You’re probably planning a long weekend, maybe looking for a quick getaway or just a Monday without emails. But if you’ve got skin in the game—meaning a portfolio you check more than you should—you're likely wondering: is stock market open on presidents day?
The short answer? No.
Wall Street basically takes the day off. It’s one of those federal holidays where the big lights at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq go dark. If you try to execute a trade on Monday, February 16, 2026, it’s just gonna sit there until Tuesday morning.
I’ve seen a lot of traders get caught off guard by this every year. They wake up, coffee in hand, ready to jump on a Sunday night rumor, only to realize the ticker isn't moving. It’s a weird feeling when the world’s financial heart stops beating for 24 hours.
Why the Market Closes for Washington’s Birthday
Technically, the federal government calls this holiday "Washington’s Birthday," but most of us just say Presidents Day. The stock market follows the federal holiday calendar pretty closely, though not perfectly. For 2026, the big day falls on Monday, February 16.
When the NYSE and Nasdaq close, it’s a full shutdown. No pre-market trading. No after-hours sessions.
Honestly, it’s kinda fascinating how much the U.S. markets dictate the global mood. When the U.S. is closed, liquidity—basically the ease of buying and selling—drops significantly around the world. European and Asian markets might be open, but they often "tread water" without the American volume to push them in a clear direction.
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The 2026 Holiday Breakdown: What’s Open and What’s Not
It isn't just the stocks. The whole financial ecosystem shifts.
The bond market is even more strict. While the stock market stays open on some days like Veterans Day or Columbus Day, the bond market (governed by SIFMA) usually takes those off. For Presidents Day, however, they are both in agreement: Closed.
Banks are also closed. Since Presidents Day is a federal bank holiday, don't expect to walk into a Chase or Bank of America branch. Direct deposits might be delayed by a day, too. It’s sort of a total pause on the traditional "money" world.
What about Crypto and Forex?
This is where it gets interesting. Crypto never sleeps. If you want to trade Bitcoin or Ethereum at 3:00 AM on Presidents Day, you totally can.
Forex (Foreign Exchange) is a bit of a hybrid. Because it’s a global market, it technically stays open, but since the U.S. banks are closed, the "USD" side of your trades might be incredibly slow or have wider spreads. Basically, it’s more expensive and riskier to trade because there are fewer people in the pool.
Surprising Facts About Market Holidays
Most people think the market only closes for the "big" ones like Christmas or Thanksgiving. But there are ten specific days in 2026 where the NYSE takes a breather.
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One thing that trips people up is the "weekend rule." If a holiday falls on a Saturday, the market usually closes the Friday before. If it falls on a Sunday, it closes the following Monday. Luckily, Presidents Day is always a Monday, so we don't have to do that mental gymnastics.
2026 Major Market Closures:
- New Year’s Day (Jan 1)
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan 19)
- Presidents Day (Feb 16)
- Good Friday (April 3)
- Memorial Day (May 25)
- Juneteenth (June 19)
- Independence Day (Observed July 3)
- Labor Day (Sept 7)
- Thanksgiving (Nov 26)
- Christmas (Dec 25)
Notice anything? The market is open on Veterans Day and Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day, even though the post office and banks are closed. It’s a weird quirk of the financial world. They really hate being closed if they don't have to be.
Does the Market Usually Go Up or Down After Presidents Day?
Traders love to talk about "seasonality." There’s this idea that markets behave a certain way around holidays.
Historically, the period around Presidents Day has been a bit "meh." February is often one of the more volatile or stagnant months for the S&P 500. You sometimes see a "holiday effect" where the market rallies the Friday before a long weekend because people are feeling good, but honestly? It’s not a reliable strategy.
Don't bet your rent money on a "Presidents Day Rally."
Expert analysts at places like Goldman Sachs or JPMorgan often point out that the low volume leading up to the holiday can cause "choppiness." Without the big institutional "whales" trading, small moves by retail traders can move the needle more than usual.
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What You Should Do on Monday, February 16
Since you can't trade, use the time for a "portfolio physical."
Most of us are so caught up in the day-to-day green and red candles that we forget to look at the big picture. Are you too heavy in tech? Is your "safe" bond fund actually losing you money?
- Check your stops. Make sure your stop-loss orders are set for Tuesday morning. If some crazy news breaks over the weekend (which it often does), the market might "gap" up or down when it reopens.
- Review your earnings calendar. Late February is usually the tail end of earnings season. See which companies are reporting on Tuesday or Wednesday.
- Actually relax. Seriously. The market is a 24/7 stress machine if you let it be. Take the win of a forced day off.
The "Pre-Holiday" Trade
Watch the market on Friday, February 13. Yeah, Friday the 13th.
Often, traders will "square their positions" before a long weekend. This means they sell off things they don't want to hold over the break because they are afraid of "weekend risk"—like a geopolitical event happening while they can't sell. This can lead to a slight dip on Friday afternoon.
On the flip side, if the Friday is strong, it usually means big investors are confident. They are willing to hold through the long weekend.
Actionable Next Steps for Investors
Instead of staring at a frozen screen on Monday, do this:
- Audit your fees: Look at your brokerage statements. Are you paying too much in expense ratios for your ETFs?
- Research 2026 trends: By mid-February, the "New Year" hype has settled. Is the AI boom still booming? Is inflation behaving?
- Set alerts: Use an app to set price alerts so you don't have to watch the screen on Tuesday.
The market being closed isn't a hurdle; it’s a chance to reset. By the time the opening bell rings at 9:30 AM ET on Tuesday, February 17, you’ll be ahead of everyone else who just spent their Monday wondering why their app wasn't working.
Make sure your orders are queued if you must, but otherwise, enjoy the break. The charts will still be there on Tuesday.