US Stock Market Holidays 2026: Full Trading Calendar

Whenever US stocks suspend trading for a national holiday, the impact is not limited to trading floors in New York. Liquidity in Asia-Pacific equities, forex, and commodity markets can also change accordingly. Understanding the institutional arrangement of US stock market holidays is not simply about memorizing a few dates, but about mastering a time framework that affects the rhythm of global markets. Starting from the origin of the system, this article outlines the complete 2026 holiday calendar and analyzes the practical impact of market closures on cross-market trading.

Origin of the US Stock Market Holiday System

US stock market holidays are mainly based on national holidays recognized by the federal government. The holiday schedule of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is formally published each year by Intercontinental Exchange Group (ICE), while Nasdaq (NASDAQ) follows the same calendar. The NYSE traces its history back to the Buttonwood Agreement signed in 1792, while its holiday closure system gradually became fixed as federal holiday laws evolved. In 2021, Juneteenth National Independence Day became the latest federal holiday added to the calendar, increasing the number of full-day market holidays to 10 per year.

"Remember that time is money."

This classic saying has a direct meaning in the context of financial markets: for traders, every minute the market is open is a potential window for price discovery, while a market closure means these windows are temporarily shut. Understanding these closing points is the basis for managing cross-time-zone trading rhythm.

Complete 2026 US Stock Market Holiday Calendar

There is one date arrangement in 2026 that requires particular attention: US Independence Day, July 4, falls on a Saturday, so the NYSE will close on Friday, July 3, as the observed holiday, following market convention. In addition, there are two early close days during the year, both ending regular trading at 13:00 Eastern Time (ET).

How Do US Stock Market Holidays Affect Other Markets?

The US stock market is the world’s largest single market by market capitalization, and its trading status has a significant transmission effect on liquidity in forex, commodity futures, and Asia-Pacific equity markets. When US stocks are closed, the following changes are worth noting.

• Lower liquidity: trading volume in USD-related currency pairs, gold futures, and other instruments usually contracts noticeably on US stock market holidays, and bid-ask spreads may widen.

• Changed volatility characteristics: without participation from US capital, price movements may become smaller, but when liquidity is thin, a single large order may also trigger abnormal price jumps.

• Cross-market information gaps: if major events occur in other regions during a US market holiday, US stocks cannot respond immediately and may gap at the open on the first trading day after the holiday.

It is worth noting that the holiday schedules of the stock market and bond market are not completely identical. The bond market follows a recommended calendar set by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA). In 2026, the bond market has more early close days, at 14:00 ET, than the stock market, such as the Friday before Memorial Day, May 22, and the day before the Independence Day observed holiday, July 2. Investors participating in fixed income markets need to refer separately to the bond market calendar.

Daylight Saving and Standard Time Switching Mechanism

US daylight saving time (DST) follows the provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. It begins on the second Sunday of March each year and ends on the first Sunday of November. The specific dates in 2026 are:

• Daylight saving time begins: Sunday, March 8, when clocks move forward by one hour and enter EDT, UTC−4.

• Standard time resumes: Sunday, November 1, when clocks move back by one hour and return to EST, UTC−5.

For investors in Asia, Eastern Time is 12 hours behind Hong Kong/Beijing time, UTC+8, during daylight saving time, and 13 hours behind during standard time. This means US regular trading hours correspond to 22:30 to 5:00 the next day in Asia during standard time, while during daylight saving time they shift one hour earlier, to 21:30 to 4:00 the next day.

Practical Significance of Cross-Market Time Differences

Taking the period around Thanksgiving 2026 as an example: after standard time takes effect on November 1, the US stock market open corresponds to 22:30 Hong Kong time. On November 26, Thanksgiving Day, the market is closed for the full day. On November 27, it closes early at 13:00 ET, corresponding to 2:00 the next day in Hong Kong time. Together with the weekend, the actual tradable window investors face is significantly compressed. Such schedule arrangements are especially concentrated near year-end. Christmas Eve early close, Christmas Day closure, and the weekend can create a nearly four-day blank period.

Comparison of Holiday Arrangements Across Stock, Bond, and Futures Markets

Different financial markets follow different holiday calendars, and investors participating in multiple markets need to confirm them separately.

The table above shows that there may be cases where the stock market is closed while the futures market remains open on the same day, and vice versa. Cross-market participants need to confirm the specific calendar for each product to avoid operational errors caused by information gaps.

US Stock Market Holidays and Trading Hours FAQ