Is the stock market open on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2026?
It's hard to escape economic news these days, even if you're trying to. Headlines across all media are focused on the consumer price index, inflation, mortgage rates, what the Federal Reserve will do next, and so on. While it's easy to say "the stock market is not the economy," as Kai Ryssdal, host ...
It's hard to escape economic news these days, even if you're trying to. Headlines across all media are focused on the consumer price index, inflation, mortgage rates, what the Federal Reserve will do next, and so on.
While it's easy to say "the stock market is not the economy," as Kai Ryssdal, host of Marketplace, says practically every day, for some people, it just is. And plenty of us keep a close watch on what's happening on the trading floors.
If you're one of those people, you are probably curious about the two main equity markets — the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq — and their regular holiday and early-close hours, even if you don't celebrate the holidays.
The markets close on most federal holidays, except for Columbus Day and Veterans Day. MLK Day is a federal holiday when banks, schools and most government offices are closed and U.S. markets also close on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Shutterstock
U.S. stock markets are closed on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, aka MLK Day, celebrates the slain civil rights leader's birthday (January 15) but is always observed on the third Monday in January.
This year, that date is January 19, and the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will be closed. Both markets are open normal hours on Friday, January 16.
Regular trading hours for both are 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
The next full trading session following MLK Jr. Day will be Tuesday, January 20, when markets will reopen at regular hours, 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time.
Days on which the NYSE and Nasdaq close every year
According to the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq holiday calendars, U.S. equity markets observe 10 full-day closures each year. The markets are closed on the following days:
- New Year's Day
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- Washington's Birthday (aka President's Day)
- Good Friday
- Memorial Day
- Juneteenth National Independence Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
When a major holiday, such as the 4th of July or Christmas Day, falls on a weekend, the market closure will be observed on the nearest Friday or Monday.
Some days before or after the official holiday also have "early-close" hours. This includes Black Friday.
What about bond markets and futures?
The U.S. stock exchanges are closed on MLK Day, and so is the U.S. bond market, according to the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) public calendar.
Futures markets may operate on a modified schedule, but investors should always check individual exchange schedules, as futures trading hours can vary.
Related: Market Wrap: The Stock Market is Off to a Hot Start in 2026
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