Is the market open today? Stock markets resume normal trading after Christmas closure and here’s what you need to know

Is the market open today? After the mandatory closure on December 25 for Christmas, major U.S. stock exchanges resume normal trading hours on Friday, December 26, 2025. Both the NYSE and Nasdaq will ring their opening bells at the standard time, welcoming investors back to the market.

Market Status on December 26: Full Normal Trading Resumes

The U.S. stock market officially reopens today with complete regular trading hours. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq both return to their standard schedule after December 25 closure for the Christmas holiday. Investors can expect the opening bell at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time with trading continuing until the standard market close at 4:00 p.m. ET.

Pre-opening sessions begin earlier for those seeking to execute trades before the official market open. Pre-market trading runs from 4:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. ET, allowing early traders to position themselves before the main session begins.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: What Happened to Markets

Wednesday, December 24, markets operated on a shortened schedule, closing at 1:00 p.m. ET instead of the regular 4:00 p.m. closing time. This early closure gave investors a brief window to complete trades before the holiday disruption.

Thursday, December 25, both the NYSE and Nasdaq remained completely closed in observance of Christmas Day, a federally recognized holiday. The bond market also observed the full-day closure, impacting all trading across major U.S. financial markets.

Trading Hours and Session Details

Trading Session	Time (Eastern)	Status December 26
Pre-Market Trading	4:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.	Active
Regular Trading Session	9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.	Full Hours
After-Hours Trading	4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.	Available
Bond Market Status	Standard Hours	Operational

Upcoming Holiday Schedule and Year-End Planning

Investors should prepare for the year-end market schedules. Wednesday, December 31, 2025 (New Year’s Eve) will feature early market closure at 1:00 p.m. ET, similar to the Christmas Eve schedule reduction. This shortened trading day provides a final trading opportunity before the holiday transition.

The bond market will also close early on December 31, closing at 2:00 p.m. ET according to Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association guidelines. Following the year-end celebrations, markets will remain completely closed on January 1, 2026 for New Year’s Day, resuming normal operations on Friday, January 2, 2026.

What Should Investors Know Before Trading Today?

With markets reopening after a full day closure, investors might expect changes in market sentiment and price movements. The holiday trading period often sees lower trading volumes, which can result in wider bid-ask spreads and potentially increased volatility on resumption days.

Traders should monitor any news or economic data released during the closure period. While financial markets closed on December 25, global developments and international market movements overseas may influence opening sentiment. Asian and European market activity overnight could set the tone for Friday’s U.S. market session.

Pre-Market Preparation Tips

Those planning to trade in pre-market hours should verify that their brokerage accounts have access to extended-hours trading. Not all trading platforms offer the 4:00 a.m. opening for pre-market sessions, so checking platform capabilities ahead of time ensures smooth execution of any planned trades.

Standard Hours Advantages

The full 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET window on December 26 provides normal trading conditions with typical liquidity and volume levels. This makes it an ideal day for executing standard trading strategies after the holiday disruption.

“Trading resumes on Friday, December 26, with a full regular trading day, allowing investors to resume normal market participation after the Christmas closure.”

— Economic Times, Market Coverage

Sources

• Economic Times – NYSE and Nasdaq trading hours December 26, 2025 coverage
• NYSE Official – Holiday and trading hours calendar 2025
• Nasdaq Trader – U.S. Equity and Options Markets Holiday Schedule