As the festive season of Christmas and New Year approaches, investors in the United States and globally must navigate a period of compressed trading. The calendar features early closes and full holidays that can impact trade settlement, execution, and push transactions into the following week. For market participants, keeping track of these key dates is crucial to avoid confusion and manage portfolios effectively around the 2025-26 holiday stretch.
Christmas 2025: US Market Trading Schedule
Is the US stock market open on Christmas Eve, 24 December 2025? Yes, but trading will end early. Both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq are scheduled to close at 1:00 pm Eastern Time (ET) on Wednesday, 24 December 2025. Certain equity options may trade for a short while after this main session closes, depending on their specific contracts.
However, the bond market operates on a different timetable. Following common industry practice, the fixed-income markets will close even earlier, typically around 2:00 pm ET on Christmas Eve. It's important to note that these early closures are part of the standard exchange calendar and are not influenced by federal office holidays.
Is the US stock market open on Christmas Day, 25 December 2025? No. Markets will be completely shut on Thursday, 25 December 2025, in observance of Christmas Day. There will be no trading of stocks or options. Regular activity resumes the next day.
Is the US stock market open on Friday, 26 December 2025? Yes. Despite a federal directive closing government offices on this day, exchange operators have confirmed that 26 December 2025 will be a full, regular trading session for equities. Wall Street will operate with normal hours on this Friday.
New Year's 2026: Key Dates for Traders
Is the stock market open on New Year's Eve, 31 December 2025? For stock traders, Wednesday, 31 December 2025, is currently slated as a standard trading day on both the NYSE and Nasdaq. No early closure is listed for equities on this date. The situation is different for bond markets, which often observe an early close, typically around 2:00 pm ET, based on participation levels from trading firms.
Is the stock market open on New Year's Day, 1 January 2026? No. Both major US exchanges will be closed on Thursday, 1 January 2026, for New Year's Day. Trading will recommence on Friday, 2 January 2026.
Summary of the 2025-26 Holiday Trading Schedule
To simplify planning, here is a quick recap of the important dates:
- 24 December 2025 (Christmas Eve): Early close for stocks (1:00 pm ET). Bonds close earlier (~2:00 pm ET).
- 25 December 2025 (Christmas Day): Markets fully closed.
- 26 December 2025: Regular trading session.
- 31 December 2025 (New Year's Eve): Regular hours for stocks. Bonds may close early.
- 1 January 2026 (New Year's Day): Markets fully closed.
For investors, especially those in India tracking or participating in US markets across time zones, marking these calendar changes is essential. The condensed schedule requires careful attention to order placement and settlement cycles to ensure smooth portfolio management during the holiday period.
