If you invest or trade in US markets, knowing the holiday schedule is not optional. On these days, US stock exchanges remain closed, orders are not executed and liquidity behaves differently around the break. For traders, this impacts your entry and exit planning.
This guide covers the US market holidays for 2026, so you know exactly when the US stock market is closed and can plan your trades, investments and portfolio reviews accordingly.
Complete List of US Stock Market Holidays 2026
Both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq follow the same official holiday calendar. On the dates listed below, US stock markets will remain closed for the entire trading day.
To keep this easy to scan, here’s the full list with dates and days of the week.
| US Stock Market Holiday | Date | Day |
| New Year’s Day | January 1, 2026 | Thursday |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | January 19, 2026 | Monday |
| Presidents’ Day | February 16, 2026 | Monday |
| Good Friday | April 3, 2026 | Friday |
| Memorial Day | May 25, 2026 | Monday |
| Juneteenth National Independence Day | June 19, 2026 | |
| Independence Day (Observed) | July 3, 2026 | Friday |
| Labor Day | September 7, 2026 | Monday |
| Thanksgiving Day | November 26, 2026 | Thursday |
| Christmas Day | December 25, 2026 | Friday |
Importance of US Market Holidays
Knowing US market holidays directly affects how and when you can trade, especially if you invest in US stocks or funds from India.
Here’s why these holidays matter:
- No trading on holiday dates: On US market holidays, exchanges like the NYSE and Nasdaq remain closed. Any buy or sell orders placed during this time will not be executed.
- Lower liquidity around holidays: Trading activity usually slows down a day or two before major holidays. Fewer participants mean thinner volumes.
- Price movement can be uneven: With lower liquidity, prices may move more sharply than usual once markets reopen.
- Settlement planning becomes important: If you are managing trades from India, holidays can affect settlement timelines and fund availability.
Early Market Closures in 2026
Apart from full-day holidays, the US stock markets also have early closure days. On these days, trading does not run for the full session and ends earlier than usual.
In 2026, early closures typically happen before major holidays and follow a standard pattern:
- Markets usually close at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET)
- This timing changes the effective trading window for Indian investors due to the time difference
Common Early Closure Days
Common early closure days include:
- The day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday)
- Christmas Eve
Early closures can impact order timing, especially for trades placed later in the session. If you actively trade or rebalance your portfolio, it’s better to plan orders well in advance on these days.
Impact of Holidays on Stock Market Trading
US market holidays change how the market behaves, even on days when it is technically open.
Here’s what usually happens around holiday periods:
- Trading volumes fall: Many institutional investors reduce activity before long weekends. With fewer buyers and sellers, overall volumes drop.
- Liquidity becomes thinner: Lower participation means it may be harder to execute large orders at expected prices.
- Short-term price swings increase: With less liquidity, even small trades can move prices more than usual.
- Reopening days can be active: Markets often see higher volumes and sharper moves on the first trading day after a holiday as pending news and orders get processed.
Also Read: How to invest in US Stocks From India
How to Prepare for US Market Holidays
Being prepared for US market holidays is mostly about planning ahead and avoiding last-minute decisions.
Here are some practical steps:
- Check the holiday calendar early: Review the full list of US market holidays at the start of the year. You can check this across:
- Official NYSE and Nasdaq holiday calendars
- Market calendars inside your investing app
- Broker alerts and email notifications
- Trusted financial news platforms that provide regular US stock market updates
- Plan trades in advance: Avoid placing time-sensitive orders just before holidays or early closure days.
- Be mindful of early closures: On shortened trading days, place orders well before the market closes.
- Account for time zone differences: US trading hours and Indian timings change during daylight saving periods.
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Conclusion
Keeping track of US market holidays is a basic but important part of investing in international markets. These dates decide when you can trade, how liquidity behaves and how prices may move before and after a break.
Missing a holiday or early closure can lead to delayed orders or poorly timed decisions.
By planning ahead, checking holiday schedules in advance and staying aware of shortened trading sessions, you can avoid unnecessary surprises.
FAQs on US Market Holidays
US stock markets close on holidays to keep trading fair and orderly. These breaks give brokers, exchanges and settlement systems time off and they line up with low participation days.
When too many institutions are shut, trading volumes drop, prices can move erratically and execution becomes inefficient. Closing the market avoids these issues and keeps trading conditions stable for everyone.
No, they are not exactly the same. Some federal holidays are also US stock market holidays, but not all of them. For example, the stock market stays open on certain federal holidays, while it closes on others that are specific to financial markets.
That’s why checking a dedicated US market holidays list matters instead of relying only on a general US holiday calendar.
When a US market holiday falls on a weekend, it is usually observed on the nearest weekday:
If the holiday falls on a Saturday, markets are often closed on the previous Friday.
If it falls on a Sunday, markets usually close on the following Monday.
No, international markets follow their own holiday calendars. US markets operate independently of Indian, European, or Asian exchanges. This means:
US markets can be closed while Indian markets are open
Indian holidays do not affect US trading hours
Global events may still move prices even when one market is shut
Here are a few reliable ways to stay informed:
Official exchange calendars are published annually
Your trading or investing app’s market calendar
Broker notifications and email alerts
Financial news platforms that provide regular US stock market updates
