You've probably been staring at your portfolio all week, wondering if Monday is going to be another rollercoaster or a total ghost town. Well, here is the short answer: Yes, the stock markets are closed tomorrow, January 19, 2026.
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq are taking a breather. Why? Because it’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It’s the first major market holiday since New Year’s, and honestly, after the volatility we often see in early January, most traders are probably happy for the long weekend.
But "closed" doesn't always mean everything stops.
Are the stock markets closed tomorrow for everyone?
While the big guys like the NYSE and Nasdaq are shut down, the global financial machine is sort of a different story. If you’re trading U.S. equities, you’re basically out of luck. No ringing bells, no opening auctions, and definitely no mid-day price swings.
The bond market is also following suit. SIFMA (the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association) has recommended a full close for U.S. dollar-denominated fixed-income securities. This means if you're looking to move some Treasuries, you'll have to wait until Tuesday morning.
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What about international markets? That’s where things get interesting. Since MLK Day is a U.S. federal holiday, markets in London, Tokyo, and Hong Kong will be wide open. You might see some lower liquidity because the American "whale" isn't in the pool, but the rest of the world keeps spinning.
Does crypto ever sleep?
Nope.
If you are a crypto enthusiast, "market holidays" don't exist in your vocabulary. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and whatever meme coin is trending this week will continue to trade 24/7. Just keep in mind that without the institutional volume from Wall Street, crypto prices can sometimes get a little weird and twitchy on holiday weekends.
Why are the stock markets closed tomorrow on a Monday?
The U.S. stock market doesn't just close for any random reason. It follows a strict schedule that usually aligns with federal holidays.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day always falls on the third Monday of January. It’s been a federal holiday since the 80s, but the stock market didn't actually start observing it until 1998. It’s a day for reflection on the civil rights movement, and for Wall Street, it’s a mandated pause.
Sometimes people get confused because the actual birthday of Dr. King is January 15. But, like many U.S. holidays, the observance is shifted to Monday to give everyone that sweet three-day weekend.
What happens to my pending orders?
So, you placed a limit order on Sunday night. What now?
Basically, nothing happens tomorrow. Your order will sit in the system, waiting for the 9:30 a.m. ET opening bell on Tuesday, January 20. If you’re worried about some massive news breaking over the weekend, you can usually cancel or modify those orders through your brokerage app, but they won't execute until the market officially reopens.
A quick look at the 2026 holiday calendar
Since we’re already looking at the schedule, you might want to mark your calendar for the rest of the year. The market isn't as "lazy" as you might think, but there are a few more breaks coming up:
- Presidents' Day: Monday, February 16.
- Good Friday: Friday, April 3. (Note: This is one of the few days the market closes but the government stays open!)
- Memorial Day: Monday, May 25.
- Juneteenth: Friday, June 19.
It’s always a good idea to keep these dates in the back of your mind so you aren't caught off guard when you try to buy a dip on a day when nobody is selling.
The "Holiday Effect" and what to expect Tuesday
There is this thing traders call the "holiday effect." Often, the market sees a bit of a rally leading into a long weekend, followed by some decent volume when everyone gets back to their desks on Tuesday.
Because the markets are closed tomorrow, expect Tuesday morning to be a bit chaotic. Any news that happens over the next 24 hours—geopolitical shifts, corporate leaks, or economic data from overseas—will all be priced in the moment the market opens at 9:30 a.m.
It’s usually a good idea to avoid "market orders" in the first 15 minutes of Tuesday's session. The spreads can be wide, and the price action is often just a bunch of pent-up energy from the long weekend.
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Actionable insights for your day off
Since you can't trade stocks tomorrow, use the time effectively.
Start by reviewing your portfolio’s performance over the first two weeks of 2026. Honestly, most of us don't check our "why" often enough. Are you still holding that stock because you believe in the company, or just because you’re waiting to break even?
You could also take a look at the upcoming earnings calendar. Late January is usually when the big tech players start reporting their numbers. Getting ahead of that research on a quiet Monday can give you a massive advantage over the people who are just going to react to the headlines on Tuesday night.
Lastly, just enjoy the break. The market is a marathon, not a sprint. If the NYSE is taking a day off, you probably should too.
Check your brokerage app one last time to ensure no accidental orders are sitting out there, then put the phone down. The charts will still be there on Tuesday morning.