does stock market close on mlk day — 2026 guide

Does the stock market close on Martin Luther King Jr. Day?

Short answer: Yes — U.S. equity exchanges including the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Many related venues, such as U.S. bond markets and a large share of over-the-counter trading platforms, also observe the federal holiday. This guide explains what that means for orders, settlement, derivatives and international trading, and how to confirm exchange-specific hours.

Note: This article addresses the question "does stock market close on mlk day" and provides practical, verifiable details investors can use to plan trades and settlements.

Introduction

If you are asking "does stock market close on mlk day", this article gives a concise, reliable answer and walks through how closures affect trading, settlement timelines, and related venues (bonds, OTC, futures and options). You will learn where to confirm official hours, what to expect from broker services, and simple steps to prepare around the holiday.

Background — Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Martin Luther King Jr. Day (MLK Day) is a federal U.S. holiday observed on the third Monday in January each year. It honors the civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and is observed by federal offices, many state and local governments, and a broad set of private institutions. Because MLK Day is a federal holiday, many U.S. financial institutions and core market venues follow a holiday schedule.

Asking "does stock market close on mlk day" typically refers to U.S. equity exchanges (NYSE, Nasdaq) and related U.S. market venues. Those exchanges publish annual calendars that list MLK Day among the observed holidays.

Official U.S. equity exchange schedules

New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)

The NYSE observes Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a holiday and closes for regular trading on that day. For context, the NYSE's core trading hours on a normal business day are 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. When the NYSE is closed for MLK Day, there is no regular session trading, and the exchange's annual holiday calendar documents the closure.

Many traders ask "does stock market close on mlk day" specifically because they want to know if limit or market orders will be executed on that day. If the NYSE is closed, core orders are not executed until the next regular trading day.

Nasdaq

Nasdaq follows the same holiday schedule as the NYSE for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Nasdaq’s normal market hours are also 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on regular business days. On MLK Day, Nasdaq’s core equity markets are closed.

As with the NYSE, the Nasdaq public holiday schedule is the definitive source for each calendar year and for any special session notices.

Other U.S. exchanges and late-session venues

Regional and alternative U.S. equity venues (examples include exchange families that operate NYSE Arca, NYSE American, and NYSE National) generally observe the same holiday rules as the primary exchanges. That means when major exchanges are closed for MLK Day, most other regulated U.S. equity venues will be closed as well, or will not host regular core trading sessions.

Some late-session or extended-hours trading protocols are exchange- and broker-dependent. On MLK Day, most extended or pre/post-market liquidity is extremely limited because the principal marketplaces and many broker routing paths are offline for the holiday.

Other U.S. markets and trading venues

U.S. bond markets

U.S. Treasury and many institutional fixed-income markets typically observe federal holidays. According to market associations and exchange schedules, U.S. bond markets generally close on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and resume the next business day. This closure affects primary dealer activity and most institutional cash bond trading.

Over-the-counter (OTC) trading

Many OTC trading platforms and electronic marketplaces see limited or no activity on MLK Day. Some OTC desks operated by broker-dealers may be closed or operating with reduced staff. Retail and institutional participants should expect lower liquidity in OTC instruments when major exchanges and bond markets are closed.

Derivatives, futures and options

Derivatives exchanges and futures venues may have modified or reduced hours around MLK Day. Some exchanges choose to close for the holiday, while others run limited sessions (for example, cash-settlement windows or overnight electronic sessions). Contract-specific schedules vary by exchange and product (equity index futures, interest-rate futures, commodity futures, options), so it is important to consult the official calendar of each derivatives exchange (for example, clearinghouse and exchange notices) before placing trades.

In short, the answer to "does stock market close on mlk day" is that core equity markets are closed and many related venues operate on holiday schedules or reduced hours.

Impact on investors and market operations

Order execution and trading

When exchanges are closed on MLK Day, orders submitted for the regular session will not execute until markets reopen. Marketable orders placed during the holiday will typically be queued by brokers and routed when the exchange opens on the next trading day. Limit orders remain live according to the broker’s order-handling rules unless canceled.

If you rely on automated strategies, scheduled rebalancing, or algorithmic execution, plan for MLK Day closures. Confirm with your broker how orders are handled while an exchange is closed and whether any manual intervention is required to cancel or resubmit orders.

Settlement and clearing

Standard settlement conventions (for U.S. equities, commonly T+2 — trade date plus two business days) still apply, but settlement calendars are based on business days. A holiday like MLK Day pauses the count of business days, which can push settlement and clearing timelines forward by one calendar day. For example, a trade executed on Friday before MLK Day will still settle in accordance with T+2, but the intervening holiday affects the business-day calculation.

Clearing-house operations (including margining and processing of settlement obligations) also follow holiday schedules. Some clearing workstreams may complete processing the business day before a holiday, while other actions resume after the holiday. If you have large settlements, corporate actions, or margin events falling around MLK Day, coordinate with your clearing agent or broker.

Brokerages and banking services

Many broker-dealer operational teams, custody banks and retail banks observe federal holidays. That means customer service lines may be closed or operating with limited hours on MLK Day. Fund transfers that depend on banking rails may not post on a holiday, which can delay deposits, withdrawals and ACH-related movements.

If you need cash available for trades immediately after the holiday, arrange transfers ahead of time and confirm expected arrival dates with your bank or broker.

International markets and extended-hours considerations

MLK Day is a U.S. federal holiday and not an international holiday. Global exchanges — for example, in London, Tokyo, Hong Kong and many other centers — typically remain open on MLK Day. International trading hours mean that global markets may offer trading opportunities while U.S. markets are closed, but cross-border trading carries its own rules, currencies, and settlement conventions.

Extended-hours electronic venues in the U.S. may operate with very low liquidity on MLK Day. If your broker provides pre-market or after-hours trading during a holiday, expect wider spreads and lower depth. Always check your broker’s policy for holiday trading and extended-hours execution.

Annual timing and recurrence

Martin Luther King Jr. Day occurs annually on the third Monday of January. Exchanges publish full-year holiday calendars that include MLK Day alongside other common U.S. market holidays such as New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Keep an eye on exchange calendars at the start of each year for any special session announcements.

Because MLK Day always falls on a Monday, its effect on the trading week is predictable: the markets are closed for that single weekday and reopen on Tuesday.

How to confirm market status

When you need to know whether the market is open, the most reliable places to check are the official exchange holiday pages and your broker’s alerts. The NYSE and Nasdaq publish annual calendars and will issue notices for any special sessions or schedule changes. For bond or derivatives hours, consult the relevant exchange or association calendars.

For immediate confirmation:

• Check the official NYSE holiday calendar.
• Check the official Nasdaq holiday schedule.
• For U.S. bond market hours or closures, review notices from market associations.
• For futures and options, review the official notices from each derivatives exchange/clearinghouse.
• Confirm with your brokerage whether routing, extended-hours access, or back-office operations will be affected.

If you are still asking "does stock market close on mlk day" and need a single authoritative check, use the primary exchange calendars for NYSE and Nasdaq as the starting point and follow up with your broker.

Practical tips for investors

• Plan order timing: Avoid placing market-dependent large orders on the holiday. Submit orders ahead of the holiday if you need execution the next open day.
• Check settlement windows: Remember that T+2 or other settlement conventions pause on holidays. Adjust cash or margin planning accordingly.
• Review derivatives calendars: If you use futures or options to hedge, confirm product-specific hours and whether overnight or cash-settlement sessions are affected.
• Confirm broker operations: If you need bank transfers or customer service, arrange them before the holiday or expect delays until the next business day.
• Monitor international markets: If you want to trade while U.S. markets are closed, be aware of different hours, currencies, and liquidity profiles on international exchanges.

Explore Bitget features for secure spot trading and custody: Bitget exchange supports around-the-clock digital asset markets (note that spot crypto markets do not observe U.S. federal holidays in the same way as regulated equity exchanges), and Bitget Wallet provides a secure option for custody needs. Check Bitget’s support and announcements for any operational schedules that could affect fiat onramps or bank-related transfers.

Historical notes and exceptions

Historically, U.S. exchanges have steadily published annual holiday calendars. The observance of MLK Day as a market holiday has been consistent across major U.S. equity exchanges in recent years. Exchanges may occasionally announce special schedules (for example, early market closures for specific holidays), but these are typically well-communicated in advance.

If a rare exception occurs (for example, emergency closures or extraordinary market halts), exchanges and clearinghouses will publish notices to market participants. For routine planning, assume MLK Day is a full holiday for core U.S. equity trading.

Example calendar context (news and market environment)

As of Jan 17, 2026, according to Yahoo Finance reporting on market schedules and the week’s economic calendar, markets were closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. That same week marked the start of fourth-quarter earnings season and heightened attention to macro headlines, which underscored the practical need for investors to know when core markets were operating.

Market context around that date showed the major indexes finishing the prior week largely unchanged while smaller-cap indices like the Russell 2000 continued to reach record highs. In a week with major corporate earnings and geopolitical developments, knowing whether the U.S. stock market is closed on MLK Day helps traders and investors plan announcements, corporate-event reactions, and trade timing.

Common questions (FAQ)

Q: Does stock market close on MLK Day for pre-market and after-hours trading?

A: Core exchanges are closed for regular sessions on MLK Day. Pre-market and after-hours access depend on the broker and the exchange’s extended-session rules; many brokers will not offer normal extended-hours trading tied to core sessions when the exchange is closed, and liquidity is likely to be thin.

Q: Are U.S. bond auctions or Treasury operations affected by MLK Day?

A: Treasury and many fixed-income operations typically observe federal holidays. Primary market operations and many institutional bond trades are paused for MLK Day. Check official notices from Treasury and primary dealer communications for auction schedules.

Q: Will ETFs and mutual fund NAVs be affected?

A: ETFs listed on exchanges will not trade on the exchange when it is closed, which means intraday ETF liquidity is paused. Mutual fund NAV calculations depend on the fund’s policies and the timing of the underlying markets; funds usually publish NAVs according to their scheduled valuation policy and will disclose holiday impacts in their shareholder communications.

How to prepare: a checklist

• Verify exchange calendars (NYSE, Nasdaq) for the current year’s holiday list.
• Confirm broker policy on order handling during exchange holidays.
• Move needed funds or set transfers at least one business day before MLK Day if you require cash availability immediately after the holiday.
• If you rely on margin or collateral, ensure requirements are met before the holiday to avoid forced actions while support teams may be limited.
• For derivatives hedges, double-check product-specific hours and settlement dates.
• Use international markets or crypto markets (which trade 24/7) if appropriate, but understand the differences in risk, liquidity and settlement.

Where to find authoritative sources

• Official exchange holiday calendars for NYSE and Nasdaq (these are the primary authoritative references for U.S. equity market hours).
• Notices from market associations and clearinghouses for bond and derivatives hours.
• Your brokerage’s official support pages and customer service announcements.

Remember that the simplest definitive answer to the initial query "does stock market close on mlk day" is confirmed by the exchange calendars: yes, major U.S. stock exchanges close in observance of MLK Day.

Final notes and recommended next steps

If you asked "does stock market close on mlk day" to plan trades or corporate actions, now you know that core U.S. equity markets are closed on MLK Day and that related venues may observe similar holiday schedules. For up-to-the-minute confirmation, check the official NYSE and Nasdaq calendars and your broker’s holiday notices.

If you trade digital assets or use crypto markets, note that cryptocurrency markets typically operate 24/7 and are not subject to federal holidays in the same way; consider Bitget exchange for spot trading and Bitget Wallet for custody solutions if you want continuous market access alongside traditional market schedules. For any planned cash transfers or margin-sensitive actions, act early and verify processing times with your bank or broker.

Further reading: review the current year’s official exchange calendars at the start of each year and set broker alerts to receive holiday schedule notifications.

Sources and reporting notes:

• NYSE official holiday calendar (exchange notices and annual schedules).
• Nasdaq official holiday schedule (exchange notices and annual schedules).
• Market reporting: As of Jan 17, 2026, according to Yahoo Finance reporting on market schedules, markets were closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day and various market themes and earnings calendars were highlighted for the week.
• Market associations and derivatives-exchange notices for product-specific hours (check exchange-specific communications for the definitive schedule).

(Reporting date reference: As of Jan 17, 2026, according to Yahoo Finance.)