You’re planning a cookout, maybe eyeing a new grill, and suddenly you remember that limit order you left hanging on Friday. Then the question hits: is market open on memorial day or are you essentially locked out of your portfolio while the burgers sizzle?
Honestly, the answer is simpler than most people think, but there are a few "gotchas" that can mess up your week if you aren't careful. For 2026, Memorial Day falls on Monday, May 25. If you're looking for a quick "yes" or "no" regarding Wall Street, the answer is a firm no.
The Short Answer: Is Market Open on Memorial Day?
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq are both closed on Memorial Day. This isn't just a suggestion; it’s a full-stop halt. You won’t see any green or red tickers moving on CNBC. Your brokerage app might let you tap the "buy" button, but that order is just going to sit in a queue until Tuesday morning.
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Banks are also closed. Since the Federal Reserve observes the holiday, wire transfers and ACH settlements won't process. If you’re trying to move money into your trading account on Monday to catch a Tuesday morning surge, you're already too late. You’ve basically got a three-day window where the traditional financial plumbing of the U.S. just stops.
What about the "Early Close" Rumors?
People often get confused about early closures. Here is the deal: the stock market does not have an early close on the Friday before Memorial Day. It’s a normal trading day until 4:00 p.m. ET. However, the bond market is a different animal entirely.
The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) usually recommends a 2:00 p.m. ET close for bond trading on the Friday before the holiday weekend. In 2026, that would be Friday, May 22. If you trade Treasuries or fixed income, your "weekend" starts much earlier than everyone else's.
Is Market Open on Memorial Day for Crypto or Futures?
This is where things get slightly more nuanced. If you’re a "never sleep" kind of trader, you know that Bitcoin doesn't care about American holidays.
The crypto market is open 24/7/365. It doesn’t matter if it’s Memorial Day, Christmas, or the middle of a literal hurricane—the blockchain keeps churning. If you’re itching to trade on Monday, May 25, crypto is pretty much your only sandbox.
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Futures are a bit of a hybrid. Most CME Group products (like S&P 500 futures or Crude Oil) will have a "halt." Usually, they trade on Sunday night into Monday morning, but they’ll shut down early on Monday afternoon (often around 1:00 p.m. ET) and then reopen later that evening for the Tuesday session. It’s a weird, fragmented schedule that can trap a lot of amateur traders in low-liquidity traps.
International Markets Stay Busy
Just because the U.S. is honoring its fallen heroes doesn't mean the rest of the world stops. The London Stock Exchange (LSE) is typically open, though they sometimes have their own "Spring Bank Holiday" that coincides with our Memorial Day. In 2026, the UK's Spring Bank Holiday actually falls on Monday, May 25, as well.
So, if you were looking to pivot to UK stocks, you might find those doors locked too. However, markets in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Sydney will be operating as usual.
Why This Holiday Matters for Your Tuesday Strategy
Volatility often spikes the morning after a long weekend. Think about it: you have three days of global news, geopolitical shifts, and earnings whispers building up behind a closed dam. When those gates open at 9:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday, the "catch-up" effect can be violent.
Many institutional traders use the Friday before Memorial Day to trim their positions. They don't want to be "long" on a bunch of risky assets while they’re out on a boat and unable to react to a surprise news event. This often leads to lower trading volume on that Friday afternoon, which can make price movements feel a bit jerky or "thin."
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If you’re looking for actionable steps to handle the holiday break, here is what I’d suggest:
- Check your stops: High-volatility openings on Tuesday can "gap" right past your stop-loss orders. Ensure your risk levels account for a potentially wild Tuesday morning.
- Move money early: If you need buying power for Tuesday, initiate your bank transfers by Wednesday or Thursday of the previous week.
- Watch the "Spring Bank Holiday": Since the UK is also likely closed on May 25, 2026, global liquidity will be significantly lower than a standard Monday.
- Don't trust Monday crypto price action: Often, crypto moves on low volume during U.S. holidays, creating "fakeouts" that get reversed once the big institutional money returns on Tuesday.
Ultimately, the market being closed is a gift. It’s a forced break from the dopamine hit of the flickering screen. Take the day, honor the meaning of the holiday, and leave the charts alone. The S&P 500 will still be there on Tuesday morning.
Keep an eye on the bond market's early exit on Friday afternoon. It’s often the "canary in the coal mine" for how the big players are feeling about the week ahead. If yields start moving weirdly at 1:45 p.m. ET on Friday, pay attention. It might be the only clue you get before the long silence of the holiday weekend.