VIX Today: 16.34
The CBOE Volatility Index, universally known as the VIX, measures the market’s expectation of 30-day volatility in the S&P 500, implied from the prices of index options. It is currently 16.34 as of September 30, 2026, +0.30pts versus the previous close.
Unlike most indicators here, the VIX is not a level on an underlying asset — it is a price for risk itself. When investors are anxious they pay up for downside protection, option premiums rise, and the VIX climbs. When they are complacent, protection is cheap and the VIX sits in the low teens.
The index is expressed in annualised percentage points, so a reading of 20 implies the market expects roughly a 20% annualised move in the S&P 500 over the next month — about 5.8% in either direction over 30 days. Levels above 30 signal acute stress, above 40 usually mark crisis conditions, and below 15 signals deep complacency. Spikes in the VIX are typically sharp and fade quickly; low readings can persist for a long time.
For investors the VIX is both a risk gauge and a tradable instrument, though volatility products carry well-documented structural decay. We track the VIX alongside credit and financial-stress measures on the RiskCurve dashboard.
It is 1.42pts higher than a month ago (Aug 31, 2026), and 0.06pts higher than a year ago (Sep 30, 2025).
It is below the 17.91 average of the period we track, which has run from 13.47 (Dec 24, 2025) to 31.05 (Mar 27, 2026) — the highest since Sep 16, 2026.
CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) — recent values
| Date | Value |
|---|---|
| Sep 30, 2026 | 16.34 |
| Sep 29, 2026 | 16.04 |
| Sep 28, 2026 | 16.07 |
| Sep 25, 2026 | 14.87 |
| Sep 24, 2026 | 15.67 |
| Sep 23, 2026 | 15.18 |
| Sep 22, 2026 | 14.21 |
| Sep 21, 2026 | 14.87 |
| Sep 18, 2026 | 14.81 |
| Sep 17, 2026 | 15.44 |
Values as published by the source. Macro series are revised after first release; this table shows the most recent vintage. Saved dataset: JSON.