Is the stock market open today? NYSE and Nasdaq shut down at 1 p.m. on Christmas Eve and you need to know why

Is the stock market open today on December 24? Both the NYSE and Nasdaq are open this morning but will close early at 1 p.m. ET on Christmas Eve. If you’re on the West Coast, that translates to 10 a.m. PT, giving traders limited hours to execute year-end trades.

What Time Does the Stock Market Open Today?

The stock market opens at its usual time of 9:30 a.m. ET (6:30 a.m. PT) on Christmas Eve morning. Traders can execute trades normally until the 1 p.m. ET shutdown.

This gives market participants only 3.5 hours of regular trading instead of the standard 6.5-hour session. Bond markets operate slightly longer, closing at 2 p.m. ET.

Early Close Schedule for Christmas Eve 2025

The NYSE announced that markets will close early at 1:00 p.m. (1:15 p.m. for eligible options) on Wednesday, December 24, 2025. This has been the standard holiday schedule for holiday tradition dating back decades.

Market closures follow the official NYSE and Nasdaq holiday calendars. Pre-market trading begins at 4 a.m. ET, and after-hours trading ends at 8 p.m. ET on regular days, but the early close shortens regular hours significantly today.

Market Component	Normal Hours	Christmas Eve Hours
Pre-Market Trading	4:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. ET	4:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. ET
Regular Trading	9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET	9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET
Options Market	9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET	9:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. ET
After-Hours Trading	4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET	Closed

Christmas Day and Market Reopening

The stock market will be completely closed on Thursday, December 25, 2025 in observance of Christmas Day. This is a full market shutdown with no pre-market, regular, or after-hours trading.

Markets will reopen on Friday, December 26, 2025 for regular trading hours from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. The next major market closure occurs on January 1, 2026, for New Year’s Day.

Planning Your Trading Strategy for December 24

Investors should plan accordingly for the shortened trading day today. Volatility may increase near the 1 p.m. ET close as traders rush to complete positions before the holiday cutoff.

If you have trades you plan to make before Christmas, execute them well before the midday deadline. Orders placed after 1 p.m. ET will not execute until regular trading resumes on Friday. Pre-market trading remains available this morning for early movers.

Consider that many traders and institutional investors may be taking holiday time, potentially leading to lighter trading volume and wider spreads. Plan significant transactions accordingly and confirm your broker’s holiday schedule.

Will Market Closures Continue Into Next Week?

After Christmas, December 26 marks the return to normal market operations with full 6.5-hour trading sessions. The holiday schedule lightens significantly after Christmas as most traders and financial professionals return to work.

The only other scheduled market closure before 2026 ends is Thursday, January 1, 2026, for New Year’s Day. Winter holidays traditionally feature reduced trading activity and holiday hours, but the heaviest disruptions occur around Christmas and New Year’s.

“As is customary, U.S. stock and bond markets will close early on Dec. 24 at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Eastern time, respectively.”

— Barron’s, Market Coverage

Sources

• NYSE – Official holiday and trading hours calendar
• Nasdaq – Stock market holiday schedule for 2025
• USA Today – Market closure reporting for Christmas 2025