monthly | Bi-monthly | Bi-monthly | Bi-monthly |
| /NG (Natural Gas) | Monthly | Monthly | Monthly | Monthly |
A futures rollover is the process of closing your position in the expiring (front-month) contract and opening an equivalent position in the next contract month. Futures contracts have fixed expiration dates, so if you want to maintain a position you must “roll” to the next contract before the current one expires.
For quarterly equity index futures like /ES, /NQ, /YM, and /RTY, this happens four times a year—in March, June, September, and December. The roll date is typically the second Thursday before the third Friday (expiration) of each quarter month. On this day, trading volume shifts decisively from the old contract to the new front month.
Energy and metals contracts roll more frequently. Crude oil (/CL) and natural gas (/NG) roll monthly, while gold (/GC) rolls on a bi-monthly cycle. Each product has its own specific roll calendar published by the CME.
Get every contract roll, expiration, and key market date on one calendar—free.
Sign Up FreeRollover dates are when traders close positions in the expiring front-month contract and open equivalent positions in the next contract month. For equity index futures like /ES and /NQ, this happens quarterly on the second Thursday before expiration.
In 2026, /ES futures roll on March 13 (H→M), June 12 (M→U), September 11 (U→Z), and December 11 (Z→H). Volume shifts to the new front month on these dates.
During rollover week, the front-month contract loses liquidity while the new contract gains it. Wider spreads and unusual price action can affect trade execution. Prop firm traders should switch to the new front month on or before rollover day to avoid thin markets.
Yes, but with awareness. Liquidity in the expiring contract drops significantly on rollover day. Most professional traders switch to the new front month 1-2 days before the official roll. Avoid trading the expiring contract after rollover day.