Look, if you just rolled out of bed on this Sunday, January 18, 2026, hoping to catch some live price action on the Big Board, I’ve got some news for you. You’re gonna have to wait. Honestly, the New York Stock Exchange is as quiet as a tomb today.
Basically, the New York Stock Exchange hours for today are nonexistent. It’s Sunday. The exchange is closed. It’s always closed on weekends. But there’s a little more to the story than just "it's Sunday," especially with a major federal holiday lurking right around the corner tomorrow.
If you're looking at your portfolio and wondering why nothing is moving, or if you're trying to figure out when you can actually execute that trade you've been sitting on, here is the breakdown of what's happening at 11 Wall Street.
Why the NYSE is Dark Today
It’s Sunday. That’s the short version. The NYSE—and its tech-heavy cousin, the Nasdaq—operates on a strict Monday-through-Friday schedule. No exceptions for weekends.
But wait. There’s a wrinkle.
Normally, you'd be prepping for the opening bell at 9:30 a.m. ET tomorrow morning. Not this time. Tomorrow is Monday, January 19, 2026, which is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Because it’s a federal holiday, the NYSE will remain closed for the entire day. No pre-market, no regular session, no after-hours. Nothing.
So, if you’re searching for New York Stock Exchange hours for today because you’re planning your week, you’re looking at a long weekend. The "today" part of your search is simple: the doors are locked. The "tomorrow" part is where people get tripped up. You won't see a single tick of live equity data until Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
The Regular Schedule (When Things Actually Happen)
When the world isn't celebrating a holiday or hiding away on a Sunday, the rhythm of the market is pretty predictable. Most people think it’s just 9:30 to 4:00. It’s not. There are layers to this.
The Early Birds
The "Early Trading Session" actually kicks off way before you’ve probably had your first coffee. For NYSE Arca, it starts as early as 4:00 a.m. ET. The main NYSE floor doesn't really get going until the Pre-Opening Session at 6:30 a.m. ET, where orders start queuing up.
The Core Session
This is the "regular" time everyone talks about.
- Opening Bell: 9:30 a.m. ET
- Closing Bell: 4:00 p.m. ET
The Late Shift
After the 4:00 p.m. bell rings and the floor traders head for the exits (or the nearest bar), the "Late Trading Session" runs until 8:00 p.m. ET. This is where the "after-hours" drama happens, often driven by earnings reports or late-breaking news.
What Most People Get Wrong About "Closed" Days
Kinda interesting thing: just because the NYSE is "closed" doesn't mean the entire financial world stops spinning.
If you’re a crypto trader, you’re probably laughing right now. Bitcoin and Ethereum don't care about Sundays or MLK Day. They trade 24/7.
Then you’ve got the Futures markets. While the cash equity market (actual stocks) is closed today and tomorrow, futures (like the S&P 500 E-minis) often trade on a modified, shortened schedule during holidays. For MLK Day 2026, CME Group usually has a halt in the afternoon, but they aren't completely "dark" the way the NYSE is.
And let's talk about the bond market. The bond market (SIFMA) typically follows the same holiday schedule as the NYSE but sometimes closes early on the Friday before a long weekend. If you’re waiting for a wire transfer or a bank settlement, remember that tomorrow is a banking holiday too. If you sell a stock on Tuesday, your "T+1" settlement clock won't even start until then.
Specific 2026 Dates to Watch
Since you're clearly checking the schedule, you might want to mark your calendar for the other times the New York Stock Exchange hours for today will be "zero." Wall Street observes ten major holidays.
In 2026, we’ve already cleared New Year’s Day. Here is what’s left:
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: Monday, January 19 (Tomorrow!)
- Presidents' Day: Monday, February 16
- Good Friday: Friday, April 3
- Memorial Day: Monday, May 25
- Juneteenth: Friday, June 19
- Independence Day: Friday, July 3 (Observed)
- Labor Day: Monday, September 7
- Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, November 26
- Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
There are also a couple of "half-days" where the market closes at 1:00 p.m. ET. Those are the day after Thanksgiving (Friday, Nov 27) and Christmas Eve (Thursday, Dec 24).
Why Volume is Weird Around These Times
You might notice that the Friday before a long weekend (like two days ago) or the Tuesday after (the day after tomorrow) feels... off.
Traders call this "holiday thinness." Big institutional desks often go light on staff. When there are fewer people buying and selling, the "bid-ask spread" can get wider. Basically, it might cost you a few extra cents per share to get in or out of a position because there’s less liquidity.
If some crazy news breaks today while the market is closed, Tuesday morning is going to be a "gap" opening. That means the stock won't just start where it left off on Friday; it’ll jump (or sink) to a new price immediately at 9:30 a.m.
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Actionable Steps for Today
Since you can't trade on the NYSE today, here is what you should actually do:
- Check your limit orders. If you have "Good 'Til Canceled" (GTC) orders sitting out there, remember they might trigger in a volatile Tuesday morning gap. Review them now.
- Watch the Futures. If you want a hint of how Tuesday will open, check the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 futures tonight (Sunday) after 6:00 p.m. ET. That’s when the electronic markets "wake up."
- Mind the Settlement. Remember that any trades you made on Friday won't settle until Tuesday because of the holiday. If you need cash fast, the holiday adds a day of lag.
- Verify with your broker. Some retail platforms like Robinhood or E*Trade have their own "extended hours" rules that might differ slightly from the official NYSE floor rules.
Bottom line: The market is closed today, January 18, and will stay closed tomorrow, January 19. Take the break. Wall Street will be back and probably very chaotic on Tuesday morning.