What's open on Christmas Eve 2026?
Christmas Eve is a state holiday, next on Thursday, December 24, 2026. Here is what is open and closed: post office, banks, stock market, government offices, schools and stores.
| Service | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Post Office (USPS) | Open | Not a postal holiday; regular mail delivery continues, though many post offices close early. |
| Banks | Open | The Federal Reserve is open. Many branches close in the early afternoon. |
| Stock market (NYSE, Nasdaq) | Reduced | Trading ends early at 1 p.m. Eastern when December 24 is a weekday. |
| Federal offices | Varies | Open by law, but presidents have often closed them by executive order for the specific year. |
| State and local government | Varies | Closed in about a dozen states that make it a state holiday; open or on reduced hours elsewhere. |
| Public schools | Closed | Winter break covers December 24 in virtually every district. |
| Retail stores and malls | Reduced | Open for last-minute shopping but most close by late afternoon or early evening. |
| Restaurants and grocery stores | Reduced | Grocery stores shorten hours; many restaurants close early or for the evening. |
Why these close and others do not
Three separate rules decdie what shuts on any given 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 legislature 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 hanfdul of days.
Christmas Eve is a state holiday, so only the second rule applies: offices close in the states that observe it, while federal offices, post offices and banks stay open. 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 Eve page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the post office open on Christmas Eve?
Yes. Not a postal holiday; regular mail delivery continues, though many post offices close early.
Are banks open on Christmas Eve?
Yes. The Federal Reserve is open. Many branches close in the early afternoon.
Is the stock market open on Christmas Eve?
It depends. Trading ends early at 1 p.m. Eastern when December 24 is a weekday.
Are federal offices open on Christmas Eve?
It depends. Open by law, but presidents have often closed them by executive order for the specific year.
Are state offices, courts and the DMV open on Christmas Eve?
It depends. Closed in about a dozen states that make it a state holiday; open or on reduced hours elsewhere.
Are schools open on Christmas Eve?
No. Winter break covers December 24 in virtually every district.
Are stores open on Christmas Eve?
It depends. Open for last-minute shopping but most close by late afternoon or early evening.
Are restaurants and grocery stores open on Christmas Eve?
It depends. Grocery stores shorten hours; many restaurants close early or for the evening.