which days stock market closed

Stock market holidays and closure days (United States)

Which days stock market closed is a common question for investors, traders and crypto users who want to understand when U.S. securities exchanges pause trading. This guide explains which days stock market closed on a scheduled basis (full-day holidays and early/half-day closes), how those schedules differ from continuous markets such as cryptocurrencies, where to confirm official dates, and practical impacts for portfolio management. Read on to learn how to plan trades, understand settlement impacts, and find authoritative exchange calendars.

Scope and definitions

This article focuses on national U.S. securities exchanges (for example the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq), major regional equities venues, and associated markets for options and fixed-income instruments. It explains commonly used terms so readers know exactly what is meant when asking which days stock market closed.

• Full-day close: the exchange is closed for the entire standard trading day; no regular session trading occurs. Orders cannot execute during the normal session.
• Early/half-day close (reduced hours): the exchange opens but ends the regular session earlier than normal; pre-market or after-hours sessions may be shortened or unavailable.
• Market hours: the regular cash equity session (commonly 9:30 AM–4:00 PM Eastern Time for U.S. equities).
• Extended-hours trading: pre-market and after-hours trading sessions outside the regular session offered by some broker-dealers (hours vary by broker).
• Settlement vs. trading closure: trading may be closed while clearing, settlement windows and regulatory reporting continue to follow calendar rules such as T+1 or T+2; settlement dates can shift around holidays.

Throughout this guide, the focus is on scheduled, announced closures and reduced hours. Unexpected or emergency closures are covered in a separate section.

Standard weekly schedule

Under normal circumstances U.S. national exchanges follow a regular weekly schedule:

• Regular trading session for equities: 9:30 AM–4:00 PM Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (excluding holidays).
• Pre-market sessions and after-hours sessions: many broker-dealers support pre-market trading (ranges often start around 4:00 AM–8:00 AM ET) and after-hours trading (often 4:00 PM–8:00 PM ET), although precise windows and order types accepted differ by broker.
• Weekends: exchanges are normally closed on Saturday and Sunday; that is part of the reason many users ask which days stock market closed.

Note: derivatives markets (options, futures, etc.) and bond markets have different session rules. If you trade options or fixed-income products, consult the product-specific schedules.

Annual holiday schedule — typical U.S. exchange closures

Which days stock market closed on a recurring basis follows a set of commonly observed federal and market holidays. The exchanges publish an annual calendar that lists exact dates and any observed adjustments when holidays fall on weekends. Typical full-day exchange holidays observed each year include:

• New Year’s Day (January 1) — observed date used when it falls on a weekend
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January)
• Presidents’ Day / Washington’s Birthday (third Monday in February)
• Good Friday (date varies with Easter)
• Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
• Juneteenth National Independence Day (June 19) — observed adjustments apply
• Independence Day (July 4) — observed adjustments if on weekend
• Labor Day (first Monday in September)
• Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November)
• Christmas Day (December 25) — observed adjustments if on weekend

These are the typical full-day closures for equities on major U.S. exchanges; the precise day-of-week and observed-day rules are published annually by each exchange and coordinated industry-wide, often with SIFMA recommendations.

Reading an exchange calendar

Exchanges (for example Nasdaq and the NYSE) publish a yearly trading calendar and separate early-closing notices. When you look at a calendar for a given year, note these items:

• Full-day closures shown in red or clearly marked as “Closed.”
• Early-closes shown with the reduced closing time (commonly 1:00 PM ET for equities on early-close days).
• Observed dates: when a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday the observed closure may be the preceding Friday or the following Monday — check the exchange’s note.
• Special notes: some calendars include product-specific differences (options, bond trading, etc.).

Examples and calendar notes

Representative examples follow the pattern above; however, each year the exact dates change. For example, if New Year’s Day falls on a Saturday, many exchanges designate the preceding Friday as the observed closure. If it falls on a Sunday, Monday is usually the observed closure. The full-year calendars published by Nasdaq and the NYSE list these specifics and are the authoritative source for any given year.

Which days stock market closed will therefore always depend on the calendar year in question. Always confirm the year-specific calendar before making trade or settlement decisions.

Early/half-day closes and special reduced hours

Exchanges occasionally schedule early closes—commonly with a 1:00 PM ET finish for the regular equities session. Typical early-close days include:

• The day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday) — historically an early close on the regular session.
• Christmas Eve (December 24) — often an early close if it falls on a weekday.
• The day before Independence Day — occasionally an early close if July 4 is adjacent.

Options markets may have slightly different early-close times and product-specific rules. Exchanges announce early-close days in advance; brokers publish how they accept and route orders on those days. Early closes affect liquidity, order routing and option exercise deadlines.

How holidays are observed when they fall on weekends

Which days stock market closed depends on the observed rules:

• If a full-day holiday falls on a Saturday, exchanges often observe the holiday on the preceding Friday.
• If it falls on a Sunday, exchanges often observe the holiday on the following Monday.

These observed rules are published by exchanges each year. Because different markets (equities, options, bonds) sometimes adopt slightly different observance rules, verify the calendars for the particular instrument you trade.

Differences across market types and instruments

Holiday schedules can vary by market type:

• Equities vs. options: options markets frequently follow the equity holiday calendar but may have additional product-specific notice or differing early-close times.
• Bond and fixed-income markets: U.S. Treasury and corporate bond trading hours and dealer activity often reduce around holidays; SIFMA provides industry recommendations that bond dealers often follow.
• OTC/OTCBB/FINRA reporting: OTC trading and FINRA reporting systems may have their own processing windows and reporting deadlines that differ from exchange trading hours.
• Clearing and settlement: clearinghouses and settlement systems operate on business-day schedules; settlement cycles such as T+1 or T+2 shift around holidays, meaning a holiday can push settlement dates forward.

Because of these differences, a holiday that closes equity trading may not identically close all related reporting, clearing or settlement services.

Extended-hours trading and broker behavior

Which days stock market closed does not always determine whether some trading activity can occur. Some broker-dealers provide extended-hours trading outside the regular session. Key points:

• Typical extended-hours windows: pre-market sessions can begin as early as 4:00 AM ET and after-hours sessions often run until 8:00 PM ET, but these windows vary by broker.
• On full exchange holidays or early-closes: many brokers suspend extended-hours trading or limit available order types; check your broker’s holiday policy.
• Order handling: some brokers restrict certain order types (e.g., limit-only) or do not accept market orders in extended hours because liquidity is lower.

If you use Bitget for spot equities or crypto-related instruments, note that crypto markets on Bitget typically operate 24/7, and Bitget Wallet services remain available even when U.S. exchanges are closed. For equity or tokenized asset services routed through regulated venues, Bitget follows exchange-specified calendars.

Unexpected and unscheduled closures

Occasionally exchanges implement unscheduled closures or suspensions due to exceptional circumstances such as major natural disasters, technical outages, or national observances. Examples in history include rare multi-hour or multi-day halts due to severe weather, security incidents, or systemic technical problems.

When an unscheduled closure occurs, exchanges and regulators issue official notices explaining the reason and expected duration. The authority to suspend trading rests with the exchange and, in certain emergency contexts, regulators or clearinghouses may coordinate response actions.

Practical impacts for investors and traders

Knowing which days stock market closed helps manage several operational and trading risks:

• Order timing and cancellations: scheduled closures mean orders will not execute until markets reopen; check broker rules for how resting orders are treated across holidays.
• Settlement dates: holidays affect settlement; for example, T+1 or T+2 settlement windows are measured in business days, so a holiday can move the cash or securities receipt date.
• Corporate actions: dividends, earnings releases and corporate actions may be timed around holidays; trading halts around announcements can coincide with low liquidity.
• Liquidity changes: trading volumes often decline before and after holidays and on early-close days, potentially widening spreads and increasing slippage.
• International investors and algorithmic strategies: cross-border investors must adjust for local and U.S. holidays, and algorithmic traders should include holiday rules in their scheduling and risk models.

Practical checklist for investors:

1. Confirm the exchange calendar for the year before planning trades around holidays.
2. Check your broker’s policy on extended-hours and holiday order handling.
3. Factor holiday effects into position sizing and stop/limit orders because reduced liquidity may increase volatility.
4. Track settlement implications for funds availability and margin requirements.

International considerations and differences

Which days stock market closed in the U.S. differs from international exchange calendars. Major markets in other countries observe their own national holidays and may have different early-close practices. Global investors should consult each local exchange’s calendar.

Contrast with cryptocurrency markets: cryptocurrencies trade on most centralized and decentralized venues 24/7 and are not subject to exchange holiday closures in the same way. For traders bridging crypto and equities, that difference matters for execution timing and funding decisions.

How holiday schedules are determined and announced

Exchange operators (such as the NYSE and Nasdaq) decide their calendars and publish them annually. Industry groups like SIFMA often coordinate recommendations, especially around bond market observances. Regulators and public authorities do not typically set exchange calendars, but federal holidays are used as a baseline and exchanges announce observed rules for weekend occurrences.

Exchanges notify members and the public through official announcements, and broker-dealers and market data vendors relay these notices to customers.

Where to find official and up-to-date schedules

Authoritative sources for current-year schedules and early-close notices include:

• The official trading calendar published by the Nasdaq operator and NasdaqTrader calendars.
• The official NYSE trading calendar and early close announcements.
• Industry recommendations published by SIFMA for fixed-income markets.
• Regulatory guidance and investor education pages such as those from securities regulators.
• Broker notifications and practical guides from brokers like Fidelity, Cash App, and Raymond James explaining how they handle holidays and extended-hours trading.

Always confirm dates with the exchange’s official notice for the specific year rather than relying on secondary summaries.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Q: Is the stock market open on federal holidays? A: Typically not. Major national holidays like New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day result in full-day exchange closures. Check the exchange calendar for the specific holiday and observed date.

Q: Does Veterans Day close the markets? A: Veterans Day is not consistently a full exchange holiday. Some years exchanges are open; consult the exchange calendar for that year.

Q: What happens if a holiday falls on Saturday or Sunday? A: Exchanges generally observe the holiday on the closest weekday—if the holiday is on Saturday, the preceding Friday is often observed; if on Sunday, the following Monday is commonly observed. Confirm with the exchange calendar.

Q: Are bond markets closed when equity markets are closed? A: Bond and fixed-income markets may follow similar holiday schedules, but dealer activity and settlement windows can differ. Refer to SIFMA notices and the specific bond market trading guidance.

Q: Are markets open on Black Friday? A: Many exchanges schedule an early close on the trading day after Thanksgiving, commonly finishing the regular session around 1:00 PM ET. Confirm the year’s early-close notices.

Unexpected closures — historical context and authority

Exchanges have rarely implemented unscheduled full-day closures or trading halts for reasons such as system outages, extreme weather, or national observances. When those events occur, the exchange issues a public notice explaining the scope and resumption plan. Market participants should rely on official exchange communications in such situations.

Practical example and recent market context

Market news and macro developments sometimes interact with holiday schedules. For example, markets react to corporate earnings or industry developments around holidays and reopenings.

As of January 15, 2026, according to Benzinga, shares of Nvidia rose in the afternoon session after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) reported stronger-than-expected quarterly results. Benzinga reported Nvidia jumped 2.8% in the afternoon session and that TSMC posted record fourth-quarter revenue, a sign of robust demand for AI chips. Such cross-sector news can create significant price moves when markets are open; similarly, announcements released during a holiday closure will often produce concentrated trading when markets reopen. When asking which days stock market closed, remember that news accumulates during closures and can produce gaps or increased volatility at the next open.

Operational checklist for traders before a holiday

1. Verify exchange calendar for the year and mark full-day closures and early closes in your trading calendar.
2. Confirm broker policies for order handling, extended hours, and margin on holidays.
3. Review settlement implications for any trades you plan before a holiday.
4. Adjust algorithmic strategies and automated schedules to exclude closed days and handle reduced liquidity days.
5. Monitor corporate action timelines (dividends, earnings, and proxy dates), which can be timed around holiday windows.

Bitget and trading around U.S. exchange holidays

If you use Bitget services, remember:

• Bitget’s crypto markets generally trade 24/7, providing continuous access to digital-asset liquidity even when U.S. exchanges are closed.
• For services that connect to regulated equity or tokenized asset infrastructure, Bitget follows exchange calendars and publishes operational notices to customers.
• Use Bitget Wallet for custody and transfers of crypto assets when U.S. markets are closed; wallet operations are not constrained by traditional exchange holiday calendars.

Explore Bitget’s product notifications and account settings to receive alerts about downtime, scheduled maintenance, and service notices that might coincide with exchange holidays.

See also

• Market trading hours
• Trading halts and circuit breakers
• Settlement cycles (T+1/T+2)
• Extended-hours trading
• Cryptocurrency market hours

References and further reading

Sources used in this guide include official exchange calendars and recognized industry resources: Nasdaq trading calendar and holiday schedule, NasdaqTrader announcements, NYSE holiday and early-closing notices, SIFMA holiday recommendations, broker guidance from Fidelity, Cash App and Raymond James, investor education resources from securities regulators, and media summaries such as Yahoo Finance. For current-year specifics, consult the exchange’s official calendar directly.

Further practical tips and next steps:

• Want to plan trades around an upcoming holiday? Check the exchange calendar now and set alerts in your trading platform.
• If you trade both crypto and equities, consider using Bitget Wallet to manage crypto liquidity during exchange closures and Bitget’s platform tools to monitor market news and reopenings.

Further exploration of related topics is available in our Bitget resources; stay informed and check official exchange calendars before making time-sensitive trades.