Checking your brokerage app only to see flat lines and zero movement is a specific kind of frustration. You're ready to buy the dip or maybe trim a position, but the ticker isn't ticking. If you're wondering is the stock market closed today, the answer usually boils down to a few specific federal holidays or a weekend.
Today is Tuesday, January 13, 2026.
The short answer? No, the stock market is open today. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq are operating on their standard schedule. You can trade from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern Time. But don't just stop there. Knowing why it's open today while it might be closed next week is the difference between a prepared investor and someone chasing ghost orders.
The 2026 Trading Calendar: When the Lights Go Out
Wall Street doesn't follow the same "work from home" or "flexible Friday" vibes that the rest of the corporate world has adopted. It's rigid. The NYSE and Nasdaq stick to a very specific set of holidays.
Normally, if a holiday falls on a Sunday, the market closes the following Monday. If it hits a Saturday, the market usually shuts down the Friday before. It’s a rhythmic, predictable cycle that keeps the global financial gears from grinding against each other.
Let's look at the upcoming hurdles. We just cleared New Year's Day. The next big one on the horizon is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In 2026, that falls on Monday, January 19. On that day, the answer to is the stock market closed today will be a resounding yes. No trading. No settlement. Just a quiet floor in Lower Manhattan.
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Why does the schedule even matter?
Liquidity. That’s the word traders toss around like confetti. When the US markets close, global liquidity drops off a cliff. Even if you're trading international stocks or crypto, the absence of the American "big dogs" means wider spreads and more volatility. You might think you're getting a deal on a London-listed stock, but without the US price discovery, you’re basically flying a kite in a hurricane.
Honestly, some people forget that the bond market has its own set of rules. The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) often recommends a close for bond markets on days when the stock market stays open, like Columbus Day or Veterans Day. This creates a weird "half-open" state where you can buy Apple stock, but the underlying debt markets are asleep. It's a nuance that trips up even seasoned pros.
The "Holiday Effect" and Your Portfolio
There is a weird psychological phenomenon called the "Pre-holiday Effect." Stocks tend to drift upward on the last trading day before a long weekend. Why? Optimism? Short sellers covering their tracks because they don't want to hold a risky position while they’re at the beach? Probably a mix of both.
If you are asking is the stock market closed today because you're seeing low volume, it might just be the "lame duck" period between major holidays. In January, after the New Year's hype dies down, volume often thins out until earnings season kicks into high gear.
- Standard Hours: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM ET.
- Pre-Market: Starting as early as 4:00 AM ET.
- After-Hours: Running until 8:00 PM ET.
Trading in the "dark" hours (pre and post-market) is a different beast entirely. It’s where the sharks play. The spreads are wider, meaning the difference between what you can buy for and what you can sell for is much larger. If you aren't careful, you’ll get "filled" at a price that makes your stomach turn.
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Beyond the Calendar: When the Market Closes Unexpectedly
Sometimes the market closes for reasons that aren't on a calendar. We call these "Circuit Breakers."
Imagine the S&P 500 starts tanking. If it drops 7%, the whole system pauses for 15 minutes. It’s a forced timeout. If it drops 13%, another 15-minute break. If it hits 20%? Pack it up. The market shuts down for the rest of the day. This happened back in March 2020 during the initial COVID-19 panic. It was chaotic.
Then you have "National Days of Mourning." When a former President passes away, the NYSE often closes out of respect. It’s one of the few times the secular world of finance stops for something purely human.
Navigating the 2026 Market Landscape
Since we are in 2026, the tech stack behind trading has evolved, but the human element remains. You’ve got AI-driven algorithms executing 90% of the trades, yet they still respect the 4:00 PM bell. It’s a bit ironic, really.
If you're looking for a specific list of 2026 closures, keep these dates on your radar:
President's Day on February 16, Good Friday on April 3, and the relatively new addition of Juneteenth on June 19.
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Each of these dates will answer the is the stock market closed today query with a "Yes."
Many traders use these breaks to recalibrate. If you're constantly staring at the 1-minute chart, a forced Monday closure is a blessing. It stops the over-trading itch. You should use that time to look at your long-term thesis. Is the company you bought three months ago still doing what you expected? Or were you just riding a momentum wave that’s about to break?
Practical Steps for the Next 24 Hours
Since the market is open today, you have work to do. Don't just sit there.
- Check the Economic Calendar: Today isn't a holiday, but is there a Fed governor speaking? Is there a CPI print coming? These events cause "mini-closures" where nobody wants to trade until the news hits.
- Verify Your Orders: If you placed a "Good 'Til Canceled" (GTC) order months ago, check it. Prices change, and an old limit order can get triggered in a way you didn't intend.
- Watch the Time: The final 30 minutes of trading (the "Power Hour") is when the big institutions rebalance. If you're a retail trader, it's often the most dangerous—and profitable—time to be active.
- Prepare for the MLK Holiday: Since the market will be closed this coming Monday, January 19, expect Friday's afternoon session to be "thin." People will head out early. Don't get caught in a low-liquidity trap.
The stock market is a living, breathing entity. It needs its rest, just like you. But today isn't that day. The floor is open, the servers are humming, and the capital is flowing. Get after it.
Actionable Insight: Double-check your brokerage settings for "Extended Hours Trading." Many people don't realize they have access to trade before 9:30 AM ET, which can be vital if a company drops a major news release at 8:00 AM. If you’re waiting for the opening bell to react, you’re often too late. Set your limit orders now to account for the volatility seen in the first 15 minutes of the standard session.