Traders planning to buy or sell stocks on Monday, February 16, 2026, will find U.S. markets shuttered for Presidents Day, a federal holiday observing President George Washington’s birthday. The New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq, and bond markets are all closed for the day, with regular trading set to resume on Tuesday, February 17, at 9:30 a.m. ET. Despite the closure, U.S. stock futures showed modest gains in Sunday evening trading, offering a glimmer of optimism after a turbulent week.
The annual question of whether the stock market is open on Presidents Day has a consistent answer: no. All major U.S. trading venues, including the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq, and those handling the S&P 500 and bond markets, will remain shut on February 16, 2026. This closure aligns with the federal holiday, which honors George Washington but does not fall on his actual birthdate of February 22.
In pre-market activity on Sunday evening, Dow futures climbed around 0.3%, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures advanced between 0.2% and 0.3%. These gains come in the wake of a rough week for major indexes, which tumbled amid broader market pressures, leaving investors eager for signals from the Federal Reserve's rate cues expected in February 2026.
The holiday observance extends beyond Wall Street. An IRS spokesperson confirmed to TODAY.com that “Both IRS offices and phone lines will be closed on Monday, Feb. 16,” impacting taxpayers who might need assistance on the federal holiday.
As markets prepare to reopen, the modest uptick in futures suggests cautious optimism among traders. With the prior week's declines fresh in mind, attention is turning to potential Federal Reserve insights that could shape the trajectory of stocks in the coming weeks.
