If you were planning to wake up, grab a coffee, and watch the opening bell at 11 Wall Street tomorrow, Monday, January 19, 2026, you might want to hit the snooze button instead.
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is closed tomorrow.
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Tomorrow is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It’s a federal holiday in the United States, and like most major federal holidays, the big equity markets take a breather. It doesn't matter if you're looking at the Big Board or the tech-heavy Nasdaq; both are keeping the doors locked for the full 24-hour period.
Honestly, it’s one of those days where the floor of the exchange—usually buzzing with activity—will be eerily quiet. For those of us who live and breathe the tickers, it’s a forced pause. But it’s not just the stock market. You've got to realize that the ripple effect hits basically everything else in the financial world, from bonds to your local bank branch.
Why the NYSE is Closed on January 19, 2026
The market isn't just taking a random day off because it feels like it. The NYSE follows a very specific holiday schedule that aligns with most federal observances. Martin Luther King Jr. Day always falls on the third Monday of January. Since today is Sunday, January 18, that means tomorrow is the big day.
For those who are history buffs or just curious, the stock market didn't always close for MLK Day. It actually took a while. The holiday was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1983, but the NYSE didn't start observing it until 1998. Since then, it’s been a staple on the trading calendar.
What Else is Shut Down?
It’s a ghost town on Wall Street tomorrow.
- The Nasdaq: Just like the NYSE, it's a "no-go."
- U.S. Bond Markets: SIFMA (the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association) has recommended a full close. If you’re trying to trade Treasuries, you’re out of luck.
- Banks: Since it’s a federal holiday, most retail banks like Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo will be closed. Digital banking still works, but don't expect a wire transfer to clear until Tuesday.
- The Post Office: No mail delivery tomorrow.
Can You Trade Anything at All?
Sorta. While the main U.S. stock exchanges are closed, the world doesn't stop spinning. If you have an international brokerage account, markets in London, Tokyo, or Hong Kong will be open for business as usual. They don't observe U.S. federal holidays.
Also, crypto never sleeps. If you’re into Bitcoin or Ethereum, those markets are open 24/7, 365 days a year. However, be careful. Volume can sometimes be weird on U.S. holidays because the big institutional players in New York aren't at their desks to provide liquidity. This can lead to some choppy price action that might catch you off guard if you aren't paying attention.
What about futures? Globex and other futures platforms often have "abbreviated" hours. Usually, they’ll trade until about 1:00 p.m. ET on holidays like this and then shut down until the evening session. If you’re trading the E-mini S&P 500 or Crude Oil, you’ve got a narrow window in the morning, but that’s about it.
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When Does Normal Trading Resume?
Everything gets back to the "new normal" on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
The NYSE will open at its standard time:
- Pre-Market: Starting as early as 4:00 a.m. ET for some platforms.
- Core Trading Session: 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.
- After-Hours: 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET.
Expect Tuesday morning to be a bit hectic. When the market is closed for three days (the weekend plus the holiday), news tends to pile up. If something major happens in the Middle East or a big tech company drops a surprise press release over the weekend, all that pent-up energy explodes the moment the opening bell rings on Tuesday.
A Quick Look at the Rest of 2026
If you're trying to plan your vacation or your next big trade, it helps to know when the next "dark days" are. The market doesn't take many breaks, but when it does, it's usually for these:
- Presidents' Day: Monday, February 16 (Closed)
- Good Friday: Friday, April 3 (Closed)
- Memorial Day: Monday, May 25 (Closed)
- Juneteenth: Friday, June 19 (Closed)
- Independence Day: Observed Friday, July 3 (Closed)
- Labor Day: Monday, September 7 (Closed)
- Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 26 (Closed)
- Christmas Day: Friday, December 25 (Closed)
There are also a couple of "half-days" or early closes. For instance, the day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday) and Christmas Eve usually see the market wrap things up early at 1:00 p.m. ET.
Actionable Steps for Tomorrow
Since you can't trade the NYSE tomorrow, what should you do?
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- Audit Your Portfolio: Use the quiet day to look at your holdings without the stress of ticking prices. Are you too heavy in one sector?
- Set Your Alerts: Since Tuesday morning might be volatile, set price alerts on your brokerage app now so you don't have to glue your eyes to the screen at 9:30 a.m.
- Check International Markets: If you’re itching for action, see how the DAX (Germany) or the FTSE (UK) are performing. Often, they can give a hint of how the U.S. might open the following day.
- Research Earnings: Look ahead to the rest of the week. Who is reporting earnings on Wednesday or Thursday? Use the holiday to read through a few 10-K filings.
The market being closed is actually a blessing in disguise for most retail traders. It forces you to step back. Take the day to relax, catch up on some reading, and get your strategy ready for when the volatility returns on Tuesday.