Short answer: The NYSE and Nasdaq close for 10 full days in 2026. They also close early, at 1:00 p.m. ET, on two days: Friday, November 27 and Thursday, December 24, 2026. NYSE's 2027 calendar has 10 full closures and one early close, on Friday, November 26, 2027.
Stock market holidays 2026
Source for these dates: NYSE's holiday page and Nasdaq's 2026 holiday schedule, which list the same days. Cboe's 2026 equities schedule matches too. Last checked October 2026.
Independence Day falls on Saturday, July 4, 2026, so the market closes the Friday before. When a holiday lands on a Sunday, the market closes the Monday after.
Stock market holidays 2027
Source: NYSE. The 2027 dates come from NYSE, and as of October 2026 Nasdaq had not posted its 2027 schedule. SIFMA's 2027 bond-market list includes the same 10 full-close dates. Last checked October 2026.
Three 2027 holidays land on a weekend. Juneteenth is a Saturday, so NYSE closes Friday, June 18, 2027. July 4 is a Sunday, so it closes Monday, July 5, 2027. Christmas is a Saturday, so it closes Friday, December 24, 2027.
NYSE has posted 2028 as well. It lists nine full closures, because New Year's Day falls on Saturday, January 1, 2028 and no holiday is observed for it.
Which days does the stock market close early?
In 2026, stocks close early twice: Friday, November 27, 2026 (the day after Thanksgiving) and Thursday, December 24, 2026. NYSE lists one early close for 2027, on Friday, November 26, 2027. NYSE's footnote reads: "Each market will close early at 1:00 p.m. (1:15 p.m. for eligible options)." All times are Eastern.
A normal regular session runs 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. On a half day it ends at 1:00 p.m. ET, three hours early.
After-hours trading ends early too. On a normal day it runs to 8:00 p.m. ET on both NYSE Arca and Nasdaq. On a half day, NYSE says its "late trading sessions will close at 5:00 p.m." Nasdaq's alert for the 2024 Thanksgiving half day showed the same change for its extended session, from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Neither exchange says the premarket start moves. If you trade outside the regular session, the after-hours trading guide covers the risks.
Some days look like half days but aren't for stocks. NYSE lists no early close on Thursday, July 2, 2026, Friday, July 2, 2027, Thursday, December 23, 2027 or on December 31 in either year. Those are full sessions.
How many trading days are in a year?
NYSE's trading-day sheet estimates 251 trading days for US stocks in 2026, 251 in 2027 and 251 in 2028. Each figure on the sheet is marked "Estimated."
Count the weekdays, then take away the full closures that land on a weekday. 2026 has 261 weekdays and 10 weekday closures, so 261 minus 10 = 251. 2027 also has 261 weekdays and 10 closures, which gives 251 again. Half days count as trading days, so 2026's two early closes and 2027's one are inside the 251.
Source: NYSE trading-day sheet (US cash equities, estimated counts). Last checked October 2026.
You'll often see "about 252 trading days" in finance articles and models. That figure is a rounded long-run average. Macroption's page on trading days per year puts it this way: "we usually want to use an integer, so 252 is best." NYSE's own estimate for 2026 and 2027 is 251.
A year can lose a day nobody planned for. NYSE closed its equity and options markets on Thursday, January 9, 2025 for the national day of mourning for former President Carter. With that extra closure, 2025 had 250 trading days.
Where does the bond market differ?
The bond market follows its own calendar. SIFMA, the securities industry trade group, issues holiday recommendations for U.S. dollar-denominated fixed income securities, such as government, mortgage-backed, corporate and municipal bonds. They apply to fixed income trading, which is a separate market from stocks.
SIFMA also recommends a 2:00 p.m. ET bond close on some days stocks trade a full session. In 2026 those are Friday, May 22, Thursday, July 2 and Thursday, December 31. In 2027 they are Thursday, March 25, Friday, May 28, Friday, July 2, Thursday, December 23 and Friday, December 31. Good Friday 2027 is a full bond close.
NYSE's 2026 trading calendar has a legend for days when stocks trade but bond markets close: "Bank Holidays where NYSE is open. FX and interest rate markets are closed."
What do holidays and half days mean for a day trader?
The first session back can be slow. Kev (Kevin Cabana, who runs the Momentum trading room) wrote in one recap: "The first session back after a long holiday weekend is usually rough, and the Monday this recap covers delivered exactly that." On that day, "Premarket was dry. The action after the open was dispersed. Nothing wanted to trend." His takeaway from the choppy market breakdown: "Trade a choppy market smaller and pickier."
Settlement runs on business days. Since May 28, 2024, US stock trades settle on T+1. The SEC's investor bulletin says trades "will settle in one business day of their transaction date." A market holiday is not a business day, so a trade made the session before a long weekend settles on the first business day after the holiday.
A half day cuts the afternoon. The 1:00 p.m. ET close removes the last three hours of the regular session. The best time of day to day trade guide covers timing inside a normal session, which helps when you plan a shorter one.
Frequently asked questions
Is December 31 a stock market holiday?
No. NYSE lists no closure and no early close on Thursday, December 31, 2026 or Friday, December 31, 2027, so stocks trade a full session. New Year's Day 2028 falls on a Saturday and NYSE does not observe it, so no closure moves onto Friday, December 31, 2027. SIFMA recommends a 2:00 p.m. ET bond close on both December 31 dates.
Is the stock market open on Veterans Day and Columbus Day?
Yes. Neither day is on the 2026 NYSE or Nasdaq holiday list or on NYSE's 2027 list, so stocks trade a normal session on Columbus Day (Monday, October 12, 2026 and Monday, October 11, 2027) and Veterans Day (Wednesday, November 11, 2026 and Thursday, November 11, 2027). SIFMA recommends that the bond market close on all four days.
Is the stock market open on Good Friday?
No. NYSE and Nasdaq are closed on Good Friday, Friday, April 3, 2026. NYSE is also closed on Friday, March 26, 2027. The exchanges close that day even though Good Friday is not a federal holiday.
Is the stock market open the day after Thanksgiving?
Yes, but it closes early. On Friday, November 27, 2026, stocks close at 1:00 p.m. ET and eligible options at 1:15 p.m. ET, and NYSE's after-hours sessions end at 5:00 p.m. ET. NYSE lists the same early close for Friday, November 26, 2027.
Does the stock market close early on Christmas Eve?
In 2026, yes. On Thursday, December 24, 2026, stocks close at 1:00 p.m. ET and eligible options at 1:15 p.m. ET. In 2027, NYSE is closed all day on Friday, December 24, the observed Christmas holiday.
Is the stock market open on Juneteenth?
No. NYSE closes for Juneteenth National Independence Day on Friday, June 19, 2026. In 2027, June 19 is a Saturday, so NYSE closes on Friday, June 18, 2027.
Why do people say 252 trading days?
It's a rounded long-run average. Macroption's page on trading days per year says "we usually want to use an integer, so 252 is best." NYSE's own estimate is 251 for 2026 and 251 for 2027, and 2025 had 250 after the unscheduled January 9 closure.
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This content is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice. Trading involves significant risk and may not be suitable for all traders.
