Are Stocks Open on Presidents Day? Monday February 16

TLDR

• U.S. stock markets including NYSE and Nasdaq are closed Monday, February 16, 2026, for Presidents Day
• Bond markets and over-the-counter markets will also be closed for the federal holiday
• International exchanges in London, Paris, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Tokyo remain open
• FedEx offers modified service while UPS operates normally; USPS suspends operations
• The holiday officially celebrates George Washington’s birthday, though it never falls on his actual birth date of February 22

The U.S. stock markets are taking a break on Monday, February 16, 2026. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will be closed to observe Presidents Day, giving traders a pause after a turbulent February.

This comes as the S&P 500 has experienced sharp swings throughout the month. Traders moved money out of software stocks and into energy and consumer staples over AI concerns.

Bond markets will also be closed on Monday. Over-the-counter markets, where trades happen outside centralized exchanges, will shut down as well.

International Markets Stay Open

Foreign stock exchanges will continue trading on Monday. The London Stock Exchange will operate on its normal schedule.

Trading will proceed as usual at Euronext Paris. Asian markets including the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, Shanghai Stock Exchange, and Tokyo Stock Exchange will also remain open.

This creates a split in global trading activity. U.S. investors get a day off while international markets keep moving.

Banking and Mail Services

Federal Reserve banks and branches will be closed for the holiday. Most physical bank branches follow the Federal Reserve schedule and will shut their doors.

ATMs and digital banking services will remain available. Customers should verify their local branch hours directly.

Shipping Services on Presidents Day

The U.S. Postal Service will suspend all operations on Monday. Mail delivery and post office services will not be available.

FedEx will offer modified service with early on-call pickups available in some areas. The company’s freight, office, critical shipments, and logistics services will run at full capacity.

UPS will operate normally with regular pickup times. Delivery services will continue without changes.

The Holiday History

The federal holiday is officially called Washington’s Birthday, not Presidents Day. Congress created the observance in 1885 to honor George Washington.

Washington was born on February 22, 1732. The holiday never falls on his actual birthday due to the 1968 Uniform Monday Holiday Act.

That law requires the federal government to celebrate the holiday on the third Monday in February. This scheduling makes it impossible for the date to match Washington’s birth date.

Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809. Several states recognize the third Monday in February as honoring both presidents.

Markets will resume normal trading on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.

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