Key points
- US markets are closed Friday, July 3 (July 4 falls on a Saturday), reopening Monday, July 6.
- Thursday, July 2 is a full session, though the bond market closes early at 2 p.m. ET.
- Weekly options that would expire July 3 instead expire Thursday, July 2.
Independence Day lands on a Saturday in 2026, which shuffles the trading week. Here is the clean version of what is open, what is closed, and the few things worth knowing before the long weekend, especially if you trade options or need settled cash.
The week at a glance
- Monday, June 29 to Wednesday, July 1: normal trading days.
- Thursday, July 2: a full, normal stock session, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. No early close for stocks (more on that below).
- Friday, July 3: the US stock market is closed. Because July 4 falls on a Saturday, the Independence Day holiday is observed on Friday.
- Saturday, July 4: the actual holiday, with markets already closed for the weekend.
- Monday, July 6: markets reopen on a normal schedule.
About that "Thursday half day"
You may see a few calendars list a 1:00 p.m. early close for stocks on Thursday, July 2. Per the NYSE's own 2026 schedule, that is not the case: July 2 is a full session for stocks. The only early closes on the NYSE calendar for all of 2026 are the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. The market that does close early on July 2 is the bond market, with a recommended 2:00 p.m. ET close, and it is fully closed Friday, July 3.
Options: your last day that week is Thursday, July 2
This is the big one for options traders. Weekly options that would normally expire on Friday, July 3 instead expire on Thursday, July 2, because the market is closed Friday. So if you are holding weekly calls or puts for that week, Thursday is your last day to trade or close them, and they settle off Thursday's action, not Friday's.
One thing that does not change: the big monthly July expiration is the third Friday, July 17, a normal trading day that the holiday does not touch.
Bonds, crypto, and futures
- Bonds: the bond market closes early at 2:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 2 (a SIFMA recommendation most desks follow) and is fully closed Friday, July 3.
- Crypto: never sleeps. Bitcoin and the rest trade 24/7 straight through Friday and the weekend, so crypto is the one place that stays fully open.
- Futures: CME index and commodity futures run a holiday schedule with shortened hours around the holiday, so check CME's calendar if you trade them.
A few practical notes
- Settlement runs long. Stocks settle one business day after the trade (T+1). A trade made Thursday, July 2 settles Monday, July 6, because Friday is a holiday. If you are selling to free up cash for a withdrawal, build in the extra day.
- Expect thin volume. A holiday-shortened week, especially Wednesday and Thursday, usually means lighter trading. Thin tape can exaggerate moves in both directions, so size positions accordingly.
- The seasonal note, with a caveat. Stocks have historically shown a mild positive tendency around the Independence Day holiday. That is a historical pattern, not a promise, and a low-volume session can just as easily swing the other way.
Bottom line
Mark the calendar: the stock market is open a full day Thursday, July 2, closed Friday, July 3, and back Monday, July 6. Options for that week settle Thursday, any Thursday trades settle the following Monday, and volume will likely be light. We flagged a few names we are watching into this short week in our bullish watch. Enjoy the long weekend.
This is general information, not investment advice. Market and holiday schedules can change, so confirm with your broker or the exchange before you trade.