Event Horizon
Also: EH, event horizon level
Visual Context Required
This concept requires chart visuals for full understanding.
The Event Horizon (EH) is a price level defined as the midpoint between two NDOG (New Day Opening Gap) or NWOG (New Week Opening Gap) levels that are in close proximity to one another. It functions as a magnetic draw on price — ICT likens it to a black hole pulling price toward it. Either level can be any combination of NDOG or NWOG boundaries (high or low); the defining criterion is that they are close together within the 60-day lookback window. The midpoint between these two levels is annotated as a pink shaded area and treated as an algorithmic price delivery target. Price is expected to seek the Event Horizon level before reversing or extending. Formation criteria: - Two NDOG or NWOG levels (any boundary: high or low) are in close proximity. - Both levels must fall within the 60-day (approximately 3-month) lookback window. - The midpoint between the two close levels = the Event Horizon. - Annotated as a pink shaded zone on the chart. Analogy: ICT describes it as a "black hole" — price is pulled toward it by the algorithm before it can continue its directional move.
Identification5
- Identify all active NDOG and NWOG levels within the 60-day lookback window.
- Look for two levels (any combination of NDOG/NWOG high or low boundaries) that are in close proximity to each other.
- Calculate the midpoint between the two close levels — this is the Event Horizon.
- Annotate the Event Horizon as a pink shaded area on the chart.
- Maximum lookback: 60 days (approximately 3 months). Levels older than 60 days are excluded.
Entry3
- Event Horizon acts as a draw on liquidity target, not a standalone entry trigger.
- Use the Event Horizon as the target level when price is approaching from either direction.
- Enter on a lower-timeframe PD array (FVG, order block) in the direction of the move toward the Event Horizon.
Stop1
- Stop placement determined by the entry PD array used, not by the Event Horizon itself.
Target2
- The Event Horizon midpoint is the primary price delivery target.
- After the Event Horizon is reached, look for the next draw on liquidity using standard NDOG/NWOG and PD array hierarchy.
Invalidation2
- Once price has traded through and accepted well beyond the Event Horizon level, it loses its magnetic draw for that context.
- If the underlying NDOG/NWOG levels that formed the Event Horizon become invalidated (too old, beyond 60-day window), the Event Horizon is discarded.
Inferred Conditions (Unvalidated)
- The Event Horizon is ICT's adaptation of the 'magnetic midpoint' concept applied specifically to NDOG/NWOG nesting — when two gap levels are close, the algorithm tends to target their midpoint before committing to a direction.
- Often forms when multiple weeks of NWOG or NDOG levels stack in a congested price range — the Event Horizon identifies the center of that congestion.
- The concept is related to consequent encroachment (midpoint of a single gap) but applies to the space between two separate gap levels, not within one gap.
ICT Quotes
"event horizon is something I shared with my crowd students, and it is a midpoint between a new week opening gap and a new day opening gap or a new week opening gap. In a new week opening gap either or it could be one of the boundaries above or below... it can be either New Day opening gap or new week opening gap... wherever they're in close proximity to one another, using the if the data ranges, what is that? It can't be older than 60 days."
"That's an event horizon. It's like a black hole. It's going to draw price in to it before it can move away from it."
"I use a pink shaded area for the event horizon."
Timeframes
Version History4 versions
ICT YT - 2024-08-23 - ICT 2024 Mentorship - Lecture 15.srt
"event horizon is something I shared with my crowd students, and it is a midpoint between a new week opening gap and a new day opening gap or a new week opening gap. wherever they're in close proximity…"
First public introduction of the Event Horizon concept. Defined as midpoint between proximate NDOG/NWOG levels within 60-day lookback. Annotated as pink shaded area. Described as having a black-hole magnetic pull on price.
11 - ICT 2026 Smart Money Concepts Lecture ⧹ February 27, 2026.en.srt
"That's event horizon. So, it's a midpoint between two key PD arrays. It could be seen through the lens of a new week opening gap, a new day opening gap. I originally taught it through the premise of l…"
SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION: ICT broadens Event Horizon beyond NDOG/NWOG-only application. Now explicitly defined as midpoint between any two key PD arrays — old daily lows, old daily highs, or static liquidity pools. In this session, ICT applies EH to the range between yesterday's daily low and the next pool of sellside liquidity below. Once price breaks below the midpoint (consequent encroachment / event horizon level), it generally signals sustained continuation in that direction. The concept retains its original NWOG-to-NWOG teaching but is now generalized to any two significant price reference points where the algorithm will draw price to the halfway point.
05 - ICT 2026 New York Lunch Algorithmic Theory ⧹ March 11, 2026.en.srt
"So that's event horizon. Okay. So it's the middle point between two pools of liquidity. So, when it was trading here, I I could have very easily closed the trade and then yay, look how smart I am. Oka…"
2026 live session applies Event Horizon specifically as midpoint between two sellside liquidity pools — reinforcing the Feb 2026 expansion beyond NDOG/NWOG. ICT uses it as a trade management target: hold through event horizon, then roll stop above the upper liquidity pool to protect profits.
01 - ICT 2026 Market Commentary ⧹ March 19, 2026.en.srt
"here's where you can do my event horizon. You go to the low to the other low right there. That midpoint that's event horizon. Okay. Now, depending upon how astute you are with reading price action and…"
2026 teaching adds explicit trade management guidance for Event Horizon: (1) Can be used as an entry technique for aggressive traders. (2) Can be used as a partial profit target — ICT says "many times what I do." (3) Recommends taking about 25% of remaining position off at event horizon. (4) After partial at EH, let runner reach for the second liquidity pool. This formalizes Event Horizon as both a targeting tool and a scaling strategy, not just a draw on liquidity.
Notes
The Event Horizon is a 2024 ICT concept introduced specifically in the free YouTube 2024 Mentorship series (teaching son Caleb). It had been shared with private "crowd" students prior to this public introduction. Relationship to NDOG/NWOG: The Event Horizon is derived from NDOG and NWOG levels but is distinct from them — it is the midpoint between two proximate levels, not a level itself. When NDOG and NWOG levels cluster together, the Event Horizon identifies the precise algorithmic target within that cluster. Relationship to Consequent Encroachment (CE): CE is the midpoint of a single gap or wick. Event Horizon is the midpoint between two separate gap levels. Different concept, similar mathematical approach. The 60-day lookback rule mirrors the NWOG lookback rule (max 60 days, approximately 3 months per ICT's prior teaching in 2023). See also: new-week-opening-gap.yaml, new-day-opening-gap.yaml, mean-threshold.yaml
Asymmetry Notes
No directional asymmetry in formation. The Event Horizon is a neutral midpoint level. Direction is determined by the broader bias; the Event Horizon is the draw regardless of whether price is approaching from above or below.