No — the U.S. stock market is closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 19, 2026. Both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq observe this federal holiday, meaning no regular trading sessions — pre-market, regular, or after-hours — take place. Markets reopen for normal trading on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
What Happened Today (Jan 19, 2026)?
On Monday, January 19, 2026, U.S. stock and bond markets—including the NYSE and Nasdaq—are fully closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day (MLK Day), a federal holiday recognized across the United States. All normal trading activity on these exchanges is halted.
This closure affects:
- Equity trading (NYSE, Nasdaq) — closed.
- Options tied to U.S. equities — closed.
- U.S. bond markets — closed.
- Banks and Federal offices — generally closed nationwide.
- Stock exchange regular hours (normally 9:30 a.m. ET – 4:00 p.m. ET) do not apply today.
Most electronic brokers may let you place orders today, but nothing will execute until markets reopen.
Why the Stock Market Is Closed on MLK Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a U.S. federal holiday observed on the third Monday in January each year. It honors civil rights leader Dr. King and is one of the standard holidays officially recognized in the financial markets’ annual holiday calendar.
The NYSE Group — which administers holiday schedules for both NYSE and Nasdaq — publishes this annual calendar, and MLK Day is listed as a full market holiday (no partial trading sessions).
2026 U.S. Market Holiday Schedule (NYSE & Nasdaq)
Here’s the confirmed list of full market closures for the NYSE and Nasdaq in 2026:
| Holiday | Date | Market Status |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Jan 1 (Thu) | Closed |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Jan 19 (Mon) | Closed |
| Presidents’ Day | Feb 16 (Mon) | Closed |
| Good Friday | Apr 3 (Fri) | Closed |
| Memorial Day | May 25 (Mon) | Closed |
| Juneteenth | Jun 19 (Fri) | Closed |
| Independence Day (Observed) | Jul 3 (Fri) | Closed |
| Labor Day | Sep 7 (Mon) | Closed |
| Thanksgiving | Nov 26 (Thu) | Closed |
| Black Friday (Day After Thanksgiving) | Nov 27 (Fri) | Early Close (typically 1:00 p.m. ET) |
| Christmas Eve | Dec 24 (Thu) | Early Close (typically 1:00 p.m. ET) |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25 (Fri) | Closed |
Regular full trading hours (on non-holiday weekdays) remain 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET.
What This Means for Investors & Traders
On January 19
- Equity markets are shut: No U.S.-listed stocks or ETFs trade.
- No opening or closing prices are recorded on the NYSE/Nasdaq.
- Options tied to U.S. stocks also do not trade.
- Bond trading desks typically treat the day as closed.
- International markets (London, Tokyo, etc.) operate as usual — they aren’t tied to U.S. federal holidays.
Some instruments like futures, FX, and crypto may still show activity via electronic platforms, but liquidity tends to be thinner and price swings wider, as major market makers and U.S. institutions are out of action.
When Markets Reopen
Trading resumes on Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at the usual time:
9:30 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) for regular equity sessions.
Keep in mind that gaps between Friday’s close and Tuesday’s open are common — especially after a holiday — because price movements during the closure (e.g., overnight futures, news events) can’t be reflected until markets resume.
Editorial Insight (From Market Floors to Your Screen)
After covering financial markets for years, here’s the real takeaway: holidays like MLK Day aren’t just “days off.” They’re structural pauses in price discovery — and that matters.
For traders, these pauses can compress information flow (news over the holiday doesn’t get priced until the next session) and amplify volatility at the open. For long-term investors, though, one closed day has negligible impact — it’s part of the rhythm of the trading calendar.
In practical terms, if you’re placing orders around major holidays:
- Cancel or adjust stale orders before market close the previous Friday — because they might behave differently after a multi-day weekend.
- Expect wider spreads and thinner volume in instruments that do trade (like futures outside exchange hours).
- Plan fund transfers and settlement timing knowing that banks and custodial services also observe federal holidays.
Conclusion
Stock Market Open on MLK Day?
No. The NYSE and Nasdaq are closed on Monday, January 19, 2026, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day — regular trading resumes Tuesday, January 20.
This closure aligns with the official 2026 U.S. stock market holiday calendar and affects equities, options, and bond trading tied to the U.S. financial calendar.
Looking ahead, the next market holiday is Presidents’ Day on Monday, February 16, 2026, another full market closure.
