NYSE and Nasdaq · Washington's Birthday
Is the Stock Market Open on Presidents' Day?
No. The stock market is closed on Presidents' Day, which the NYSE lists under its legal name, Washington's Birthday. It falls on the third Monday of February.
Presidents' Day across US markets
Stocks, options, bonds, futures, forex
| Market | On Presidents' Day | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks (NYSE, Nasdaq) | Closed | Closed all day |
| Options (Cboe, Nasdaq, NYSE Arca) | Closed | Closed all day |
| Bonds (US Treasuries, SIFMA) | Closed (SIFMA full close). | |
| Futures (CME Globex) | CME Globex trades a reduced holiday schedule with an early halt; see the CME calendar. | |
| Forex | Open. Forex has no other holidays; expect thin liquidity around US holidays. | |
What traders should know about Presidents' Day
Presidents' Day is one of the oldest holidays on the exchange calendar. The NYSE observed Washington's Birthday on February 22 for decades before the Uniform Monday Holiday Act moved it to the third Monday of February in 1971, which is the date the exchanges have used ever since.
The Friday before is a full trading day and there is no early close attached to the holiday. Trading resumes Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. ET. Because it is a federal holiday, the bond market and the Federal Reserve are closed on the Monday as well, so stock trades from Friday settle on Tuesday.
Expect a quiet Friday afternoon before the long weekend and, on the Tuesday, a session that has to digest three days of overseas news at once. Asian and European markets stay open on the Monday.
Presidents' Day questions
Why does the NYSE call it Washington's Birthday?
Because that is the holiday's official federal name. "Presidents' Day" is the popular name; the exchange calendar keeps the legal one.
Is the stock market open the Friday before Presidents' Day?
Yes, it is a normal full session with no early close.
When is Presidents' Day in 2026, 2027 and 2028?
February 16, 2026; February 15, 2027; and February 21, 2028.