Published on: 2026-02-12
If you are asking, "Is the stock market open on Presidents Day?" the 2026 answer is a clear no.
The U.S. stock market is closed on Monday, February 16, 2026, for the holiday that is legally listed as Washington's Birthday and commonly referred to as Presidents' Day.
Nasdaq is closed on Monday, February 16, 2026 (Presidents' Day).
NYSE lists the holiday as "Washington's Birthday" on Monday, February 16, 2026, and NYSE markets observe it.
Here is the simple schedule most traders need:
| Date | Day | U.S. stock market status | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 13, 2026 | Friday | Open (normal hours) | Regular trading day before the holiday |
| February 16, 2026 | Monday | Closed (Presidents Day) | No U.S. exchange trading |
| February 17, 2026 | Tuesday | Open (normal hours) | Markets reopen as usual |
U.S. markets typically reopen on the next business day, which is Tuesday, February 17, 2026, unless there is an unscheduled closure.
The federal holiday is designated as Washington's Birthday under U.S. law, even though many people refer to it as Presidents' Day in everyday conversation.
U.S. exchanges publish their holiday calendars well in advance and close on this date to align with the federal holiday schedule and the operational realities that come with it, including staffing, settlement workflows, and reduced institutional participation.
Both major U.S. stock exchanges are closed.
| Market | Status on Monday, 16 Feb 2026 |
|---|---|
| NYSE | Closed (holiday listed as Washington’s Birthday) |
| Nasdaq | Closed (Presidents Day) |
US-listed options follow the exchange holiday calendar, which means options trading is also effectively shut for the day.
Cboe's published holiday schedule shows Presidents' Day (2026-02-16) as a holiday with modified sessions around the date rather than normal daytime trading.
If you are an options trader, you should assume liquidity is minimal to non-existent during the holiday period, and you should plan around the next regular session.
The U.S. bond market is considered closed to most participants.
SIFMA confirmed a full market close recommendation on Monday, February 16, 2026, for the trading of U.S. dollar-denominated fixed income securities, including Treasuries, agencies, mortgage-backed securities, corporate bonds, and municipals.
This is important because even if indicative prices are visible on a screen, the depth and execution quality can vary significantly when the primary bond market is closed.
Presidents' Day closes the core U.S. cash equity session, but it does not freeze the entire global trading system.
Foreign exchange (FX) typically remains an over-the-counter market, though liquidity can be lower during U.S. holidays.
Cryptocurrency markets typically operate continuously, as they do not observe U.S. federal holidays.
Some futures products may trade on modified hours, depending on the venue and contract.
The main takeaway for traders is that pricing and liquidity can vary during the holiday season. Additionally, processes that traders often rely on, such as the daily publication of settlements, may not proceed as usual.
Many non-U.S. equity markets follow their own calendars, so they may be open while U.S. exchanges are closed.
When trading global risk, overseas markets often react to local catalysts, whereas U.S. equities may not respond until the following Tuesday.
In most brokerage platforms, you can usually enter orders while the market is closed, but the order will not execute in the U.S. primary market until trading reopens.
A market order entered during the holiday will usually queue and execute at the next open, which can be risky if prices gap.
A limit order can protect you from unwanted trades, but it might leave you unexecuted if the price changes.
Stop orders can behave unpredictably if a stock opens with a gap, because the first tradable price may be far from your trigger level.
You should confirm your broker's order handling rules because they vary by platform, routing, and product type.
A U.S. market holiday does not remove risk. It reshuffles it.
When the U.S. equity market is closed, price discovery often migrates to other venues and related instruments. When the U.S. cash session reopens on Tuesday, any buildup in positioning can show up as an opening gap.
Companies can still release news. Economic and policy headlines can still hit. The difference is that you cannot express your view in the U.S. cash session until the next open, which is why Tuesday mornings after a holiday can feel unusually "busy" in the first hour.
If you normally hedge with listed options, remember that the listed market is closed on holidays.
That reality can pull hedging into Friday's close or Tuesday's open, which can exaggerate end-of-day or opening volatility.
If you are planning beyond Presidents Day, our official calendars show several full closures and a couple of well-known early closes.
| Holiday | Date in 2026 | U.S. stock market status |
|---|---|---|
| Good Friday | Friday, April 3 | Closed |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 25 | Closed |
| Juneteenth | Friday, June 19 | Closed |
| Labor Day | Monday, September 7 | Closed |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, November 26 | Closed |
| Day after Thanksgiving | Friday, November 27 | Early close |
| Christmas Eve | Thursday, December 24 | Early close |
| Christmas Day | Friday, December 25 | Closed |
This table is intentionally focused on the items traders most often ask about, and it reflects the published exchange holiday schedules.
No. The U.S. stock market is closed on Monday, February 16, 2026. The major U.S. exchanges list the day as Washington's Birthday/Presidents Day on their official holiday calendars.
Yes. The federal holiday is officially called Washington's Birthday, but it is more commonly referred to as Presidents' Day. You will see both names used depending on the calendar or institution.
No. When the U.S. exchanges are closed for Presidents Day, listed options tied to the exchange trading day are also closed.
The market reopens on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, on the regular schedule. The NYSE core session is 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET on normal trading days.
In conclusion, the U.S. stock market is closed on Presidents' Day 2026, which falls on Monday, February 16. Nasdaq lists the day as a full closure, and NYSE lists the same date as Washington's Birthday.
The bond market is also effectively shut for most participants, with SIFMA confirming a full market close recommendation for U.S. dollar fixed income trading.
Disclaimer: This material is for general information purposes only and is not intended as (and should not be considered to be) financial, investment or other advice on which reliance should be placed. No opinion given in the material constitutes a recommendation by EBC or the author that any particular investment, security, transaction or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person.
