You've probably been there. You wake up, coffee in hand, ready to check your watch list or execute that trade you’ve been mulling over all weekend, only to find the charts aren't moving. It’s a ghost town. Honestly, it’s one of the most frustrating feelings for a retail trader. If you are asking is the stock market open this monday, the short answer is no. This Monday, January 19, 2026, the U.S. stock market is completely closed.
Why? Because of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq observe this federal holiday every single year. It’s not one of those "maybe it's open for half a day" situations either. We are talking about a full-scale shutdown of the regular trading session. If you try to place a market order, it’s just going to sit there in your brokerage queue until Tuesday morning.
The Monday Shutdown Explained
It's kinda funny how many people forget that the market follows a very specific holiday calendar that doesn't always align with your typical corporate job. While some of your friends might still be heading into the office or working from home, the floor of the NYSE will be dark.
For 2026, Martin Luther King Jr. Day falls on January 19. According to the official schedules from Nasdaq and the NYSE, all U.S. equities and options markets are taking the day off.
But here is where it gets a little nuanced.
Just because the "big" exchanges are closed doesn't mean the entire financial world stops spinning. This is a common misconception. Most people think "closed" means "dead," but that’s not quite how global finance works.
What is actually closed?
- The NYSE: No physical or electronic trading for stocks like Coca-Cola or Disney.
- The Nasdaq: No trading for the tech giants like Apple, Nvidia, or Microsoft.
- OTC Markets: Most "Over-the-Counter" trading in the U.S. also takes a breather.
- The Bond Market: Generally, the bond market follows the SIFMA recommendations, and they are closed too.
What stays moving (sorta)?
If you are an active trader, you might notice that some things are still blinking on your screen.
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- Crypto: Bitcoin doesn't care about federal holidays. It’s 24/7.
- Global Markets: London, Tokyo, and Hong Kong don't close for MLK Day. They'll be trading as usual.
- Futures: This is the tricky one. CME Group and other futures exchanges often have "shortened" sessions. They might open on Sunday night, trade for a bit on Monday morning, and then shut down early. Basically, don't rely on them for liquidity.
Why the "Post-Holiday Slump" is Real
So, we know the answer to is the stock market open this monday, but what happens when it reopens on Tuesday?
Historically, the week of MLK Day is actually pretty weird for the S&P 500. According to data from Schaeffer's Investment Research, the stock market has actually struggled during this specific shortened week since the holiday was officially recognized by the exchanges in 1998.
Specifically, the S&P 500 has averaged a loss of about $0.49%$ during this week over the last couple of decades. Contrast that with a typical week where the index usually gains around $0.18%$. It’s not a massive crash, obviously, but it’s a noticeable trend. Traders call it a "low conviction" environment. Volume is often lower because people are trickling back from a long weekend, and the "Tuesday open" can be volatile as the market tries to price in everything that happened globally while the U.S. was sleeping.
Is the Stock Market Open This Monday for International Traders?
If you are sitting in London or Sydney right now, you might be wondering why you should care. Well, since the U.S. represents such a massive chunk of global liquidity, Monday is going to feel "thin" everywhere.
When the U.S. markets are closed, European and Asian markets often trade in a very tight range. There’s no "direction" coming from Wall Street. It’s like a lead singer missing a concert; the band can still play, but it just sounds a bit off.
Actionable Steps for Your Portfolio
Since you can't trade this Monday, what should you actually do? Don't just stare at a static screen.
Review Your Stops: Gap-downs (or gap-ups) are very common after a long weekend. Because the market has been closed for three days, any major news that broke over the weekend will be "priced in" all at once at 9:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday. Check your stop-loss orders. Are they at levels where a sudden jump might trigger them at a price you hate?
Analyze the Volume: When you get back into the swing of things on Tuesday, pay attention to the volume. Low volume on a recovery day can be a "bull trap." You want to see high conviction when the big players return to their desks.
Research, Don't React: Use the extra 24 hours to look at the 10-K or 10-Q filings of companies you’ve been eyeing. Most retail investors never actually read the fine print. This is your chance to get an edge while everyone else is watching football or sleeping in.
The market will be back on Tuesday, January 20, at its regular time. 9:30 a.m. sharp. Until then, the tickers are staying red or green—exactly where they left off on Friday afternoon.
Check your calendar for the next few big closures as well. Presidents' Day is coming up fast on Monday, February 16, 2026. After that, we won't see another full closure until Good Friday on April 3.
Plan your liquidity needs accordingly. If you need cash out of your brokerage account, remember that bank holidays and market holidays can delay those transfers by an extra 24 to 48 hours. Don't get caught in a pinch because you forgot Monday was a holiday.