Quick answer: The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are scheduled to have 251 trading days in 2026. The year contains 261 weekdays, but ten weekday market holidays reduce the number of full or shortened trading sessions to 251.
The early-closing sessions on 27 November and 24 December still count as trading days because the market opens for part of the day.
Last Updated: 4 August 2026
The exact number of trading days changes from year to year because weekends and exchange holidays fall on different dates. Although 252 is commonly used as an average in financial calculations, it should not automatically be treated as the correct total for every calendar year.
This article covers the scheduled equity-trading calendar followed by the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq. Exchanges in the UK, India, Europe and other markets use different holiday schedules, so their annual totals may not be the same.
What Counts as a Stock Market Trading Day?
A trading day is a weekday on which a stock exchange opens for its scheduled trading session. For the main US equity markets, the regular session normally runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time.
Premarket and after-hours sessions extend the time during which some securities can be traded, but they do not create additional trading days. The calendar day still counts as one trading day whether an investor participates during regular or extended hours.
A shortened session also counts as a trading day. For example, when the market opens at 9:30 a.m. and closes at 1 p.m., trading has still taken place on that date.
The distinction between regular, premarket and extended sessions is explained in the overview of regular US stock-market hours.
How Many Trading Days Are There in 2026?
There are 251 scheduled US stock-market trading days in 2026.
The calculation is:
- 365 calendar days
- minus 104 Saturdays and Sundays
- leaving 261 weekdays
- minus 10 full-day stock-market closures
- leaving 251 scheduled trading days
The two early-closing sessions are not deducted because the NYSE and Nasdaq will still open on those dates.
The official NYSE trading calendar confirms the exchange holidays observed in 2026, including New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Juneteenth, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
The figure of 251 should be described as the scheduled total. An exceptional market-wide closure could change the final number of sessions that actually take place, although such closures are uncommon.
How Many Trading Days Are in Each Month of 2026?
The number of trading days varies by month because of the position of weekends and exchange holidays.
| Month | Scheduled trading days |
| January | 20 |
| February | 19 |
| March | 22 |
| April | 21 |
| May | 20 |
| June | 21 |
| July | 22 |
| August | 21 |
| September | 21 |
| October | 22 |
| November | 20 |
| December | 22 |
| Total | 251 |
March, July, October and December contain the highest numbers of scheduled trading days in 2026, with 22 sessions each. February has the lowest total, with 19 sessions, because it is a shorter month and includes the Presidents Day closure.
The monthly figures count both shortened sessions as trading days. Therefore, November includes 27 November and December includes 24 December, despite the earlier closing times.
When Is the US Stock Market Closed in 2026?
The NYSE and Nasdaq are scheduled to close for ten full trading days in 2026.
| Holiday | Market closure date |
| New Year’s Day | Thursday, 1 January |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday, 19 January |
| Presidents Day | Monday, 16 February |
| Good Friday | Friday, 3 April |
| Memorial Day | Monday, 25 May |
| Juneteenth | Friday, 19 June |
| Independence Day observed | Friday, 3 July |
| Labor Day | Monday, 7 September |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, 26 November |
| Christmas Day | Friday, 25 December |
The Nasdaq 2026 holiday schedule lists these ten dates as complete market closures. It separately classifies 27 November and 24 December as early-closing sessions rather than holidays on which no trading occurs.
Juneteenth is a complete exchange holiday in 2026, so the date should be subtracted when calculating the annual trading-day total. The explanation of the Juneteenth market schedule provides additional context on how the holiday affects US equity trading.
Memorial Day is also a complete closure rather than a shortened session. Its position on the final Monday in May is covered in the article about the Memorial Day stock-market closure.
Do Early-Closing Sessions Count as Trading Days?
Yes. A scheduled early-closing session counts as a trading day because investors can buy and sell eligible securities before the market closes.
There are two scheduled early closes for the main US equity markets in 2026:
| Date | Occasion | Scheduled close |
| Friday, 27 November | Day after Thanksgiving | 1 p.m. ET |
| Thursday, 24 December | Christmas Eve | 1 p.m. ET |
The Cboe equities holiday calendar also classifies these dates as early-close sessions. Its regular US equity session normally runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time.
Early-close dates should not be placed in the same list as complete market holidays without clearly labelling their different status. Doing so can make an annual calculation appear to contain 12 closures when only ten dates are fully closed.
Trading may also be quieter or less liquid around major holidays, but this is not guaranteed. Investors should avoid treating the calendar alone as a prediction of market direction or profitability.
Why Do People Say There Are 252 Trading Days in a Year?
The figure of 252 is commonly used as a long-term approximation rather than a fixed annual total.
A typical year contains approximately 260 or 261 weekdays. After subtracting around nine to eleven weekday exchange holidays, the annual number of US trading sessions usually falls close to 252.
However, the precise total can be different:
- 2024 had 252 scheduled trading days;
- 2025 had 250 scheduled trading days after the additional national day-of-mourning closure;
- 2026 is scheduled to have 251 trading days.
Therefore, 252 may be suitable as a conventional assumption in some historical or statistical calculations, but a calendar-specific question should use the exact total for the year being discussed.
Why Does the Number of Trading Days Change?
The annual total changes primarily because holidays do not fall on the same weekdays every year.
Weekends
US stock exchanges do not hold their regular equity sessions on Saturdays or Sundays. A normal year can contain either 260 or 261 weekdays, depending on its calendar structure.
Exchange holidays
Holidays such as Good Friday, Memorial Day and Thanksgiving reduce the total when they fall on weekdays. When Independence Day or Christmas falls at a weekend, the exchange may observe the holiday on the nearest weekday.
Extraordinary market closures
Exchanges can close because of national events, severe operational disruption or other exceptional circumstances. These events are not part of the normal calendar and may reduce the final number of sessions below the previously scheduled total.
Trading halts
A temporary trading halt is not necessarily the same as a market closure. Trading can be paused in one security or across the wider market and then resume later that day. The date can still count as a trading day if the exchange conducted a session.
Why Is the Trading-Day Count Useful?
The annual and monthly counts can support several practical calculations, but they do not indicate whether prices will rise or fall.
Investors and analysts may use the number of trading days to:
- convert annual figures into daily averages;
- compare trading activity between months;
- plan around market holidays and shortened sessions;
- organise backtesting periods;
- calculate average daily volume;
- estimate the number of sessions remaining before a deadline;
- distinguish market days from calendar or business days.
Active traders may also use the calendar when planning research, position reviews and risk controls around their chosen day-trading strategies. The existence of more trading sessions does not, by itself, create more profitable opportunities or reduce investment risk.
Do All Stock Exchanges Have the Same Number of Trading Days?
No. Every exchange follows its own holiday calendar and local market rules.
The London Stock Exchange observes UK bank holidays, while the National Stock Exchange of India follows an Indian market-holiday schedule. Other exchanges may close for regional, religious or national holidays that are not observed in the United States.
Good Friday also illustrates the difference between markets and ordinary federal business calendars. The NYSE and Nasdaq close on Good Friday, even though it is not a US federal holiday.
Conversely, US stock markets normally reopen on Easter Monday while several European exchanges may remain closed. The article on Easter Monday market status explains how that distinction affects US investors.
For this reason, an article should not state a global number of trading days without first identifying the exchange or country being counted.
How Was the 2026 Total Calculated?
The 251-day figure was calculated by counting every Monday-to-Friday date in 2026 and subtracting the ten complete closures published in the official NYSE and Nasdaq calendars.
The calculation includes the shortened sessions on 27 November and 24 December because trading is scheduled to occur on both dates. Premarket and after-hours periods are not counted separately.
The total should be reviewed if an exchange announces an exceptional closure or changes its published schedule. This methodology makes the answer reproducible and allows readers to distinguish an exact annual count from the conventional 252-day average.
Conclusion
The NYSE and Nasdaq are scheduled to have 251 trading days in 2026. The year contains 261 weekdays and ten complete market closures. The early-close sessions on 27 November and 24 December still count because trading takes place before the 1 p.m. Eastern Time close.
Although 252 is widely used as an approximate annual average, the exact number depends on the year and the exchange being discussed. Using the official exchange calendar and separating complete closures from shortened sessions produces the most reliable calculation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many trading days are there in 2026?
The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are scheduled to have 251 trading days in 2026. The year contains 261 weekdays, but ten full-day stock-market closures reduce the total. Two shortened sessions are still included because trading takes place on those dates.
Are there always 252 trading days in a year?
No. The figure of 252 is a commonly used annual average, not a fixed total. The exact number changes according to how weekends and exchange holidays fall within a particular year. Exceptional market closures can also affect the final count.
Do stock-market half-days count as trading days?
Yes. A shortened session counts as a trading day because the exchange opens and securities can be traded. In 2026, the sessions on 27 November and 24 December are scheduled to close at 1 p.m. Eastern Time but still form part of the 251-day total.
Are weekends included in trading-day calculations?
No. Saturdays and Sundays are excluded because the NYSE and Nasdaq do not normally hold regular equity-trading sessions at weekends. Premarket or after-hours trading during the working week does not create additional trading days.
How many stock-market holidays are there in 2026?
The NYSE and Nasdaq are scheduled to close for ten full trading days in 2026. These include New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day observed, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
What are the regular US stock-market trading hours?
The regular NYSE and Nasdaq trading session normally runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday to Friday. Premarket and after-hours sessions may also be available, but their hours and access can vary between brokers and securities.
Do all countries have the same number of trading days?
No. Each stock exchange follows its own national holidays, operating rules and trading calendar. The London Stock Exchange, National Stock Exchange of India and other international markets may therefore have different annual totals from the NYSE and Nasdaq.