The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are scheduled to operate normally on Columbus Day, Monday, October 12, 2026, with regular NYSE core trading hours of 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The notable exception is fixed income: SIFMA has recommended a full close for U.S.-dollar-denominated bond markets that day, and the Federal Reserve also observes the holiday. These are separate calendars, so neither a Federal Reserve holiday nor a recommended bond-market closure shuts the stock exchanges on its own.

NYSE and Nasdaq Trading on Monday, October 12, 2026

Columbus Day falls on Monday, October 12, 2026. The NYSE's 2026 holiday calendar does not list the date as a closure, meaning NYSE markets are scheduled to operate. Nasdaq's 2026 U.S. equity and options calendar likewise omits October 12 from its closure dates, indicating that Nasdaq markets are also scheduled to trade. The omission follows a long-standing pattern: Columbus Day is one of the few federal holidays — Veterans Day is another — on which U.S. equity exchanges have historically remained open while other parts of the financial system pause.

There is no single holiday schedule for “the stock market”: equity exchanges and fixed-income markets can follow different calendars. SIFMA recommends a full close of U.S.-dollar-denominated fixed-income markets on October 12, 2026, spanning government, corporate, municipal and mortgage-backed securities. Those recommendations are voluntary, and individual firms may make their own arrangements.

Regular NYSE Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time

On a regular business day, the NYSE's core session runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, according to the exchange's trading-hours schedule. Because Columbus Day does not appear on the exchange's 2026 closure calendar, those are the core hours in effect for Monday, October 12.

An open exchange does not guarantee that every order-placement option is identical across brokers. Some firms offer premarket or after-hours access, set their own cut-off times, restrict which securities may trade outside the core session, or apply specific rules to certain order types. Those services are brokerage offerings, not substitutes for the NYSE's regular session.

The distinction matters particularly for investors using limit orders. A limit order sets a maximum purchase price or minimum sale price but does not ensure execution; whether it trades depends on the available market and the order's terms. Investors planning to trade on the holiday should review how their broker handles extended-hours orders rather than assume a normal exchange day means every brokerage feature runs on an identical timetable.

Nasdaq's calendar indicates normal operation for its U.S. equity and options markets on October 12, but an individual security's trading venue, broker access and order-routing arrangements can still shape the practical experience of entering or executing an order.

Why Bond-Market Trading May Be Closed Despite Open Stock Exchanges

The divergent schedule matters most in fixed income. SIFMA recommends a full market close on October 12, 2026, for U.S.-dollar-denominated fixed-income trading, covering government, corporate, municipal and mortgage-backed securities, according to SIFMA's 2026 holiday notice.

The split is a recurring feature of the calendar rather than a one-off: SIFMA's annual holiday recommendations have customarily paired a full fixed-income close on Columbus Day with continued equity-market operation, which is why the same divergence draws attention each October.

This is a recommendation, not an exchange-wide rule binding every market participant. SIFMA explicitly states that its recommendations are voluntary and that firms can make their own decisions. A customer should not treat the recommendation as confirmation that a particular dealer, fund, broker or electronic venue will be unavailable; the practical step is to check with the firm or venue handling the transaction.

The split can be confusing because many bonds do not trade in the centralized manner of NYSE- or Nasdaq-listed shares. Fixed-income transactions may involve dealer quotations, institutional trading desks or other venue-specific arrangements. If firms follow the recommended closure, the ability to obtain quotations or execute transactions may be limited. That is why an investor with a bond-related transaction should verify availability in advance rather than rely solely on the fact that stocks are trading.

Bond exposure through an ETF is not the same as arranging a bond transaction directly. An exchange-listed bond ETF may trade during normal equity-market hours because the ETF itself is listed, even when underlying fixed-income market activity is affected by the SIFMA recommendation. That does not establish how any particular ETF will trade or how efficiently its underlying holdings can be valued; it is a reason to distinguish the listed fund from the bond market beneath it.

Federal Reserve Holiday Observance and Possible Service Differences

The Federal Reserve observes Columbus Day on October 12, 2026, under the Federal Reserve Board's holidays-observed schedule. As a result, Federal Reserve Bank services may follow holiday schedules. Columbus Day is a federal holiday, which is the basis for its appearance on the Federal Reserve Board's schedule.

That observance should not be read as an announcement that the NYSE or Nasdaq will close. The equity-exchange calendars determine whether those exchanges are scheduled to trade, and both point to normal operation on this date. In short, a Federal Reserve holiday, a recommended fixed-income close and an open stock market can all occur on the same Monday.

For consumers and investors, the operational implication is narrower than broad claims that “banks are closed” or “markets are closed.” A firm's processing, servicing or settlement-related practices can depend on its own systems and the services it uses. If timing matters for a transfer, a securities transaction or a cash movement connected with an investment account, confirm the relevant institution's holiday notice rather than extrapolate from the equity-market schedule.

A Columbus Day 2026 Trading Checklist

Before acting on October 12, first identify what is actually being traded; the calendar answer changes with the instrument.

• Listed stocks and conventional stock ETFs: NYSE and Nasdaq are scheduled to operate. For NYSE-listed securities, the core session is 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
• Options: Nasdaq's official U.S. equity and options holiday calendar does not list October 12 as a closure. Check the applicable market and broker for product and order details.
• Individual bonds and other U.S.-dollar fixed-income securities: Start with SIFMA's recommended full-market close, then confirm directly with the broker, dealer or venue, because the recommendation is voluntary.
• Bond ETFs: Separate the exchange-traded fund from the bonds it holds. The fund may be listed for equity-market trading while fixed-income market conditions differ.
• Cash movements and operational deadlines: Check the brokerage or financial institution's own holiday schedule, particularly where Federal Reserve Bank services may follow a holiday timetable.

As a hypothetical example, an investor places a limit order for a NYSE-listed ETF at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on October 12. The exchange is scheduled to be in its regular core session, but the order will execute only if its limit price can be met. If that ETF holds bonds, the investor should also avoid assuming that activity in the fund's underlying bond holdings follows the same schedule as the ETF's exchange listing.

The key is to use the calendar that applies to the transaction rather than a single label for all U.S. financial markets. On Columbus Day 2026, the evidence points to a normal scheduled day for NYSE and Nasdaq equity trading, alongside SIFMA's voluntary recommendation for a full U.S.-dollar fixed-income market close.

Each of these schedules is published well in advance of the year, leaving time to confirm calendar-dependent plans before October 12. The item worth watching between now and then is any revision or special announcement from the institutions themselves — U.S. equity exchanges have in the past closed unscheduled for national days of mourning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the NYSE open on Columbus Day 2026?

Yes. Columbus Day is Monday, October 12, 2026, and the date is not listed as a closure on the NYSE's official 2026 holiday calendar. NYSE markets are scheduled to be open.

Is Nasdaq open on Columbus Day 2026?

Yes. Nasdaq's official 2026 U.S. equity and options holiday schedule does not list October 12 as a closure, indicating normal scheduled operation.

What are NYSE trading hours on October 12, 2026?

The NYSE core session on a regular business day is 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Broker-provided premarket and after-hours access can differ by firm.

Is the bond market closed on Columbus Day 2026?

SIFMA recommends a full close for U.S.-dollar fixed-income markets, including government, corporate, municipal and mortgage-backed securities. The recommendation is voluntary, so confirm the schedule with the relevant firm or venue.

Does the Federal Reserve holiday close the stock market?

No. The Federal Reserve observes Columbus Day in 2026, and its services may follow holiday schedules, but that does not alter the NYSE and Nasdaq calendars showing scheduled equity-market operation.