What's open on Day After Christmas 2026?
Day After Christmas is a state holiday, next on Saturday, December 26, 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 resumes after the Christmas Day closure. |
| Banks | Open | Not a Federal Reserve holiday; branches keep normal weekday hours. |
| Stock market (NYSE, Nasdaq) | Open | Full trading session when December 26 falls on a weekday. |
| Federal offices | Varies | Open by law, but presidents have occasionally closed them for a specific year by executive order. |
| State and local government | Varies | Closed in Texas, South Carolina and North Carolina (and Louisiana in proclamation years); open elsewhere. |
| Public schools | Closed | Winter break covers December 26 in virtually every district. |
| Retail stores and malls | Open | One of the busiest shopping days of the year for returns, gift cards and clearance sales. |
| Restaurants and grocery stores | Open | Most reopen with normal hours after the Christmas Day closures. |
Why these close and others do not
Three separate rules decide 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 retailars, restaurants and offices set their own policies, and most stay open with reduced hours on all but a handful of days.
Day After Christmas 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 Day After Christmas page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the post office open on Day After Christmas?
Yes. Not a postal holiday; regular mail delivery resumes after the Christmas Day closure.
Are banks open on Day After Christmas?
Yes. Not a Federal Reserve holiday; branches keep normal weekday hours.
Is the stock market open on Day After Christmas?
Yes. Full trading session when December 26 falls on a weekday.
Are federal offices open on Day After Christmas?
It depends. Open by law, but presidents have occasionally closed them for a specific year by executive order.
Are state offices, courts and the DMV open on Day After Christmas?
It depends. Closed in Texas, South Carolina and North Carolina (and Louisiana in proclamation years); open elsewhere.
Are schools open on Day After Christmas?
No. Winter break covers December 26 in virtually every district.
Are stores open on Day After Christmas?
Yes. One of the busiest shopping days of the year for returns, gift cards and clearance sales.
Are restaurants and grocery stores open on Day After Christmas?
Yes. Most reopen with normal hours after the Christmas Day closures.