If you woke up this morning, pulled up your favorite tracking app, and saw a sea of frozen numbers, don't panic. Your internet isn't broken and the economy hasn't ground to a halt. The simple answer to did the stock market open today is no.
Today is Sunday, January 18, 2026.
By default, the big U.S. exchanges like the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq are always closed on Saturdays and Sundays. It's the standard weekend pause that lets traders breathe and algorithms cool down. But there’s a bit more to the story this specific weekend because we are currently sitting in the middle of a three-day holiday stretch.
Why the Market is Staying Quiet
Honestly, even if today were a Monday, you'd still find the doors locked at 11 Wall Street. Tomorrow is Monday, January 19, 2026, which marks the observation of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Under the rules established by the major exchanges, MLK Day is a full market holiday. That means the "long weekend" is officially in effect. While most of us are used to the 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET grind, the schedule for January 2026 looks a little different than a standard week.
Essentially, we are looking at a 72-hour period where equity trading is at a standstill. If you're trying to figure out when you can actually get back into the action, you're looking at Tuesday morning.
The Difference Between Stocks, Bonds, and Futures
It’s kinda confusing because "the market" isn't just one thing. When people ask did the stock market open today, they're usually talking about shares of Apple or Tesla. Those are definitely closed.
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But the financial world has different "rooms."
The bond market, which is governed by SIFMA (Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association), follows a very similar schedule to the NYSE but can sometimes be even stricter with early closes. For this MLK weekend, the bond market is shut tight today and will remain closed through Monday.
Futures are the exception to the rule. While the regular stock market is closed today, CME Group (Chicago Mercantile Exchange) often starts its "globex" session on Sunday evenings. However, for a holiday weekend like this one, those hours are usually modified. Most equity futures won't start trading in earnest until later than usual, or they'll have a truncated session that doesn't really reflect the true "open."
Crypto: The Market That Never Sleeps
If you absolutely must see numbers moving on a Sunday, you’ve basically got one option: Cryptocurrency. Unlike the NYSE or Nasdaq, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the rest of the digital asset world don't have an "opening bell." They trade 24/7, 365 days a year.
It’s a wild contrast. While a floor trader in New York is probably at brunch right now, a crypto dev in Singapore is watching a liquidation candle in real-time. But for those of us trading standard ETFs or individual stocks, we’re on a forced break.
Why Do These Closures Even Matter?
You might think that in a world of high-frequency trading and AI, the physical location of an exchange shouldn't matter. Why can't we trade 24/7?
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Actually, the "close" is vital for price discovery.
When the market closes for a weekend or a holiday like MLK Day, it creates a "gap." Information still flows—news happens, geopolitical events shift, and companies might have unexpected PR crises. Since no one can trade on that news immediately in the traditional markets, the "opening" on Tuesday morning will likely see a significant jump or drop in prices as the market "catches up" to three days of reality.
Experts like those at Vanguard or BlackRock often point out that these gaps are where the most risk—and sometimes the most opportunity—lies for retail investors.
Important 2026 Dates to Watch
Since you're checking on did the stock market open today, you might want to mark your calendar for the rest of the quarter. The 2026 schedule has a few more "bank holidays" coming up fast.
- Presidents' Day: Monday, February 16, 2026 (Closed)
- Good Friday: Friday, April 3, 2026 (Closed)
- Memorial Day: Monday, May 25, 2026 (Closed)
Normally, if a holiday falls on a Saturday, the market closes on the Friday before. If it falls on a Sunday, the market closes on the following Monday. Since MLK Day is always the third Monday in January, it’s always a guaranteed three-day weekend.
Actionable Steps for the Long Weekend
Just because you can't hit the "buy" button doesn't mean you can't be productive. Use this downtime to get your head straight before the Tuesday volatility hits.
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1. Review your standing orders.
Check your limit orders. If major news broke over the weekend, a price you set last Friday might not be a price you're comfortable with on Tuesday morning.
2. Analyze the "Weekend Effect."
Historically, some traders look for the "Monday Effect" (or Tuesday, in this case), where markets tend to follow the trend established on the previous Friday. Take a look at the closing candles from January 16 to see if there was a clear direction.
3. Research your "Watch List."
With no tickers flashing red or green to distract you, it's actually the best time to read through 10-K filings or quarterly reports. You've got the mental space to actually digest the data without the FOMO of a live session.
4. Check the Futures on Sunday Night.
While the stock market is closed, U.S. index futures (like /ES for the S&P 500) will start moving late Sunday/early Monday. Watching these can give you a "weather report" for how the actual market will open on Tuesday.
The market stays quiet today so it can be loud tomorrow. Or, in this case, Tuesday. Take the break while you can.