You’re staring at a frozen ticker or wondering why your limit order isn't filling. We've all been there. It’s Saturday, January 17, 2026, and the short answer is: Yes, the NY stock market is closed today. But it’s not just because of a holiday. It’s the weekend.
Standard operating hours for the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq are Monday through Friday. If you’re looking to trade Apple or Tesla on a Saturday, you’re basically out of luck unless you’re dabbling in the 24/7 world of crypto. Even then, the "big board" in Manhattan is dark.
Is NY stock market closed today for a holiday?
Since today is Saturday, the market is closed by default. However, there’s a bigger reason why Wall Street is bracing for a quiet stretch. Monday, January 19, 2026, is Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
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The NYSE and Nasdaq will remain closed through the entire weekend and all of Monday. This creates a three-day "dead zone" for traditional equity traders.
Most people assume the market follows every bank holiday, but that's not actually true. While banks and the U.S. Postal Service might take off for Veterans Day or Columbus Day, the stock market usually stays open for those. MLK Day is one of the few "full" holidays where everything from the bond market to the equity pits shuts down completely.
The 2026 "No-Trade" Calendar
If you're trying to plan your January trades, you need to look at the surrounding dates.
Yesterday, Friday, January 16, was a regular trading day.
Tomorrow, Sunday, January 18, the markets are closed.
Monday, January 19, the markets are closed for MLK Day.
Tuesday, January 20, the opening bell rings again at 9:30 a.m. ET.
It feels like a long wait, especially if the previous week was volatile. Honestly, these long weekends often lead to "gap up" or "gap down" openings on Tuesday because news doesn't stop just because the floor is closed. Global events over the next 48 hours will be "priced in" all at once the moment Tuesday's session starts.
What stays open when the market is closed?
Just because you can't buy 100 shares of an ETF doesn't mean the entire financial world is asleep. There’s a weird hierarchy of what stays active.
Cryptocurrency
Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the rest of the digital gang never sleep. If you have an itch to trade at 3:00 a.m. on a Sunday, that’s your only playground. But be careful—liquidity is often lower on weekends, which can lead to wilder price swings.
Futures Markets
While the NY stock market is closed today, futures (like S&P 500 E-minis) have their own schedule. They usually close on Friday afternoon and reopen Sunday evening around 6:00 p.m. ET. For many professional traders, Sunday night is when the "real" work begins as they watch how the futures react to weekend headlines.
International Markets
Time zones are a trip. By the time it’s Sunday night in New York, markets in Tokyo and Hong Kong are already starting their Monday sessions. If there's a major geopolitical shift on Saturday, you’ll see the ripples in Asia before you see them on Wall Street.
Why the weekend closure still matters for your portfolio
A lot of folks think a closed market means zero risk. That’s a dangerous myth.
"Weekend risk" is a real thing. It’s the risk that something massive happens—a natural disaster, a sudden political shift, or a surprise earnings leak—while you are physically unable to hit the 'sell' button. Since the NY stock market is closed today, you are essentially "locked in" to your current positions until Tuesday morning.
This is why some traders "hedge" their positions on Friday afternoons. They might buy put options or reduce their leverage just so they can sleep better while the NYSE is dark.
Does the bond market follow the same rules?
Sorta. The bond market, which is governed by SIFMA (Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association), is actually more strict than the stock market. For instance, on MLK Day, the bond market is 100% closed. There isn't even a "half-day" session like you sometimes see on the day after Thanksgiving.
Common Misconceptions About Market Closures
One thing that trips people up is "After-Hours Trading." You’ve probably seen prices moving at 6:00 p.m. on a Tuesday and assumed you could trade on a Saturday too.
You can't.
After-hours and pre-market sessions only happen on business days. There is no "Saturday Morning Session" for the NYSE. If you see a price changing on your app today, it's likely just a glitch or it’s showing the very last trade from Friday’s closing bell.
Another big one? Thinking that because a holiday falls on a weekend, the market doesn't care. Actually, if a holiday like July 4th falls on a Saturday, the market usually closes on the Friday before. In 2026, Independence Day (July 4) is a Saturday, so the market will actually be closed on Friday, July 3.
Actionable Next Steps for Investors
Since you can't trade today, the best move is to prepare for the Tuesday reopen.
- Review your stops: If you have stop-loss orders set, remember they won't trigger until Tuesday morning. If a stock gaps down below your stop price, you might get filled at a much lower price than you expected.
- Watch the Futures: Tune in Sunday at 6:00 p.m. ET. This will give you the first real hint of how the market is feeling about the coming week.
- Check the Earnings Calendar: Tuesday often brings a flood of earnings reports. Use this quiet Saturday to see if any companies you own are reporting before the bell on Tuesday.
- Clean up your watchlist: Use the downtime to remove the "noise" and focus on your high-conviction plays for the rest of January.
The market being closed is actually a blessing for your mental health. Wall Street is a grind. Take the win, enjoy the MLK holiday weekend, and get your strategy ready for Tuesday's opening bell.