When will the US stock market be closed in 2026? Complete guide to major exchange opening and closing times

If you are an individual investor investing in the U.S. stock market, there is one key piece of information you must check first: whether the market is open today and the exact trading hours. Especially in 2026, due to the significant time difference with Korea and the application of daylight saving time, not knowing the precise trading hours can disrupt your investment plans. This guide summarizes the U.S. stock market’s holiday schedule for today, as well as opening and closing times and trading regulations, all in one view.

Understanding the Major U.S. Stock Exchanges

Before starting to trade U.S. stocks, it helps to know what the three main U.S. stock exchanges are, since each has different characteristics regarding listed companies.

New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) was established on May 17, 1792, and is the world’s largest stock exchange. Currently, about 2,400 companies are listed, with a total market capitalization of around $23 trillion. Major blue-chip companies like Berkshire Hathaway, Johnson & Johnson, Visa, and Walmart are traded here.

NASDAQ Stock Market was founded on February 8, 1971. It started as an over-the-counter market and has grown into the second-largest exchange in the world. It mainly lists technology companies such as Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia.

American Stock Exchange (AMEX) primarily lists mid-sized and small companies and is considered one of the three major U.S. exchanges along with NYSE and NASDAQ.

Today’s U.S. Market Holidays and Trading Rules

Interestingly, the trading hours for NYSE, NASDAQ, and AMEX are all the same. Therefore, you don’t need to check each exchange separately. However, note that trading occurs overnight Korea time, and during daylight saving time (second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November), trading hours are moved one hour earlier.

Additionally, unlike Korea, U.S. exchanges do not have price limit bands. This means rapid declines can happen without restrictions, so consider this carefully when planning your trading strategy. All trades are conducted in U.S. dollars (USD), with settlement completed two business days after the trade date.

Comparing Trading Hours of NYSE, NASDAQ, and AMEX

Since regular trading starts at 11:30 PM Korea time, working investors will need to trade at night. For early morning trading, you can use pre-market hours (Korea evening 6 PM onward), and for morning trading, after-hours (Korea next morning 6 AM onward).

Major Holidays and Early Close Schedule for 2026

The U.S. stock market also observes holidays similar to Korea. In 2026, the market will be closed on these dates:

• 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

On these days, the markets are completely closed, and trading is not possible.

Early Close Days to Watch

In addition to the holidays, on these dates, the market closes early at 1:00 PM Eastern Time (which is 2 AM next day Korea time):

• July 2 (Thu): Day before Independence Day
• November 27 (Fri): Day after Thanksgiving
• December 24 (Thu): Christmas Eve

If you plan to trade on these days, remember that the market operates only half of the usual hours.

Impact of Daylight Saving Time

Daylight saving time in the U.S. begins on the second Sunday in March at 2:00 AM and ends on the first Sunday in November at 2:00 AM. During this period, Eastern Time shifts to UTC-4, reducing the time difference with Korea to 13 hours.

During DST:

• Korea regular trading hours: 10:30 PM – 5:00 AM
• Pre-market: 5:00 PM – 10:30 PM
• After-hours: 5:00 AM – 9:00 AM next day

When DST starts or ends, always check the trading schedule again, as hours shift by one hour.

Comparing Opening and Closing Times of Major Global Stock Markets

In addition to the U.S., here are the trading hours of other major global exchanges:

Note that London operates on daylight saving time, and Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai have intra-day breaks.

Practical Tips for Investors

Accurate timing is essential for successful U.S. stock trading. Always check whether the market is open today and plan your trades considering the time difference and daylight saving adjustments. Remember, U.S. exchanges have no price limits, so stay alert to news and economic indicators to respond quickly.

Since holiday schedules and trading hours can change, always verify the latest information on the official exchange websites. Properly managing your trading schedule is the first step toward successful investing.