Does stock market close on holidays?
Does the stock market close on holidays?
Does stock market close on holidays? Yes — major U.S. exchanges maintain published holiday calendars that list full closures and early-closing days. This article explains which holidays the NYSE and Nasdaq typically observe, how closures and early closes affect orders, settlement and banking, special cases (weekend observances and emergency closures), and where to verify schedules. You’ll also get practical steps to plan trades, handle settlement delays, and alternatives when you need continuous market access — including 24/7 crypto options via Bitget and the Bitget Wallet.
Overview of U.S. stock market holiday closures
Major U.S. exchanges publish annual holiday calendars that specify full-market closures and early-closing (half) days. Does stock market close on holidays? For regular session trading, yes — NYSE and Nasdaq close on a set list of federal and market-observed holidays. These calendars are set by each exchange and are widely followed by brokers, clearinghouses, and other market infrastructure. Brokers and trading platforms typically align order processing and customer notices with the exchange calendars, though some operational details vary by firm.
Exchanges also announce ad hoc changes (emergency closures, national observances) when needed. Because the exchange calendar determines primary market availability, verifying the official exchange calendar is the authoritative way to confirm whether the stock market will close on holidays.
Regular market hours (context)
To understand closures, it helps to know normal hours. For major U.S. equity markets:
- Regular session: 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Eastern Time for NYSE and Nasdaq. Does stock market close on holidays? During full holiday closures, this regular session does not occur.
- Pre-market (extended) trading: many brokers offer pre-market trading roughly from 4:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. ET (times vary by broker and order type).
- After-hours trading: commonly from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET (broker-dependent).
Pre-market and after-hours sessions have different liquidity, wider spreads and limited order types. Availability during holidays depends on exchange and broker rules — see the Extended-hours section below.
Standard holiday schedule and examples
Does stock market close on holidays? Exchanges typically observe a mix of federal holidays and market-specific observances. The following holidays are commonly on NYSE and Nasdaq calendars (dates may shift when they fall on weekends):
- New Year’s Day
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Presidents’ Day (Washington’s Birthday)
- Good Friday
- Memorial Day
- Juneteenth National Independence Day
- Independence Day (Fourth of July)
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
Exchanges publish the precise annual schedule with observed dates. For example, when a holiday falls on a Saturday, exchanges often observe the holiday on the preceding Friday; when it falls on a Sunday, the holiday is often observed on the following Monday. Does stock market close on holidays that fall on weekends? Yes, exchanges typically designate an observed weekday closure.
Market-specific observances
Some closures or shortened sessions are market-specific and announced in advance by each exchange. Always check the exchange calendar for that year.
Examples of observed behavior
- Good Friday: typically a full market closure for equities.
- Thanksgiving: markets are closed on Thanksgiving Day, with many brokers and platforms also implementing early close the following Friday.
Early-closing (half) days
Does stock market close on holidays—or close early? On certain days surrounding holidays exchanges run shortened sessions rather than a full closure. Common early-closing days include:
- The trading day before Independence Day (if it falls on a weekday, exchanges may shorten hours)
- The trading day following Thanksgiving (commonly an early close around 1:00 p.m. ET)
- Christmas Eve (when it falls on a weekday, often an early close around 1:00 p.m. ET)
Exact early-close dates and times vary by year and by exchange. When an early close is in effect, the regular session ends earlier (often near 1:00 p.m. ET), and pre-/after-hours sessions may be restricted or adjusted. Brokers typically display early-close hours in the trading platform and may restrict certain order types during shortened sessions.
How holidays affect trading and orders
Does stock market close on holidays affect your open orders and trades? Yes — practical effects include:
- Market orders: cannot execute during a full holiday closure because there is no active regular session. If you place a market order while the exchange is closed, brokers commonly schedule it for the next market open.
- Limit orders: remain pending across market closures unless canceled or expired; they execute only when market conditions meet the limit during open sessions or extended hours when permitted by your broker.
- Stops and stop-limit orders: may not trigger during holidays; triggers operate only when the market is open or in extended-hours periods supported by your broker.
- Quotes and last sale prices: regular-session price updates are not produced during full holiday closures. After-hours/alternative venue trades may still produce quotes if those venues are open.
- Order routing and trade confirmation: confirmations show trade timestamps aligned with actual execution time (not order submission time). A trade submitted on a holiday will usually show execution the next trading day.
Because behavior can differ by broker, confirm with your broker how they treat orders placed during exchange closures and early closes.
Extended-hours trading during holidays
Many brokers offer extended-hours trading (pre-market and after-hours), but availability is broker-specific and subject to exchange rules. Does stock market close on holidays mean extended-hours still work? Generally:
- On full exchange holidays: extended-hours trading for the regular equity session is often limited or not available. Some alternative trading venues may still operate, but typical retail access is reduced.
- On early-close days: extended-hours sessions are frequently shortened or suspended; some brokers disable after-hours trading on short-session days.
Extended-hours trading has trade-offs: lower liquidity, wider spreads, limited order types, and higher volatility. If continuous trading is critical, consider 24/7 markets such as cryptocurrencies (available on Bitget) as an alternative.
Settlement, clearing, and bank holidays
Does stock market close on holidays affect settlement and clearing? Yes — settlement timelines use business days and exclude exchange and relevant bank holidays. Key points:
- Standard equity settlement: most U.S. equity trades settle on a T+1 schedule (trade date plus one business day) for eligible securities. Holidays and weekends are not business days, so a trade executed on Friday will settle on the next business day that is not a holiday.
- Clearing and clearinghouse operations: clearinghouses and custodians observe exchange/market holidays; their processing runs are on business days only.
- Bank closures: federal bank holidays affect ACH and wire transfers. If banks are closed for a federal holiday, deposits, withdrawals and bank transfers tied to settlement or funding will be delayed until the next banking day.
Example: if the market is closed on Monday for a holiday and you sell a stock on the next open day (Tuesday), T+1 settlement will occur on Wednesday (assuming no further holidays). Always allow extra time around holiday periods for settlement and transfers.
Broker and platform behavior on holidays
Does stock market close on holidays change how brokers operate? Yes. Common broker behaviors include:
- Queuing and delayed execution: orders placed while the market is closed are often queued and submitted at the next market open.
- Automatic investment plans (dollar-cost averaging): scheduled purchases may be delayed to the next open trading day if a planned date falls on an exchange holiday.
- Customer support hours: broker help desks may operate reduced hours on exchange holidays; check your broker’s support schedule.
- Margin and maintenance: margin requirements generally remain in force during holidays; you could face margin calls after a holiday if markets gap at the next open and your account no longer meets requirements.
Always review your broker’s policy on order handling, dividend processing, corporate actions, and support availability around holidays.
Differences for other asset classes
Does stock market close on holidays apply to all assets? Not always. Distinguish among asset classes:
- Options: U.S. options exchanges typically follow holiday calendars that are similar to equities but may have specific early-closing rules. Verify with the options exchange and your broker.
- Fixed income (bonds): bond-trading hours and holiday observances can differ from equities; some institutional bond markets operate on similar business day schedules but with distinct settlement rules.
- Mutual funds: mutual funds price (net asset value) between closes and may defer transactions on bank holidays; many mutual funds require processing on business days.
- Cryptocurrencies: unlike traditional markets, cryptocurrencies trade 24/7/365. As Michael Saylor has emphasized, crypto networks do not take holidays — Bitcoin’s blockchain functions continuously. For continuous trading and settlement, crypto markets on platforms like Bitget and custody via the Bitget Wallet offer always-on access. As of January 19, 2026, public commentary reiterated Bitcoin’s continuous availability, highlighting the contrast with closed stock exchanges.
Special cases and observances
Does stock market close on holidays always follow a simple pattern? Sometimes exceptions occur:
- Weekend holidays: when a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, exchanges typically observe the holiday on the preceding Friday or the following Monday. Check the exchange calendar for which weekday is observed.
- National days of mourning or extraordinary observances: exchanges may close or shorten sessions for unusual national observances; these are announced in exchange notices.
- System outages and force majeure: technical failures, extreme weather, or other emergency events can prompt unscheduled closures or delayed openings.
- Ad hoc notices: exchanges publish press releases and notices for deviations from the normal calendar; subscribe to or check exchange notices if you expect to trade around unusual events.
Regulatory and exchange authority
Does stock market close on holidays depend on regulators? Exchanges (NYSE, Nasdaq, etc.) set trading calendars and hours within market rules and under regulatory oversight — primarily the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and self-regulatory organizations like FINRA. Exchanges publish annual trading calendars and provide advance notices for holiday hours, early closes, and special events. Market participants must comply with exchange rules and regulatory guidelines related to trading hours, disclosures and operational readiness.
How to verify whether the market is closed on a specific date
To confirm whether the market will be open on a specific date, use authoritative sources:
- NYSE trading hours and holiday calendar published by the exchange.
- Nasdaq trading schedule and official holiday calendar for the year.
- NasdaqTrader trading calendar and exchange notices.
- Exchange press releases and market notices (NYSE, Nasdaq, and clearinghouses).
- Your broker’s holiday/operating hours page and account notifications.
Does stock market close on holidays? Double-check these sources ahead of planned activity — especially around late-December and early-January, when holiday observances and early closes are common. Rely on the exchange calendar as the primary source; broker pages provide useful operational detail specific to your account.
Practical guidance for investors
Practical steps to manage trading around holidays:
- Plan orders ahead: place time-sensitive orders well before holiday closures or confirm that limit orders will remain active until execution.
- Expect settlement delays: allow extra days for T+1/T+2 settlement around holidays and avoid last-minute funding/withdrawal expectations near bank holidays.
- Confirm extended-hours availability: if you rely on pre-/after-hours trading, check broker policies for holiday and early-close days.
- Use alerts and calendar reminders: add exchange holiday dates to your trading calendar so you don’t submit market orders on closed days.
- Consider alternatives for continuous access: if you need 24/7 markets for hedging or execution, cryptocurrencies trade continuously — Bitget provides crypto trading and Bitget Wallet offers custody and access outside traditional market hours.
These steps help reduce surprises and make sure trades and cash flows settle when you expect them to.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Q: Will my market order execute during a holiday? A: No. Market orders require an open regular session. If the exchange is closed, most brokers queue market orders for the next open session.
Q: Do pre-market and after-hours operate on exchange holidays? A: Typically no — extended-hours trading is often limited or suspended on full exchange holidays and may be shortened on early-close days. Check your broker.
Q: How are dividends and corporate actions handled around holidays? A: Dividend record dates, ex-dividend dates and corporate action timelines follow business-day conventions. Holidays can shift payment and processing schedules; confirm with the issuer, transfer agent or your broker.
Q: If a holiday falls on the weekend, which weekday is observed? A: Exchanges publish observed dates. Commonly, when a holiday falls on a Saturday it is observed on the preceding Friday, and when it falls on a Sunday it is observed on the following Monday — but always verify the exchange calendar for that year.
Q: Do options and bond markets follow the same holiday schedule as equities? A: Often similar, but not always identical. Check the specific exchange or market (options exchanges or bond trading platforms) for exact observances.
Q: Are bank transfers affected by exchange holidays? A: Yes. Bank holidays can delay ACH and wire transfers even if the exchange is open; plan funding and withdrawals around bank closures.
See also
- Stock exchange trading hours
- Extended-hours trading
- Trade settlement (T+1/T+2)
- Exchange holiday calendars (NYSE/Nasdaq)
- Cryptocurrency markets (24/7 trading)
References and official sources
- NYSE Holidays & Trading Hours (official exchange calendar and notices).
- Nasdaq Trading Schedule and NasdaqTrader calendar.
- Exchange press releases and operational notices (NYSE, Nasdaq).
- Broker holiday and order-handling guides (check your specific broker for policies).
As of January 19, 2026, public commentary highlighted that Bitcoin and other crypto networks trade continuously and do not take holidays, reinforcing the difference between traditional exchange closures and 24/7 crypto markets. As of January 15, 2026, AFP reported that UK inflation rose to 3.4%, underlining the broader market context where macro announcements and holidays both affect liquidity and trading behavior.
Further explore how continuous markets fit your needs: if you need trading access outside U.S. exchange hours, Bitget offers 24/7 crypto markets and secure custody through the Bitget Wallet — useful when traditional markets close for holidays or early closes.
