Is the Stock Market Open on Christmas Eve 2026? CME Futures Hours
December 24
Is the Stock Market Open on Christmas Eve 2026? CME Futures Hours
CME Group Futures close early at 12:15 pm local on Thursday, for Christmas Eve (Early Close).
- Next holiday
- Christmas Day, December 25, 2026
- Regular hours
- 5:00 pm to 4:00 pm CT
Full schedule and background: CME Futures Holidays.
Updated
CME Group futures markets close early on Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24, 2026, with equity index and interest rate futures halting trading at approximately 12:15 pm local time (Central Time), well ahead of the normal overnight-to-afternoon Globex session. This is an early close, not a full closure: trading resumes that evening ahead of Christmas Day, December 25, 2026, when CME Group is fully closed. Orders that would normally execute after the early halt roll into the next available session once trading resumes. For the complete run of dates, see the CME Futures Holidays calendar.
Because CME finalises exact holiday hours only around two weeks in advance, in coordination with the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), the times below reflect the pattern CME has followed on previous Christmas Eve sessions and should be confirmed on the official CME Group trading hours page closer to the date.
Which markets are closed on Christmas Eve 2026?
| Market | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CME Group futures (equity index, interest rate) | Early close | Halts around 12:15 pm CT (1:15 pm ET); Globex reopens that evening |
| CME energy and metals futures | Early close | Typically halt slightly later than equity and rate products, around 12:30 pm CT |
| NYSE and Nasdaq (equities) | Early close | Close at 1:00 pm ET (1:15 pm ET for eligible options) |
| US bond market (SIFMA) | Early close | SIFMA recommends a 2:00 pm ET close for the cash Treasury market |
| US options | Early close | Aligned with NYSE/Nasdaq early close, 1:15 pm ET for eligible contracts |
| London Stock Exchange (LSE) | Early close | Traditionally closes early on Christmas Eve when it falls on a trading day |
| Euronext | Early close | Shortened session ahead of the Christmas holidays |
| 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?
Wednesday, December 23, 2026 is a regular full trading day on CME Globex, with the usual overnight session and daily maintenance break. Christmas Eve itself, Thursday, December 24, is the early-close day described above: interest rate and equity index futures halt around 12:15 pm CT, with energy and metals products following shortly after. Trading then resumes that evening ahead of the weekend, since Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, 2026, is a full closure across CME Group markets. The next full trading session begins with the Sunday evening reopen at 5:00 pm CT (6:00 pm ET) heading into Monday, December 28.
Why do markets close for Christmas Eve?
Exchanges shorten trading on Christmas Eve out of long-standing convention rather than regulation: liquidity thins sharply as traders, brokers and support staff leave early for the holiday, so exchanges formalise a shorter session rather than run a full day on artificially low volume. The practice dates back decades on Wall Street and has been mirrored by futures markets, which typically follow the lead set by the NYSE and SIFMA when setting their own holiday and early-close calendars.
Because Christmas Eve falls on a weekday but is not itself a federal holiday, most US markets treat it as a half day rather than a full closure, distinguishing it from Christmas Day itself, which is a full market holiday everywhere in the United States.
What It Means for Your Money
If you place a futures order after the early halt on December 24, it queues and executes when trading resumes, not immediately, which matters if you are trying to hedge or close a position before month end. Settlement follows the standard T+1 cycle for most US markets, but the compressed week around Christmas can push settlement dates later than usual, so check confirmations carefully if you are relying on funds landing by a specific day. Dividend payments and options expiries scheduled for this window are unaffected in principle but can see thinner liquidity, which sometimes widens the gap between the price you expect and the price you get. Bank transfers tied to the early close, including payroll runs some employers schedule around the holidays, may also process a little slower than usual. Cryptocurrency markets, including CME’s own Bitcoin and Ether futures, continue trading with only brief daily maintenance breaks and are not affected by the equity and rate market early close.
Remaining CME Futures holidays in 2026
- Christmas Day, December 25, 2026: full closure
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the CME futures market open on Christmas Eve 2026?
Yes, but only for part of the day. CME Group interest rate and equity index futures trade a normal overnight and morning session before halting around 12:15 pm local time (Central Time) on Thursday, December 24, 2026.
Is the bond market open on Christmas Eve?
The US Treasury cash market typically follows a SIFMA-recommended early close, generally around 2:00 pm ET, on Christmas Eve when it falls on a business day.
What time does CME close on December 24, 2026?
Equity index and interest rate futures are expected to halt around 12:15 pm CT (1:15 pm ET), with energy and metals products following a little later, though CME does not confirm exact times until roughly two weeks beforehand.
When is the next CME futures market holiday after Christmas Eve?
Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, 2026, is the next holiday, and it is a full closure across CME Group markets.
Are banks open on Christmas Eve?
US banks are generally open for regular hours on Christmas Eve since it is not a federal holiday, though some branches close early and processing of transfers can slow ahead of the Christmas Day closure.