If you woke up on Monday, January 19, and tried to check your portfolio only to see flatlines and zero movement, don't panic. Your app isn't broken. The is stock market open jan 20 question is on everyone's mind because Monday is a total washout for U.S. exchanges.
Monday, January 19, 2026, marks the observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In the world of finance, this is a "hard" holiday. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq are locked tight. No opening bell. No closing auction. Just a long weekend for traders who probably need the sleep anyway.
But what about Tuesday?
Is Stock Market Open Jan 20? Here is the Schedule
The short answer is yes. The stock market is open Jan 20, 2026.
Tuesday functions as the first full trading day of the week. After the three-day hiatus, the NYSE and Nasdaq will resume their standard "Core Trading Session" hours. You can expect the usual 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET window.
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Pre-market enthusiasts can start getting active as early as 4:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday, and the after-hours crowd will have their usual run until 8:00 p.m. ET. Basically, everything returns to its chaotic, normal self.
Why the confusion happens every year
Honestly, it's because MLK Day is a "floating" holiday. It always lands on the third Monday of January. Because of that, the actual date shifts around. Some years it's early; in 2026, it lands right on the 19th. People often get tripped up wondering if the "observed" day affects the 20th as well.
It doesn't.
Tuesday is back to business.
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What happens to bonds and futures?
While the stock market is open Jan 20, the "recovery" from the holiday looks a little different depending on what you're trading.
- The Bond Market: Bonds are a bit more conservative. The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) generally recommends a full close for USD fixed-income markets on Monday. Like stocks, they'll be back on Tuesday, usually seeing a flurry of activity as banks catch up on three days of global news.
- Futures and Commodities: This is where it gets weird. Markets like the CME Group (Chicago Mercantile Exchange) often have "halted" sessions. They might open on Sunday night, pause on Monday afternoon, and then resume for a "Trade Date" of January 20 starting Monday evening. So, technically, by the time the sun rises on Tuesday, futures have already been moving for hours.
- International Markets: London, Tokyo, and Hong Kong don't care about MLK Day. They stay open on Monday. This creates "ADR price gaps." If a big tech company has a huge news event on Monday while the U.S. is closed, the Tuesday morning open on Jan 20 could be extremely volatile.
Trading strategy for the Tuesday restart
Coming off a long holiday weekend, the first hour of trading on Jan 20 is likely to be messy. Volume tends to spike as institutional orders that sat dormant over the weekend finally hit the tape.
Experts like those at the NYSE or major brokerage desks often point out that "Tuesday after MLK" can be a high-volatility window. We are in the thick of January, which is prime earnings season. Companies often use the holiday break to finalize their quarterly reports, meaning Tuesday morning could be flooded with fresh data.
Don't chase the first 15 minutes.
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It's usually better to let the "amateur hour" (the 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. volatility) pass before making a major move. You want to see where the trend is actually heading once the big money settles in.
Settlement cycles: A tiny detail that matters
If you sold a stock on Friday, January 16, don't expect your cash to be "settled" by Monday. Since the stock market is open Jan 20 but closed on the 19th, Monday doesn't count as a "business day" for settlement purposes.
Under the current T+1 settlement rule, a trade made on Friday will typically settle on Tuesday. The holiday basically pushes your "payday" or "buying power" refresh back by 24 hours. Keep that in mind if you're planning on using those funds for a Tuesday morning play.
Actionable steps for Tuesday, Jan 20
Since you now know the market is open, here is how you should prep:
- Check Global News: Review how the European and Asian markets performed on Monday while the U.S. was dark. It's the best leading indicator for the Tuesday open.
- Review Earnings Calendars: See which companies are reporting before the bell on Jan 20. This will dictate which sectors (like Tech or Financials) will have the most eyes on them.
- Update Your Limit Orders: Prices can "gap" up or down after a three-day break. If you have old limit orders sitting out there, make sure they still make sense given any news that broke over the weekend.
- Watch the VIX: The "fear gauge" often reacts sharply after a holiday. If it's spiking on Tuesday morning, expect a bumpy ride.
The market is definitely open on Tuesday. Use the quiet Monday to do your homework so you aren't caught off guard when the bell rings.