You've probably been there. You wake up, coffee in hand, ready to check your portfolio or execute that trade you’ve been mulling over all night, only to find the tickers aren't moving. It’s a specific kind of frustration. If you are asking is stock market open today on Thursday, January 15, 2026, the answer depends entirely on which part of the world you are looking at.
For those trading in the United States, the answer is a straightforward yes. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq are operating on their normal schedule.
But if you’re looking at the Indian markets—the NSE and BSE—you’re going to see a whole lot of nothing today. They are shut down.
The Surprise Holiday for the Indian Stock Market
Most people who track the Indian markets expect the usual bank holidays. But today, Thursday, January 15, 2026, is a bit of a curveball. The National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) are closed for trading.
Why? It’s not a national religious holiday or a global financial break. It’s actually because of municipal corporation elections in Maharashtra.
The state government declared a public holiday to make sure everyone can get out and vote for the local bodies, including the massive Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in Mumbai. Since the heart of India's financial district is in Mumbai, when the city stops for an election, the markets stop too.
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Interestingly, this wasn't always the plan for today. Initially, the exchanges had labeled January 15 as just a "settlement holiday." That would have meant you could still buy and sell stocks, but the money and shares wouldn't move between accounts until the next day. However, they changed their minds on January 12. They issued a fresh circular and decided to just close the whole thing down.
If you had derivative contracts—like Nifty or Bank Nifty options—that were supposed to expire today, those were actually moved up. They expired yesterday, Wednesday, January 14.
Is the Stock Market Open Today in the US?
Stateside, it’s business as usual. Both the NYSE and Nasdaq opened their doors at 9:30 a.m. ET and will ring the closing bell at 4:00 p.m. ET.
There are no federal holidays today in the US. No weird local closures. Just standard 24/7 capitalism.
However, you should keep an eye on the calendar for next week. We are heading into a long weekend. Monday, January 19, 2026, is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. On that day, all major US equity and bond markets will be closed.
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What About the Rest of the 2026 Market Calendar?
Honestly, keeping track of when you can actually trade is harder than it looks. You've got different rules for stocks, bonds, and futures.
In the US, the bond market often closes earlier than the stock market on certain days, or closes entirely when the stock market stays open (like on Columbus Day or Veterans Day). But for most of 2026, the big "no-trade" days are pretty consistent:
- Presidents' Day: Monday, February 16
- Good Friday: Friday, April 3
- Memorial Day: Monday, May 25
- Juneteenth: Friday, June 19
- Independence Day (Observed): Friday, July 3 (since the 4th is a Saturday)
Over in India, the list is a bit longer because of the various cultural and regional festivals. After today's election break, the next time the Indian markets will be closed is Republic Day on January 26.
Why Market Closures Actually Matter (More Than You Think)
When the market is closed, it’s not just about "not being able to buy Apple shares." It creates a vacuum.
Global news doesn't stop just because the floor of the NYSE is empty. If a major economic report drops or a geopolitical event happens while the market is closed, all that energy gets bottled up. When the market finally opens the next day, it usually "gaps." That means the price of a stock might jump from $100 to $105 without ever trading at $101, $102, or $103 in between.
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This is why professional traders often "hedge" or close out risky positions before a long holiday weekend.
Does Crypto Ever Close?
If you're frustrated by the 9-to-5, Monday-to-Friday grind of the stock market, you've probably noticed that Bitcoin doesn't care about elections in Mumbai or MLK Day in New York.
Cryptocurrency markets are open 24/7/365. This often leads to "arbitrage" opportunities or weird price movements where crypto acts as a proxy for the stock market when the traditional exchanges are closed. If there’s a big panic on a Sunday night, you'll often see it reflected in the price of Bitcoin before the first stock market opens on Monday morning.
What You Should Do Right Now
Since you now know that the US market is open but the Indian market is closed, here is how you should handle your day:
- Check Your Orders: If you’re trading in the US, proceed as normal, but be aware of the upcoming long weekend. Liquidity—basically the amount of money moving around—sometimes starts to thin out on Friday afternoons before a holiday.
- Verify Indian Settlements: If you trade in India, remember that today is a non-trading day. Any orders you place now will likely sit in a "pending" or "after-market" status until the markets reopen tomorrow morning.
- Prepare for Monday: If you're a US investor, start thinking about your "weekend risk." Since the markets are closed this coming Monday, you'll be holding your stocks through three full days of potential global news without the ability to sell easily on a major exchange.
- Audit Your Calendar: Take five minutes to sync a financial calendar to your phone. It sounds nerdy, but it beats being surprised by a "market closed" notification when you're in the middle of a trade.
The markets will be back to a global full-strength status tomorrow. For now, if you're in the US, the bells are ringing. If you're in India, take the day off and enjoy the break.