Stock Market Holidays

Stock trading dictionary: meaning, example and how traders use it.

Last updated: October 17, 2026

Definition: Stock market holidays are the weekdays on which major US stock exchanges such as the NYSE and Nasdaq are closed for trading in observance of national holidays, plus a few scheduled early-close sessions around certain holidays.

List of US stock market holidays

The NYSE and Nasdaq publish an annual calendar, and both close on the same days. The standard holidays are:

  • New Year's Day
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • Washington's Birthday (Presidents Day)
  • Good Friday
  • Memorial Day
  • Juneteenth National Independence Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Christmas Day

Good Friday is notable because it is not a federal holiday; banks and the post office may be open while stock exchanges are closed. Exchanges can also close for rare unscheduled events, such as national days of mourning.

Weekend rules and early closes

When a holiday falls on a Sunday, the market typically closes the following Monday. When it falls on a Saturday, the market usually closes the preceding Friday, although exchange rules can make exceptions, for example around New Year's Day. Always check the exchange's published calendar.

Some sessions end early, typically at 1:00 p.m. Eastern instead of the usual 4:00 p.m. close of regular market hours. Common early-close days are the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, and sometimes the day before Independence Day, depending on the calendar.

How holidays affect trading

  • No trading or order execution: orders entered over a holiday wait for the next open. Brokers may also suspend pre-market and after-hours sessions.
  • Settlement: US stocks settle T+1, counted in business days. A trade on the day before a holiday settles on the next business day after it.
  • Thin volume: sessions around holidays, especially shortened ones, often have lower volume and liquidity, which can widen the bid-ask spread.
  • Options and expirations: when an expiration Friday is a holiday, such as Good Friday, expiration typically shifts to the prior business day.

Example: planning around a holiday

Suppose an investor wants to sell shares on the Friday before a Monday holiday and needs the cash in the account by Tuesday. Because of T+1 settlement and the Monday closure, the Friday sale settles on Tuesday, not Monday. Selling on Thursday instead would settle Friday, giving an extra day of margin. The same logic applies to buying: funds for a purchase made right before a long weekend are due on the next business day after the break, not the next calendar day.

Stock market vs bond market holidays

Bond market hours follow recommendations from the industry group SIFMA, which differ from stock exchange calendars. Bond markets generally close on Columbus Day and Veterans Day, when stock markets are open, and often have early closes before major holidays. Foreign markets follow their own national calendars, so global investors should check each one.

Frequently asked questions

Is the stock market open on Good Friday?

No. The NYSE and Nasdaq close on Good Friday even though it is not a federal holiday.

Is the stock market open on Veterans Day and Columbus Day?

Yes, US stock exchanges are normally open on those days, although the bond market generally closes.

What time does the stock market close on early-close days?

Early-close sessions typically end at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time instead of 4:00 p.m.

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For information only, not investment advice. See the disclaimer.