Welcome to the first day of 2026! As the ball drops and the champagne toasts fade, investors across the United States are looking at their portfolios with fresh eyes. But if you’re hoping to ring in the new year with some high-volume trading, you’ll have to wait.
United States stock markets will be closed today, Thursday, Jan. 1, in observance of the New Year’s Day holiday. The silence on the trading floors of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq is a standard part of the annual financial calendar, marking the first of nine scheduled market holidays for the 2026 calendar year.
A Quiet Start to 2026
The pause in trading follows a full day of activity on New Year’s Eve. Both the Nasdaq and NYSE held regular trading sessions on the final day of 2025, allowing investors to finalize their year-end tax-loss harvesting and portfolio rebalancing.
However, the U.S. bond markets took an earlier exit. According to recommendations from the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), the bond market observed an early close on Wednesday, Dec. 31, with trading stopping for the year at 2 p.m. ET. Like the stock exchanges, bond markets will remain entirely closed today, Jan. 1.
The first opening bell of the new year is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. ET.
2026 Stock Market Holiday Schedule
For those looking to plan their 2026 investment strategy, knowing when the markets take a breather is crucial. Here is the official closure schedule for the NYSE and Nasdaq this year:
| Holiday | Date | Status |
| New Year’s Day | Thursday, Jan. 1 | CLOSED |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday, Jan. 19 | CLOSED |
| Presidents’ Day | Monday, Feb. 16 | CLOSED |
| Good Friday | Friday, April 3 | CLOSED |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 25 | CLOSED |
| Juneteenth | Friday, June 19 | CLOSED |
| Independence Day | Friday, July 3* | CLOSED |
| Labor Day | Monday, Sept. 7 | CLOSED |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, Nov. 26 | CLOSED |
| Christmas Day | Friday, Dec. 25 | CLOSED |
Note: Independence Day (July 4) falls on a Saturday in 2026; therefore, the market observes the holiday on Friday, July 3. Markets will also close early at 1 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 2.
Why Do the Markets Close?
Market closures on federal holidays like New Year’s Day serve several purposes. Beyond giving floor traders and financial professionals a much-needed break, these closures ensure that the banking system—which is also closed today—can settle transactions appropriately. Since the Federal Reserve is closed on New Year’s Day, the “plumbing” of the financial system stops, making stock and bond trading impossible.
What About Crypto?
While traditional Wall Street stays dark today, the digital asset world never sleeps. Cryptocurrency exchanges (like Coinbase or Binance) remain open 24/7. If you are looking to trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, or other tokens, the 2026 New Year’s Day holiday has no impact on your ability to execute orders.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is the NYSE open today, January 1, 2026? No, the New York Stock Exchange is closed for New Year’s Day.
What time does the stock market open tomorrow? The markets will reopen at their standard time of 9:30 a.m. ET on Friday, January 2.
Does the bond market follow the same schedule? Mostly. The bond market (SIFMA) typically follows the stock market’s holiday closures but often includes “early close” days (2 p.m. ET) that the stock market does not always observe.
Are banks open on New Year’s Day? No. New Year’s Day is a federal bank holiday. All major retail branches will be closed today.
Is the Post Office open today? No, there is no regular mail delivery today, and USPS locations are closed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is the stock market open today, January 1, 2026? No. All U.S. financial markets, including the NYSE and Nasdaq, are closed for the New Year’s Day federal holiday. This includes pre-market and after-hours trading sessions.
What time does the market open on January 2nd? Regular trading will resume on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. ET. The markets will follow a standard schedule, closing at 4 p.m. ET.
Are banks and the post office open today? No. Because New Year’s Day is a federal holiday, post offices are closed, and there is no regular mail delivery. Most bank branches are also closed, though online banking and ATMs remain functional.
Can I trade Cryptocurrency on New Year’s Day? Yes. Unlike traditional stocks, the crypto market operates 24/7, 365 days a year. Digital assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum can be traded today without interruption.
Are international markets like India’s NSE open? Interestingly, yes. While major markets in the UK, UK, Japan, and China are closed, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in India remain open for regular trading today, January 1.
What is the next stock market holiday after New Year’s? The next scheduled closure for the U.S. stock market is Monday, January 19, 2026, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
2026 Stock Market Holiday Schedule
The NYSE and NASDAQ are scheduled to close on the following days in 2026:
- New Year’s Day: Thursday, Jan. 1
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Monday, Jan. 19
- Presidents’ Day: Monday, Feb. 16
- Good Friday: Friday, April 3
- Memorial Day: Monday, May 25
- Juneteenth: Friday, June 19
- Independence Day: Friday, July 3 (Observed)
- Labor Day: Monday, Sept. 7
- Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, Nov. 26
- Christmas Day: Friday, Dec. 25
Stay updated on market hours and closures: See 2026 stock market holiday schedule
Would you like me to set up a calendar alert for the next market holiday on January 19th?