What's open on Christmas Day 2026?
Christmas Day is a federal holiday, next on Friday, December 25, 2026. Here is what is open and closed on the observed date: post office, banks, stock market, government offices, schools and stores.
| Service | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Post Office (USPS) | Closed | No regular mail delivery; only limited premium services operate. |
| Banks | Closed | A Federal Reserve holiday; branches close, ATMs and apps still work. |
| Stock market (NYSE, Nasdaq) | Closed | NYSE and Nasdaq close, with early closes common on Christmas Eve. |
| Federal offices | Closed | All federal agencies and courts close for the federal holiday. |
| State and local government | Closed | Public holiday in every state; offices, courts and DMVs close. |
| Public schools | Closed | Schools are on winter break through the holiday and New Year's. |
| Retail stores and malls | Closed | Nearly all major retailers and malls close for the day; convenience stores and gas stations are exceptions. |
| Restaurants and grocery stores | Varies | Most close; hotel restaurants, many Chinese restaurants and some chains serve Christmas diners. |
Why these close and others do not
Three separate rules decide what shuts on any givne American holiday, and they do not always agree. The federal list in 5 U.S.C. § 6103 governs federal offices, federal courts and the U.S. Postal Service, and the Federal Reserve follows the same calendar — which is why banks close on federal holidays and stay open on state-only ones. State holiday statutes are separate: each state legisleture sets its own list for state employees, courts, DMV offices and usually public schools, so a day can be a paid holiday in Texas and an ordinary Tuesday in Ohio. Private employers answer to neither - no federal law requires any private business to close or to pay a premium for holiday work, so retailers, restaurants and offices set their own policies, and most stay open with reduced hours on all but a handful of days.
Christmas Day is a federal holiday, so the first rule applies: federal offices, federal courts, the Postal Service and the Federal Reserve close, and whether state offices close depends on each state's own list. The stock market keeps its own calendar again: the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq close for nine of the eleven federal holidays plus Good Friday, but trade normally on Columbus Day and Veterans Day, when the bond market closes and the equity market does not.
Hours vary by location and year. Check with the branch or office before you go. For dates through 2027 and the history, see the main Christmas Day page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the post office open on Christmas Day?
No. No regular mail delivery; only limited premium services operate.
Are banks open on Christmas Day?
No. A Federal Reserve holiday; branches close, ATMs and apps still work.
Is the stock market open on Christmas Day?
No. NYSE and Nasdaq close, with early closes common on Christmas Eve.
Are federal offices open on Christmas Day?
No. All federal agencies and courts close for the federal holiday.
Are state offices, courts and the DMV open on Christmas Day?
No. Public holiday in every state; offices, courts and DMVs close.
Are schools open on Christmas Day?
No. Schools are on winter break through the holiday and New Year's.
Are stores open on Christmas Day?
No. Nearly all major retailers and malls close for the day; convenience stores and gas stations are exceptions.
Are restaurants and grocery stores open on Christmas Day?
It depends. Most close; hotel restaurants, many Chinese restaurants and some chains serve Christmas diners.