Is the Stock Market Open on Christmas Eve 2026? ASX Hours
December 24
Is the Stock Market Open on Christmas Eve 2026? ASX Hours
Australian Securities Exchange close early at 2:10 pm local on Thursday, for Christmas Eve (Early Close).
- Next holiday
- Christmas Day, December 25, 2026
- Regular hours
- 10:00 am to 4:00 pm AEST/AEDT
Full schedule and background: ASX Holidays.
Updated
The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) is open on Thursday, December 24, 2026, but trading closes early at 2:10 pm local time instead of the usual 4:00 pm close, ahead of the Christmas break. Orders placed after the early cut-off will queue for the next session, and the following trading day is affected by the Christmas Day closure. This page is part of the ASX Holidays calendar, which tracks every closure and early close for the year.
Regular ASX trading hours run from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm AEST/AEDT, with a closing auction that usually runs to around 4:12 pm. On December 24, that entire schedule is compressed: normal trading ceases at 2:10 pm, followed by the closing single price auction shortly after, according to ASX’s official trading calendar.
Which markets are closed on Christmas Eve 2026?
| Market | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ASX equities (cash market) | Early close | Trading ceases at 2:10 pm local, closing auction shortly after |
| ASX 24 (futures) | Early close | Day session shortened to match the cash market early close |
| ASX options | Early close | Follows the equities market schedule |
| ASX Market Announcements Office | Early close | Closes at 4:30 pm local instead of the usual later time |
| London Stock Exchange (LSE) | Open (regular hours) | UK markets typically close early on December 24 only if it falls on a weekday close to the holiday period; check the LSE calendar for confirmation |
| Euronext | Open (regular hours) | No scheduled Christmas Eve closure unless confirmed by Euronext’s calendar |
| Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) | Open (regular hours) | Japan does not observe Christmas as a market holiday |
Is the market open the day before and after?
The trading day before Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 23, 2026, follows normal ASX hours of 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. December 24 itself is the early close day, with trading ceasing at 2:10 pm local time. The ASX is then fully closed on Friday, December 25, 2026 for Christmas Day, and closed again on Monday, December 28, 2026 for the Boxing Day substitute holiday, since December 26 falls on a Saturday. The next full trading session after Christmas Eve is Tuesday, December 29, 2026.
Why do markets close for Christmas Eve?
Christmas Eve is not a full public holiday in Australia, but the ASX shortens trading hours to allow staff, brokers and back-office teams to finish early ahead of the Christmas period. Shortened sessions on the days flanking major holidays are common across global exchanges, reducing liquidity and trading volumes as many market participants have already left for the break.
What It Means for Your Money
If you place an order on the ASX after 2:10 pm on December 24, it will not execute until the next open session, which is affected by the Christmas Day closure and falls on December 29, 2026. Settlement of trades follows the standard T+2 cycle in Australia, so a trade executed on December 24 typically settles on December 28, though the intervening closures can shift this. Dividend payments and options expiries scheduled for this window may be processed slightly differently by your broker, so check with them directly if you hold ASX-listed securities. Bank transfers and payroll processing in Australia generally follow business banking days, so a holiday closure can delay non-urgent payments by a day. Cryptocurrency markets are unaffected, as they trade 24 hours a day, seven days a week, regardless of stock exchange holidays.
Remaining ASX holidays in 2026
- Christmas Day, closed, Friday, December 25, 2026
- Boxing Day (Substitute), closed, Monday, December 28, 2026
- New Year’s Eve, early close at 2:10 pm local, Thursday, December 31, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the stock market open on Christmas Eve 2026?
Yes, the ASX is open on December 24, 2026, but trading closes early at 2:10 pm local time instead of the usual 4:00 pm.
Is the bond market open on Christmas Eve 2026?
ASX 24 bond futures follow the same shortened day-session schedule as the equities market on Christmas Eve.
What time does the ASX close on Christmas Eve 2026?
The ASX ceases normal trading at 2:10 pm local time on December 24, 2026, followed shortly by the closing auction.
When is the next ASX market holiday after Christmas Eve 2026?
The next holiday is Christmas Day on Friday, December 25, 2026, when the ASX is fully closed.
Are Australian banks open on Christmas Eve 2026?
Most Australian banks remain open for regular hours on Christmas Eve, though some branches may close earlier ahead of the holiday period.