Is the Stock Market Open on MLK Day? Here’s What’s Closed on January 19, 2026 and When Trading Resumes

If you’re asking “is the stock market open on MLK Day” today, the answer is clear: U.S. stock markets are closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. That means no regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq on Monday, January 19, 2026, and most market activity shifts to limited venues with modified hours.

For investors, the MLK Day market pause can feel confusing because some financial products continue trading in some form while stocks do not. Here’s what’s actually closed, what may still move, and what to expect when markets reopen.

Is the stock market open on MLK Day 2026?

No. The U.S. stock market is not open on MLK Day (January 19, 2026). Both major U.S. equity exchanges are closed for the federal holiday, which also typically means U.S.-listed stock options and many related market services operate on a holiday schedule.

Next regular session: Tuesday, January 20, 2026, with normal hours 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.

For anyone searching “stock market open on MLK Day” or “is the market open today,” the most important point is that there is no standard U.S. stock trading session on MLK Day, even if you still see price movement in other markets.

What’s closed on MLK Day and what’s open

Here’s the practical breakdown for January 19, 2026:

Closed

• U.S. stock exchanges (NYSE and Nasdaq)

• Most U.S. stock options markets

• U.S. bond market (commonly treated as a full close for the holiday)

May be open with modified hours

• Some futures markets (often run on holiday schedules that can include early closes or delayed opens)

• Global markets outside the U.S. (international exchanges may follow their own calendars)

Typically open

• Cryptocurrency markets (24/7 trading)

• Foreign exchange markets (often open, but liquidity can be thinner on U.S. holidays)

The key takeaway: stocks are closed, but you may still see movement in assets that trade on different schedules, and you may still receive news that impacts prices once the stock market reopens.

Why MLK Day matters for traders: liquidity and price gaps

Even though you can’t trade U.S. stocks during the holiday session, MLK Day can still influence the next trading day in two major ways:

1. Lower liquidity in related markets
   With many U.S. participants offline, trading in futures, FX, and some ETFs (where applicable) can become less liquid, which can widen spreads and amplify short-term swings.

2. Potential “gap” moves on Tuesday
   If major news breaks during the holiday, U.S. stocks may open Tuesday with a noticeable price gap, especially in sectors tied to the news (energy, semiconductors, megacap tech, banks).

That’s why the question “is the stock market open on MLK Day” is often really about planning: you can’t react in real time in U.S. equities, so risk management shifts to preparation.

MLK Day 2026 trading schedule: quick reference

If you’re placing orders, remember that most brokers will hold market orders for the next open, which can be risky if prices gap on Tuesday. Limit orders are usually the safer choice when markets reopen after a holiday.

What investors can do today while the stock market is closed

Even with the market shut, MLK Day can still be productive for investors:

• Review your watchlist and set price alerts for Tuesday’s open

• Check earnings and economic calendar items scheduled for the week

• Adjust risk plans (stops, position sizing, hedges) for potential Tuesday volatility

• Avoid panic decisions based on thin holiday trading in other instruments

“is the stock market open on MLK Day?”

For MLK Day 2026 (January 19, 2026), U.S. stock markets are closed, and regular trading returns Tuesday, January 20, 2026. If you’re seeing movement elsewhere today, it’s likely coming from markets that operate outside standard U.S. stock exchange hours or run on different holiday schedules.