If you’re sitting around on the day after Christmas, surrounded by torn wrapping paper and leftovers, you might start wondering about your portfolio. It's a natural thought. After the big build-up to the holidays, the world feels like it’s in a bit of a lull. But while the banks might be quiet and your office is likely closed, the financial world doesn't always take the same nap.
Basically, the answer depends entirely on which side of the ocean you're looking at. For those of us in the States, the short answer is usually yes. But if you’re looking at London or Toronto, you’re out of luck.
Is the stock market open on December 26th in the US?
For the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq, December 26th is generally treated as a normal business day. In 2025, for instance, December 26th falls on a Friday. Even though many federal employees get the day off and the post office might be running on a skeleton crew, the stock market opens its doors at the regular 9:30 a.m. ET.
It feels a little weird, right? Most of the country is out returning sweaters or watching movies, but the traders at 11 Wall Street are back at their terminals.
Wait. There is one major exception. If Christmas Day (December 25th) falls on a Saturday, the market closes on Friday the 24th. If Christmas falls on a Sunday, the market closes on Monday the 26th to observe the holiday. But for 2025 and 2026, December 26th is a standard trading day for US equities.
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What about the bond market?
The bond market is a different beast. While the stock market loves to stay open, the bond market—governed by recommendations from SIFMA (the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association)—tends to be a bit more relaxed. In many years, SIFMA recommends a full close or at least an early close for the bond market on the 26th if it's part of a long holiday weekend.
Honestly, it creates this weird disconnect. You can trade Apple or Nvidia stocks all day, but if you’re trying to move some Treasury bonds, you might find the lights are off.
The Boxing Day factor: Why London and Canada stay closed
While Americans are back to the grind, our friends in the UK, Canada, and Australia are celebrating Boxing Day. For them, December 26th is a hard "no" for trading.
The London Stock Exchange (LSE) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) are closed. Period. If December 26th falls on a weekend, they’ll even push that closure to the following Monday or Tuesday. It’s a bank holiday in those regions, and they take it seriously.
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If you're an American investor holding shares in a Canadian mining company or a British tech firm, don't expect to see those prices move much on the 26th. The primary liquidity just isn't there.
Trading volume: Is it even worth it?
Just because the market is open doesn't mean it’s busy. Historical data shows that the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day—often called the "holiday doldrums"—sees some of the lowest trading volumes of the entire year.
Most big institutional traders, the folks at the massive hedge funds and investment banks, are off on vacation. They’ve already locked in their gains for the year. This leaves the market to retail investors and algorithms.
- Low liquidity: Because fewer people are trading, the "spread" (the difference between the buy and sell price) can get wider.
- Volatility spikes: A single large trade can move a stock more than it normally would because there aren't as many buyers or sellers to absorb the impact.
- The Santa Claus Rally: This is a real phenomenon where stocks tend to drift higher during the last five trading days of December.
I’ve seen days on the 26th where the S&P 500 barely moves half a percent over eight hours. It’s slow. It’s quiet. It’s basically the financial equivalent of watching paint dry, unless some major geopolitical news breaks.
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What should you actually do?
If you're a long-term investor, the best thing to do on December 26th is probably... nothing. Unless you have a specific tax-loss harvesting strategy you need to finish before the ball drops on New Year's Eve, there's rarely a "must-trade" reason for the day after Christmas.
You've got a few days left to settle trades if you want them to count for the current tax year. Remember that most stock trades take one business day to "settle" (known as T+1). If you sell on December 26th, it'll settle by the 27th, comfortably inside the tax year.
Next Steps for Your Portfolio:
Check your 2025 or 2026 calendar to confirm the day of the week for the 26th. If it's a weekday, expect the NYSE and Nasdaq to be open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. If you're planning to sell for tax purposes, execute those trades by the 26th or 27th to ensure they clear before the New Year. Finally, if you trade international markets, double-check the holiday calendars for the LSE or TSX, as those will definitely be dark.