U.S. financial markets suspend trading every year to celebrate a federal holiday, and presidents day It’s one of them. The holiday, officially known as George Washington’s Birthday, is now widely celebrated as a tribute to the President of the United States and has been recognized by the federal government since 1879.
Here’s what investors should know about market operations on Monday, February 16, 2026, local time.
Markets closed for federal holiday
Major U.S. exchanges, including the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq, were closed for Presidents Day. Bond markets were also closed for the holiday.
- New York Stock Exchange: closure
- Nasdaq: Closed
- S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average: Not traded because they track publicly traded securities
- Bond Market: Closed
Regular trading will resume on Tuesday 17 February 2026. The market is closed on Presidents’ Day as a matter of routine, and trading activity usually resumes at normal times the next day.
Also read: Presidents Day 2026: What’s open and what’s closed? All in banks, post offices, bond markets
Why markets are closed on Presidents Day
Presidents’ Day is one of several federal holidays when U.S. markets are suspended. The holiday is still officially named Washington’s Birthday because Congress never officially changed the name.
Market closures on federal holidays ensure consistency throughout the trading system and allow financial institutions to comply with state regulations.
Also read: Is USPS closed on Presidents Day? Check holiday hours for DHL, FedEx, UPS, and more
The following is the 2026 U.S. stock market holiday schedule:
According to USA Today, markets are scheduled to be closed on the following dates following the President’s day:
- Good Friday: April 3
- Memorial Day: May 25
- Juneteenth: June 19
- Independence Day (celebration): July 3
- Labor Day: September 7
- Thanksgiving: November 26 (early closing on November 25)
- Christmas: December 25 (early deadline December 24)
When the market closes, stock trades cannot be executed until the next trading day trading Meeting. Investors can still place orders through brokerage firms, but those orders will be processed once the market reopens.
