Are the Banks Open on Martin Luther King Day?

Are the banks open on Martin Luther King Day in 2026? That's a question plenty of folks are asking just ahead of the federal holiday. The answer is no, banks are not open on Monday, January 19, for MLK Day, as the holiday is also known.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day became a federal holiday in 1983, when it was signed into law by then-President Ronald Reagan, and was officially observed three years later. It wasn't until 2000 that all 50 states recognized MLK Day.

The three-day weekend marks the second bank holiday in 2026, with the first occurring on Thursday, January 1, in observance of New Year's Day.

From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance

Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues

CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters

Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.

Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.

Sign up

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s actual birthday falls on January 15. While Martin Luther King Jr. Day is meant to celebrate the birth of Dr. King, the federal holiday is observed on the third Monday in January, regardless of the date on which that day falls.

As for stock market holidays – particularly for those asking "is the stock market open on Martin Luther King Day" – the stock market is typically closed on the federal holiday. Bond traders also get a three-day weekend, with bond markets shuttered on MLK Day, too.

For those wondering what time does the market open for regular trading hours, both the Nasdaq Stock Market and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) are open from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm Eastern time Monday through Friday.

If you're looking to take some time over the three-day weekend to get a head start on your tax preparation, have a look at the income tax brackets for 2025 and 2026. Additionally, don't forget to check out the standard deduction amounts and capital gains tax rates for 2025.

Below, we feature a full schedule of all U.S. bank holidays for 2026.

2026 bank holidays

* This is the recommended bank market holiday schedule from the Federal Reserve. This schedule is subject to change.

Related content

• Six Changes to Social Security in 2026
• How the Stock Market Performed in the First Year of Trump's Second Term
• QCD Limit, Rules, and How to Lower Your 2026 Taxable Income