what holidays does the stock market close: U.S. Guide

Stock Market Holidays (U.S. Exchanges)

This guide answers the common question what holidays does the stock market close, explains which U.S. exchanges observe those days, and describes practical effects for traders and investors. You will learn the standard annual holiday schedule, which venues follow it, the rules for weekend observances and early closes, how to verify official calendars, and a concise checklist to prepare your trading around holidays. If you trade equities or manage settlement timing, this article helps you avoid surprises.

(Note: the phrase "what holidays does the stock market close" appears throughout this guide to match common search queries.)

Introduction: What we mean by stock market holidays

In the context of U.S. equities and trading, the question what holidays does the stock market close asks which calendar holidays the major U.S. exchanges—primarily the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq—observe by suspending regular trading sessions.

Stock market holidays are days when the listed exchanges do not conduct the regular continuous auction session (the main trading hours). On these days, order books are closed for the regular session, clearance and settlement timelines can shift, and liquidity typically drops before and after the holiday.

As of January 15, 2026, according to NYSE and Nasdaq published calendars, the exchanges maintain a consistent set of recurring closures each year while also announcing occasional early-closes and exceptional closures when needed.

Standard Annual Holiday Schedule

Below is the set of recurring federal and exchange-observed holidays when the NYSE and Nasdaq typically close their regular sessions. This list answers the central search intent when someone asks what holidays does the stock market close.

• New Year's Day (January 1)
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January)
• Washington’s Birthday / Presidents’ Day (third Monday in February)
• Good Friday (date varies—Friday before Easter Sunday)
• Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
• Juneteenth National Independence Day (June 19)
• Independence Day (July 4)
• Labor Day (first Monday in September)
• Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November)
• Christmas Day (December 25)

These are the core closures most U.S. equity investors expect when they ask what holidays does the stock market close. Exchanges publish each year’s exact observance dates because when a holiday falls on a weekend the observed closure may shift to a Friday or Monday.

Weekend observance rule (brief)

When a listed holiday falls on a Saturday, exchanges typically observe the holiday on the preceding Friday. When it falls on a Sunday, exchanges typically observe the holiday on the following Monday. That rule applies to most of the holidays above and is why the calendar is set annually.

Exchanges and Markets That Follow the Schedule

When considering what holidays does the stock market close, the primary venues are:

• NYSE (New York Stock Exchange)
• Nasdaq (electronic equity exchange platforms)

Many over-the-counter equity markets and most U.S.-listed ETFs and stocks follow the NYSE/Nasdaq holiday schedule because those schedules define the regular session for U.S. equities.

However, not every financial market follows exactly the same schedule. For example, some bond markets and regional marketplaces may observe additional days or different early-close rules. When you ask what holidays does the stock market close, be clear that you are referring to the major equity exchanges; other venues (fixed income, futures, and options) may have variations.

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Differences between Stock Exchanges and Other Financial Markets

When trying to answer what holidays does the stock market close, remember other markets observe different rules:

• U.S. bond markets: The U.S. Treasury and many fixed-income venues have historically observed some additional closures or early closures (for example, some bond desks have observed Columbus Day and Veterans Day in past years). Always confirm with the bond clearinghouse or your broker.

• Options markets: Options trades on securities listed on NYSE and Nasdaq generally follow the underlying equity holiday schedule for full-day closures, but options expiration calendars, exercise procedures, and early-close times may differ. Some options sessions have a slightly different early-close time on certain half-days.

• Futures and commodities: These markets follow their own exchange calendars (for example, CME Group products) and may remain open when equities are closed or vice versa.

Thus, the direct answer to what holidays does the stock market close applies to U.S. equities (NYSE/Nasdaq) but may not apply to all financial instruments.

Early Closes and Half-Days

In addition to full-day closures, the exchanges often schedule early-closing sessions—commonly called "half-days." Typical facts about early closes when people ask what holidays does the stock market close include:

• Typical early-close time: 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time for the regular equity session. Some options and special instruments may observe a 1:15 p.m. ET close.

• Common early-close occasions:

  • Day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday) — historically a scheduled early close at 1:00 p.m. ET.
  • Christmas Eve (December 24) — often an early close when it falls on a weekday; if observed the day before or after shifts with weekends.
  • Day before Independence Day — occasional early close if July 4 falls midweek.

Exact early-close dates vary year to year. To answer what holidays does the stock market close in a given year, you should check the exchange calendar for confirmed early-close specifics.

Rules for Weekend Holidays and Observance

When clarifying what holidays does the stock market close, note these observance rules:

• If the holiday date falls on a Saturday, the exchange typically closes the preceding Friday.
• If the holiday date falls on a Sunday, the exchange typically closes the following Monday.

This approach aligns the exchange closure with a weekday, reducing market disruption. Exchanges publish annual calendars that show observed dates rather than raw calendar dates.

Unscheduled and Exceptional Closures

Beyond regular holidays and planned early closes, exchanges can and do suspend trading for exceptional reasons. Important historical examples help answer what holidays does the stock market close in extraordinary circumstances:

• September 11–14, 2001: In response to the terrorist attacks, the NYSE and Nasdaq remained closed for several trading days. The NYSE reopened for limited operations on September 17, 2001. As of January 15, 2026, according to NYSE historical records, this multi-day closure remains the most notable non-holiday shutdown in modern times.

• National days of mourning: Exchanges have suspended or shortened sessions for certain national mourning events in the past. Such decisions are announced by the exchanges and implemented case by case.

• Severe weather or natural disasters: Local infrastructure and safety can force a pause in trading. For instance, localized closures or delayed openings have occurred during extreme storms.

• Technical outages: Exchanges occasionally experience system outages that halt trading. In those cases exchanges provide post-event reports describing causes and remediation.

These events are exceptional. When evaluating what holidays does the stock market close, remember that exchanges reserve the right to alter schedules in extraordinary circumstances.

Impact on Trading and Investors

Knowing what holidays does the stock market close helps investors and traders plan. Practical impacts include:

• Order routing and execution: Market orders cannot execute during full-day closures; orders entered into broker systems may be queued for the next open or canceled, depending on order type and broker policy.

• Settlement and clearing: The standard settlement cycle for many securities is T+2 (trade date plus two business days). A market holiday interrupts the business-day count and extends settlement timing. Confirm settlement deadlines with your broker.

• Corporate actions and dividends: Ex-dividend dates, record dates, and other corporate events are scheduled in business-day terms. Holidays can shift these timelines.

• Options expirations and derivatives: Weekly and monthly options use standard expiration rules; holiday calendars can affect exercise cutoff times. Check exchange notices for specifics in a given year.

• Liquidity and spreads: Trading volumes often thin before and after holidays and on early-close days, which can widen spreads and increase slippage for large orders.

• International trading and ADRs: American Depositary Receipts and cross-listed securities can be affected when the U.S. exchange is closed but the foreign home market is open (or vice versa). Consider time zone and holiday mismatches when trading cross-listed instruments.

After-Hours and Pre-Market Trading on Holidays

Many electronic communication networks (ECNs) and alternative trading systems support extended-hours trading (pre-market and after-hours) during normal trading days. However:

• On full exchange holidays, the primary exchanges are closed and many brokers do not provide regular extended-hours execution for listed U.S. equities.

• Some venues for trading certain instruments may remain open, but liquidity is usually very thin and price impact can be large.

When asking what holidays does the stock market close, remember that "closed" refers to the regular session; extended-hours or alternative venues may still provide limited trading in special cases.

How to Find and Verify the Official Holiday Calendar

To confirm what holidays does the stock market close for a specific year, always check official sources:

• NYSE annual holiday and trading hours calendar (official exchange publication)
• Nasdaq Trader calendar (official Nasdaq schedule)
• Broker communications: Your broker will publish order and settlement policies for holidays

As of January 15, 2026, according to the exchanges' published calendars, the list of standard holidays provided earlier remains current. Because observed dates and early-close decisions can change, verify each year.

International and Cross-Market Considerations

If you trade across markets, remember that each country’s exchanges have their own holiday schedules. When asking what holidays does the stock market close, be explicit whether you mean U.S. equities or foreign exchanges.

• ADRs (American Depositary Receipts): U.S. trading and settlement of ADRs follow U.S. exchange hours, but the underlying foreign market holidays can affect underlying liquidity and corporate actions.

• Time zones and overlap: Holiday closures in major international markets (e.g., Tokyo, London) affect global liquidity windows even when U.S. exchanges are open.

Always consult both the U.S. exchange calendar and the relevant foreign market calendar before executing cross-border trade strategies.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Is the market open on weekends?

A: No. U.S. equity exchanges do not open for the regular continuous session on Saturdays or Sundays. Some alternative or specialized trading systems may provide weekend liquidity for certain products, but the main U.S. exchanges are closed.

Q: Are Veterans Day and Columbus Day stock market holidays?

A: Historically, NYSE and Nasdaq have not consistently closed for Veterans Day and Columbus Day for equities. Some fixed-income venues have observed these days in the past. Always verify the specific year’s exchange calendar to answer what holidays does the stock market close in that year.

Q: What happens to pre-scheduled trades on a holiday?

A: Trades requiring regular session execution will not execute during a full-day holiday. Orders typically remain pending or are re-routed according to your broker’s policy. Market-on-open and other time-sensitive instructions will execute on the next trading day unless otherwise specified.

Q: When are half-days scheduled?

A: Common half-days include the day after Thanksgiving and sometimes Christmas Eve. The exchange calendar lists exact half-day observances each year. Half-day close times are typically 1:00 p.m. ET for equities.

Q: Are there special rules for options expiration around holidays?

A: Yes. Options exercise procedures and expiration cut-offs can be affected by holidays. Consult the options clearing organization and exchange notices for precise cutoff times in a given year.

Historical Notes and Notable Variations

When people ask what holidays does the stock market close, it’s useful to understand some historical context:

• Juneteenth added to calendar: Juneteenth (June 19) became a federally recognized holiday in 2021. As of June 18, 2021, according to the U.S. Department of Labor and exchange announcements, Juneteenth was added to the NYSE and Nasdaq holiday calendars, and the exchanges observed the day going forward.

• September 2001 closures: Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, U.S. equity markets were closed for several days. The NYSE reopened on September 17, 2001. As of January 15, 2026, this remains a leading example of a multi-day non-holiday closure.

• Pandemic-era operations: During early 2020, despite extraordinary volatility related to the pandemic, U.S. exchanges generally remained open for business days but implemented operational notices, changes to open procedures, and expanded remote access for staff. These events illustrate that exchanges can adapt operations without full closure.

Exchanges routinely adjust early-close policies and special procedures, so historical changes often inform current calendar practices.

Practical Checklist for Traders Around Holidays

Use this concise checklist every year to prepare for answers to what holidays does the stock market close that apply to your trading:

• Verify the official NYSE and Nasdaq calendar for the current year.
• Confirm early-close dates and times for equities and options.
• Adjust T+ settlement expectations and corporate-action timelines.
• Pause or reprogram algorithmic or scheduled orders that might run into holiday-related execution issues.
• Anticipate thinner liquidity and wider spreads near holidays and half-days.
• Check your broker’s processing rules for orders entered on holidays or queued across holiday boundaries.
• For cross-market strategies, check foreign-exchange holidays and ADR differences.

Sources and Official References

To verify what holidays does the stock market close for a specific year, consult the exchanges directly and check broker notices. Authoritative sources include the NYSE annual holiday and trading hours calendar and the Nasdaq Trader calendar. Broker support pages and major financial information services publish summaries and reminders each year.

As of January 15, 2026, according to exchange calendars and broker announcements, the holiday schedule listed in this guide is the accepted baseline for U.S. equity closures.

News and Timely Notes (selected citations)

• As of January 15, 2026, according to the NYSE and Nasdaq calendars, the standard list of ten core holidays (New Year’s Day, MLK Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas) is in effect for the coming year.

• As of June 18, 2021, according to U.S. federal announcements, Juneteenth was adopted as a federal holiday and subsequently included in exchange calendars for observance going forward.

• As of September 17, 2001, according to historical exchange notices, the NYSE reopened after a multi-day closure following the September 11 attacks. This remains a significant historical example of an extraordinary market closure.

(For precise, year-specific dates and official notices consult the exchange calendars and broker bulletins.)

Additional Practical Considerations for Institutions and Retail Traders

• Corporate trading desks: Institutional desks often publish internal cut-off times and settlement handling procedures ahead of holidays. Make sure these internal deadlines are aligned with exchange and clearinghouse calendars.

• Retail investors: If you are retail and hold orders in a broker platform, check broker policy on order behavior during exchange holidays. Some brokers may permit entering orders during holidays but will only route them when the exchange reopens.

• Algorithmic traders and market makers: Adapt algorithms to recognize holiday and half-day calendars to avoid placing large market orders into thin markets.

• Cross-asset traders: Because cryptocurrencies trade 24/7, some traders shift allocations to crypto or other continuously traded assets when equities are closed. If you choose to use crypto services, consider Bitget and Bitget Wallet for custody and trading continuity—ensure you understand platform fees and operational rules.

FAQ — Quick Answers (Short & Shareable)

• Q: What holidays does the stock market close? A: The major U.S. exchanges typically close for ten annual holidays: New Year’s Day; MLK Day; Presidents’ Day; Good Friday; Memorial Day; Juneteenth; Independence Day; Labor Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas.

• Q: Is the U.S. stock market open on Veterans Day? A: Not typically; equities usually remain open on Veterans Day, but some bond markets have observed it historically. Check the year’s exchange calendar.

• Q: When do early closes happen? A: Commonly the day after Thanksgiving and sometimes Christmas Eve; typical early close is 1:00 p.m. ET.

• Q: Do markets close for national mourning? A: Exchanges may suspend or shorten trading for major national events; such closures are decided case by case.

Further Reading and Verification Checklist

To finalize planning for what holidays does the stock market close in any given year, do the following:

• Check the official NYSE holiday and trading hours page for the current year.
• Check the Nasdaq Trader calendar for precise observance days and early close times.
• Review broker notifications on order handling, settlement, and cut-off times.
• For options and futures, consult the options clearing organization and the specific futures exchange calendars.

Practical Example: How a Holiday Affects a Trade

Scenario: You place a market order to sell shares on the afternoon before a two-day holiday.

• If the order is entered as a market order and the exchange will close early the next day, your order may execute at the available price before the close or may be queued until the next opening, depending on how your broker handles out-of-hours or market orders.

• Settlement (T+2) will be extended by the holiday days, so the funds from the sale will arrive later than if no holiday intervened.

Knowing what holidays does the stock market close helps you set expectations for execution timing and settlement.

Final Notes and Brand Guidance

Understanding what holidays does the stock market close is fundamental to operational planning for traders and investors. Always verify the official exchange calendar each year and confirm broker-specific processing rules.

If you trade across asset classes and need continuous market access during U.S. equity holidays, explore Bitget for crypto trading paired with Bitget Wallet for custody and asset management. Bitget provides 24/7 crypto market access which can complement equity strategies during exchange closures.

Further explore Bitget resources to align your multi-asset workflows around U.S. equity holidays and settlement cycles.

References and Sources (authoritative):

• NYSE annual holiday and trading hours calendar (official exchange notices). As of January 15, 2026, NYSE calendars confirm the standard holiday list above.
• Nasdaq Trader calendar (official Nasdaq schedule). As of January 15, 2026, Nasdaq confirms the same core holidays and publishes early-close dates each year.
• U.S. Department of Labor (Juneteenth federal holiday adoption announced June 17, 2021). As of June 18, 2021, federal recognition led to exchange inclusion of Juneteenth.
• Exchange historical notices (for multi-day closures such as September 2001). As of January 15, 2026, historical records remain available on exchange archives.