Is The Stock Market Open On Presidents Day?

Each February, a common question starts popping up among investors: “Is the US stock market open on Presidents Day?” It sounds simple, but for anyone trading American stocks from India, the answer can directly affect order execution, settlement timelines, and short-term strategies.

Unlike sudden market closures, Presidents Day is a scheduled federal holiday, yet many investors still get caught off guard because the US holiday calendar doesn’t always line up with Indian public holidays. Add the time-zone difference, and it becomes easy to assume markets are open when they’re actually paused.

Knowing the status of the market isn’t just trivia. It helps you plan trades better, avoid delayed orders, and understand why prices may not move overnight. A single holiday can quietly shift trading activity across global portfolios.

If you’re investing in US stocks from India or planning activity around this mid-month holiday, here’s a clear, step-by-step guide.

What Is Presidents Day?

Presidents Day is a federal holiday in the United States observed on the third Monday of February every year. Though commonly called Presidents Day in everyday usage, the federal holiday is legally designated as Washington’s Birthday.

It was originally created to honour George Washington, the first US president. Over time, and especially since the Uniform Monday Holiday Act (which moved several federal holidays to Mondays), the day broadly commemorates US presidents and creates a long weekend for workers across the country.

Is the Stock Market Open on Presidents Day 2026?

Short answer: No, the US stock market will be closed on Presidents Day Monday, February 16, 2026.

This closure applies to the main US equity venues:

• New York Stock Exchange (NYSE): Closed
• Nasdaq Stock Market: Closed
• US bond markets: Closed

For investors, this means no regular trading from the usual session hours of 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on that date.

The next regular trading day is Tuesday, February 17, 2026, when markets resume their usual schedule.

Why Does the US Market Close?

The US stock market follows an official holiday schedule published annually by exchanges such as NYSE and Nasdaq. These calendars align with US federal holidays, and Presidents Day is one of the established closures.

The main reasons for this closure include:

• It’s a federal holiday recognized across financial infrastructure.
• Key institutions like banks, clearing houses, and settlement systems are also on holiday, making seamless trading settlement impractical.
• Brokerages and trading platforms typically align with exchange holidays for operational reasons.

This is not unique to Presidents Day, the market also closes for other federal holidays such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Independence Day, Christmas Day, and Thanksgiving (among others) each year.

How Presidents Day Affects Indian Investors?

If you invest in US stocks from India, Presidents Day has a few practical effects:

1. No Trading on Monday (Feb 16): You won’t be able to buy or sell US equities. Orders placed may queue for execution once the market reopens Tuesday.

2. Settlement Schedules Shift: US markets generally use T+1 settlement (trade date plus one business day). A holiday means settlement shifts forward accordingly.

3. Liquidity Patterns May Change: Around holidays, trading activity before and after can have lower liquidity and wider spreads. Planning around these can help manage execution efficiency.

4. Time-Zone Awareness: Normal US market hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. In Indian Standard Time (IST), this is typically 8:00 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. (next day) during standard time

Quick Recap

• Is the market open on Presidents Day 2026? No. US stock markets are closed Monday, Feb 16, 2026.
• Which markets are closed? NYSE, Nasdaq, and US bond markets.
• When does normal trading resume? Tuesday, Feb 17, 2026.

If you’re tracking US markets from India, Presidents Day is one of those predictable pauses in the calendar that requires planning. The markets are closed, banks and federal institutions observe the holiday, and normal trading resumes the next business day. Use this brief lull to review your portfolio, study charts, or research investment ideas for when the market reopens. 

Disclaimer:

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