are stocks open on presidents day? Answered

Are stocks open on Presidents Day?

One frequent question investors type into search is: are stocks open on presidents day? This article answers that question clearly and in detail. You will learn which U.S. exchanges close for the federal holiday, how options, bonds, futures and extended-hours sessions are typically affected, and practical steps to prepare your orders and settlements. If you trade crypto, you’ll also see how 24/7 markets handled by platforms like Bitget differ from U.S. exchange holidays.

As of 2026-01-14, according to exchange calendars and market notices from the NYSE, Nasdaq, SIFMA, and major market-operating agencies, U.S. equity exchanges observe the federal holiday commonly known as Presidents Day (officially “Washington’s Birthday”). This article references official holiday schedules and market guidance to provide an up-to-date, practical reference for investors and traders.

Definition and timing of Presidents Day (Washington’s Birthday)

Presidents Day is the federal holiday officially named “Washington’s Birthday.” It is observed on the third Monday in February each year. The holiday was established to honor President George Washington and has come to be known colloquially as Presidents Day.

When the third Monday falls on a calendar date, the federal observance is that Monday. If a federal holiday would fall on a Saturday, the federal government usually observes it on the preceding Friday; if it would fall on a Sunday, it is generally observed on the following Monday. Exchange-specific observances can follow those rules but always defer to the exchange’s published holiday calendar for the exact market impact.

Why this matters: financial markets use exchange calendars to schedule trading sessions, clearing windows, and settlement processes. Knowing the official holiday date helps investors plan order timing and settlement expectations.

Short answer: U.S. equity markets

The short answer to the question are stocks open on presidents day is no for the major U.S. equity exchanges. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq do not open their core trading sessions on Presidents Day. Normal trading resumes on the next regular business day unless an exchange announces a different schedule.

Examples of recent observances include Presidents Day on February 17, 2025, and February 16, 2026—on those dates NYSE and Nasdaq listed the holiday as a market-wide closure on their official calendars. As with any annual holiday, dates change year to year (third Monday in February), so always check the exchange calendar for the exact date in any given year.

Exchanges and market venues affected

When primary exchanges are closed for Presidents Day, the following primary venues typically follow the holiday closure and thus affect trading in securities that list or clear on them:

• NYSE (including NYSE-listed securities and auctions)
• Nasdaq (and Nasdaq-operated venues such as Nasdaq BX/PSX/PHLX where applicable)
• NYSE Arca and other regional NYSE-operated venues
• Regional and specialist venues that follow the principal exchange calendar

Exchange-traded products (ETPs), ETFs, and closed-end funds that trade on these venues are affected because the venues that list their shares are closed. If an instrument is listed on a U.S. exchange, intraday trading in that instrument on that exchange will not occur while the exchange is closed.

Equity exchanges (NYSE, Nasdaq)

Both NYSE and Nasdaq observe the federal holiday and suspend regular market sessions on Presidents Day. This suspension includes the core continuous trading session and the official pre-market and post-market auction windows tied to the exchange’s regulated schedule.

Options and listed derivatives

Options exchanges and the derivatives marketplaces that list equity options, index options, and many exchange-listed derivatives generally follow the same holiday schedule and are closed on Presidents Day. That means standard listed option contracts on U.S. exchanges will not open for intraday trading on that date.

U.S. bond and fixed-income markets

U.S. cash Treasury trading desks and many interdealer bond markets are typically closed on Presidents Day. Industry calendars published by bond-market trade associations and exchange operators note Presidents Day as a holiday for many clearing and settlement functions. Over-the-counter (OTC) fixed-income activity may be limited because major market participants and clearinghouses observe the holiday.

Extended-hours / pre-market and after-hours trading

When primary exchanges are closed for a federal holiday, the official pre-market and after-hours sessions that depend on those exchanges are not available. Broker-provided extended-hours access typically aligns with exchange availability; therefore, extended-hours sessions on Presidents Day will usually be suspended.

Some brokers maintain customer-facing platforms 24/7 and will accept order submissions while markets are closed, but those orders are queued and will only be routed for execution when the relevant exchange reopens. Broker-specific services such as margin availability, customer support, and internal liquidity matching may vary by firm—check your brokerage’s holiday policy.

Futures, commodities and other derivatives

Futures and commodities exchanges have independent schedules and may keep some sessions open with modified or shortened hours on Presidents Day. For example, electronic futures trading provided by major derivatives venues can operate overnight sessions that continue through U.S. holidays, while the pit sessions or certain regular sessions may be closed or shortened.

Because schedules differ by contract and by exchange, investors should check the specific exchange (for example, CME Group for many financial futures and commodity contracts) for holiday hours rather than assuming uniform closure. Clearinghouse operations and margin-call timings for futures may also have holiday-specific rules.

Brokerages, order handling and clearing

Retail brokers ordinarily accept order submissions through their apps or websites while markets are closed. However, if you place an order on Presidents Day:

• Marketable orders that require exchange execution are queued and will be routed when the exchange reopens.
• Limit orders may be accepted and held until the market reopens; some brokers offer the option to route orders to internal dark pools or alternative venues but such routing is constrained when primary exchanges are closed.
• Clearing and settlement activity follows the exchange and clearinghouse schedule. Because U.S. equities use T+2 settlement (trade date plus two business days), a trade executed before a holiday may have settlement delayed if the holiday falls within the settlement window.

Clear communication from your broker is important—check the brokerage’s holiday schedule and any notices about extended-hours or internal liquidity services. Bitget users trading crypto are not affected by U.S. exchange holidays, but users placing fiat-to-crypto transfers that rely on bank ACH or wire services should account for bank holidays.

Impact on investors and market operations

Practical implications of the holiday closure include:

• No intraday execution on listed equities or listed options on U.S. exchanges for the holiday date.
• Order routing and execution timings: orders placed during the holiday will generally execute only after markets reopen.
• Potential delays in trade settlement and corporate-action processing where processing windows cross the holiday.
• Liquidity and volatility can be different in the sessions immediately before or after the holiday; lower U.S. participation on adjacent days can create wider spreads or reduced depth.

For short-term traders, liquidity differences around the holiday can matter. For long-term investors, the primary impacts are operational—timing of dividend payments, ex-dividend dates, and settlement windows must be observed relative to the holiday.

Examples and recent observances

• As of 2026-01-14, official exchange calendars list Presidents Day on the third Monday in February. For example, Presidents Day was observed on February 17, 2025 (NYSE and Nasdaq closed) and on February 16, 2026 (third Monday).

• Exchanges publish their full-year holiday calendars in advance; checking the NYSE or Nasdaq published calendars ensures you have the authoritative schedule for a given year.

These recurring observances illustrate the standard industry practice: the large U.S. equity exchanges consistently close on the federal holiday that falls on the third Monday of February.

International markets and time-zone considerations

Many international exchanges remain open on U.S. federal holidays. That means American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), cross-listed securities, and securities listed primarily on non-U.S. exchanges can trade while U.S. venues are closed.

The result: prices for the same economic exposure can move on foreign venues while U.S. markets are dark, producing potential price differences and execution risk for orders that must route cross-border. Investors should be aware that an ADR listed in New York will follow NYSE/Nasdaq holiday rules, while the underlying share listed in another country may trade on a local exchange during the U.S. holiday.

Time-zone differences also matter: markets in Asia or Europe operate on their own business days. Trading windows that overlap with U.S. business hours may see different participation levels on U.S. holidays.

Cryptocurrencies and 24/7 markets (contrast)

If you are asking are stocks open on presidents day and also trade crypto, note this clear contrast: cryptocurrency markets operate 24/7 and are not subject to U.S. exchange holidays. Platforms that provide crypto spot or derivatives trading, including Bitget, maintain continuous order books and execution systems so users can trade on Presidents Day.

That said, some crypto-related services that interact with traditional financial systems (for example, fiat withdrawals or bank transfers) can be limited by bank holidays. If you plan fiat transfers on or around Presidents Day, check your bank and broker processing windows.

Bitget note: Bitget’s crypto order books are available continuously; for fiat rails or bank-dependent operations, consult Bitget’s notices and your bank’s calendar.

Historical exceptions and emergency closures

Beyond scheduled holidays, exchanges sometimes close for exceptional reasons such as national days of mourning, extreme weather, or technical emergencies. These are rare and are announced by the exchange in advance when possible.

When such emergency closures occur, exchanges publish specific reopening times and instructions for participants. They may also coordinate with clearinghouses, market regulators, and major broker-dealers to manage outstanding orders and positions.

How to prepare as an investor

Checklist to prepare for Presidents Day and other exchange holidays:

1. Check the official exchange holiday calendar for the year to confirm the exact date. Exchanges publish calendars well in advance.
2. Verify your broker’s holiday processing rules for order handling, margin, and customer support.
3. Avoid relying on same-day settlement around holidays; remember U.S. equities settle on T+2 and holidays can remove business days from that window.
4. If you use bank transfers for funding or withdrawals, account for bank holidays that affect ACH/wire processing.
5. For options or derivatives traders, confirm that option chains and settlement mechanisms follow the exchange’s holiday schedule.
6. If you need to hedge or adjust positions, plan in advance—liquidity can be lower and spreads wider on the day before/after a holiday.
7. For crypto traders using Bitget or Bitget Wallet, know that crypto execution continues but fiat rails may not.

Taking a few minutes to check these items can avoid execution surprises and settlement delays.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can I place orders on Presidents Day?

A: Yes, most broker platforms accept order submissions while markets are closed, but market orders and other exchange-routed orders will generally be queued and executed when the relevant exchange reopens. Limit orders can be held until the market reopens. Confirm specifics with your broker.

Q: Are bond markets closed on Presidents Day?

A: U.S. cash Treasury and many interdealer bond markets commonly observe Presidents Day as a holiday and close. OTC fixed-income activity may be limited. Refer to bond-market calendars published by trade groups for definitive schedules.

Q: Do options and ETFs trade on Presidents Day?

A: Listed options and ETFs that trade on U.S. exchanges do not trade on Presidents Day if their listing exchange is closed. ETFs that trade on foreign exchanges may still trade on those venues.

Q: What if a holiday falls on a weekend?

A: If the federal holiday date falls on a Saturday, the federal observance is typically the preceding Friday; if it falls on a Sunday, the observance is usually the following Monday. Exchanges publish their own precise observance rules—always check the exchange calendar for that year.

See also

• NYSE holiday calendar (check the exchange’s official calendar for the year)
• Nasdaq trading schedule (official exchange notices)
• SIFMA bond market holiday schedule (industry guidance)
• Your broker’s holiday and order-handling policies

(These are suggested reference titles—consult the official pages or your brokerage for the authoritative schedule and notices.)

References and sources

As of 2026-01-14, the holiday schedules and operating practices referenced in this article are consistent with official exchange calendars and widely used market sources. Examples of primary reference authorities include:

• NYSE holiday & trading hours published on the exchange calendar (official exchange notices).
• Nasdaq holiday & trading hours (exchange-published schedules).
• Industry guidance from bond-market trade groups such as the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA).
• Exchange notices from derivatives venues (for week-by-week futures hours, consult the exchange’s holiday schedule—e.g., CME Group for futures contracts).
• Broker holiday schedules and customer notices (check your brokerage firm for exact processing rules).
• Bitget platform notices for crypto trading and fiat rails.

All recommendations in this article are factual summaries of exchange published schedules and industry practice. For live trading decisions, consult the official exchange page or your broker’s notices for the specific year and instrument.

Further reading and next steps

If your question was are stocks open on presidents day, you now have the operational details needed to plan orders and settlements. For traders who require continuous market access, consider the following:

• If you trade U.S.-listed equities and options, use the exchange holiday calendar to schedule trades.
• If you trade futures or commodities, check the exchange-specific holiday hours and margin instructions.
• If you trade crypto, Bitget provides continuous order books; for fiat funding or withdrawals around U.S. bank holidays, confirm processing windows.

Explore Bitget’s platform and Bitget Wallet if you trade crypto and require 24/7 market access. For U.S.-listed securities, rely on official exchange calendars to avoid surprises.