2026 U.S. Stock Market Holidays and Trading Hours Complete Guide

HackerWhoCares · 2026-02-25T03:01:01+00:00

Investors need to be aware of the fixed holidays and trading hours of the U.S. stock market, especially given time zone differences. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the 2026 U.S. stock market holiday schedule, trading hours, and the characteristics of major exchanges.

HackerWhoCares

2026-02-25 03:01:01

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Since the U.S. stock market operates on fixed holiday schedules, investors must check the schedule in advance. Especially because of the significant time difference with Korea and the application of daylight saving time, it is essential to be aware of the market holidays and exact trading hours to avoid disruptions in trading plans. This guide systematically summarizes the 2026 U.S. stock market holiday schedule, trading time zones, and features of major stock exchanges.

Comparison of Major U.S. Stock Exchanges and Trading Hours

U.S. stock trading revolves around three major exchanges. While they follow the same trading hours, the companies listed differ in size and industry characteristics.

New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is a historic exchange founded in 1792, currently the largest in the world by market capitalization. About 2,400 companies are listed, with a total market cap of $23 trillion. It mainly lists traditional large-cap companies such as Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Visa (V), and Walmart (WMT).

NASDAQ Stock Market was established in 1971, initially as an over-the-counter market, but grew rapidly to become the second-largest exchange globally by market cap. It primarily lists IT companies, including tech giants like Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), and NVIDIA (NVDA).

American Stock Exchange (AMEX) focuses on mid- and small-cap companies, with listings mainly from companies of medium size between NYSE and NASDAQ.

Regular Trading Hours and Regulations

All three exchanges follow the same trading hours, with spot trades settled in U.S. dollars (USD) two business days later.

Category	Trading Hours	Korea Time
Regular Trading	Eastern Time 09:30–16:00	23:30–06:00 (22:30–05:00)*
Pre-market	Eastern Time 04:00–09:30	18:00–23:30 (17:00–22:30)*
After-hours	Eastern Time 16:00–20:00	Next day 06:00–10:00 (05:00–09:00)*

*Daylight Saving Time applies (second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November).

An important point is that the U.S. stock market does not have price limit rules like Korea. Therefore, sudden sharp declines during nighttime Korea hours can be difficult to respond to quickly, so plan your trades accordingly.

2026 U.S. Stock Market Holiday Schedule

The U.S. stock market is closed 11 days a year. Unlike Korea, holidays are based on U.S. national and commemorative days.

Holiday Date (U.S.)	Reason
January 1 (Thu)	New Year’s Day
January 19 (Mon)	Martin Luther King Jr. Day
February 16 (Mon)	Presidents’ Day
April 3 (Fri)	Good Friday
May 25 (Mon)	Memorial Day
June 19 (Fri)	Juneteenth
July 3 (Fri)	Independence Day (observed)
September 7 (Mon)	Labor Day
November 26 (Thu)	Thanksgiving Day
December 25 (Fri)	Christmas Day

Early Market Close Days

In addition to holidays, the market closes early at 1:00 PM Eastern Time on certain days.

Early Close Date (U.S.)	Reason and Korea Time
July 2 (Thu)	Day before Independence Day – closes at 2:00 AM next day Korea time
November 27 (Fri)	Day after Thanksgiving – closes at 2:00 AM next day Korea time
December 24 (Thu)	Christmas Eve – closes at 2:00 AM next day Korea time

Comparison of International Stock Market Trading Hours

For investors trading in markets outside the U.S., here are the main exchanges’ hours sorted by local time and Korea time.

Exchange	Local Time	Korea Time
Korea Exchange	09:00–15:30	09:00–15:30
Tokyo Stock Exchange	09:00–15:00 (break 11:30–12:30)	10:30–16:30 (break 13:00–14:00)
London Stock Exchange	08:00–16:30	17:00–01:30 (DST applies)*
Hong Kong Stock Exchange	09:30–16:00 (break 12:00–13:00)	10:30–17:00 (break 13:00–14:00)
Shanghai Stock Exchange	09:30–15:00 (break 11:30–13:00)	10:30–16:00 (break 12:30–14:00)

*DST applies during summer time.

Precautions When Trading on the U.S. Stock Market

When trading around U.S. market holidays, consider the following:

During pre-market (04:00–09:30 ET) and after-hours (16:00–20:00 ET), trading volume tends to be lower, which can widen bid-ask spreads. Since the U.S. market has no price limit rules, unexpected sharp declines can occur, so setting stop-loss orders is crucial.

Market psychology can be particularly volatile before and after holidays. It is recommended to check the holiday schedule in advance and develop position management strategies. Since exchange schedules can change, always verify the latest official information.

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