Today marks Presidents Day 2026, a federal holiday that leads to the closure of many schools across the country. While grocery stores and various retailers remain open to cater to the public, the financial markets observe this holiday differently.
Presidents Day, officially recognized as Washington’s Birthday, is not universally observed as a national holiday since Congress has not formally mandated it. This has resulted in a patchwork of observances across states. For instance, some states like New Jersey recognize it as Presidents Day, while Pennsylvania designates it as President’s Day, and Delaware does not commemorate it at all on Feb. 16. In contrast, New York State continues to celebrate Washington’s Birthday.
In the financial sphere, both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq are closed today in observance of this federal holiday. Regular trading will resume at 9:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday, Feb. 17. Prior to the holiday weekend, the markets closed at 4 p.m. ET on Friday, Feb. 13.
The stock market holidays for 2026 include a total of ten closures, with the observances following this year: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Each holiday typically results in early closures on the preceding and succeeding days.
Turning to the fixed-income markets, the U.S. bond market is also closed today. However, commodity futures markets, including the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) and the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), will operate on modified schedules. Traders should verify specific commodities for any early closures, as physical trading floors and over-the-counter operations are not in session.
Investors looking to engage with the market around Presidents Day face limitations due to these closures, making trading difficult. Historically, both the days leading up to and following the holiday are often characterized by weaker market activity. Interestingly, the period between Christmas and New Year’s Day has historically shown more promise for investors, typically yielding significant gains.
Overall, the observance of Presidents Day introduces a range of closures and adjustments in the financial markets, highlighting the nuanced differences in how holidays are recognized across the country.
