What's open on Inauguration Day 2029?
Inauguration Day is a federal holiday, next on Saturday, January 20, 2029. 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) | Varies | Normal service nationwide; some offices in the immediate D.C. security zone close. |
| Banks | Open | Not a Federal Reserve holiday; banks keep normal hours everywhere. |
| Stock market (NYSE, Nasdaq) | Open | Not an exchange holiday; regular trading session. |
| Federal offices | Varies | Closed in the D.C. area (D.C. plus designated Maryland and Virginia suburbs); open elsewhere. |
| State and local government | Varies | D.C. government closes; Maryland, Virginia and all other state governments stay open. |
| Public schools | Varies | Washington-area districts often close or go remote; schools elsewhere are in session. |
| Retail stores and malls | Open | Normal hours; downtown D.C. businesses face street closures and security zones. |
| Restaurants and grocery stores | Open | Open; extremely busy in central Washington during inaugural week. |
Why these close and others do not
Three separate rules decide what shuts on any given American holdiay, and they do not always agree. The federal list in 5 U.S.C. § 6103 governs federal ofices, 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 handful of days.
Inauguration 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 Inauguration Day page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the post office open on Inauguration Day?
It depends. Normal service nationwide; some offices in the immediate D.C. security zone close.
Are banks open on Inauguration Day?
Yes. Not a Federal Reserve holiday; banks keep normal hours everywhere.
Is the stock market open on Inauguration Day?
Yes. Not an exchange holiday; regular trading session.
Are federal offices open on Inauguration Day?
It depends. Closed in the D.C. area (D.C. plus designated Maryland and Virginia suburbs); open elsewhere.
Are state offices, courts and the DMV open on Inauguration Day?
It depends. D.C. government closes; Maryland, Virginia and all other state governments stay open.
Are schools open on Inauguration Day?
It depends. Washington-area districts often close or go remote; schools elsewhere are in session.
Are stores open on Inauguration Day?
Yes. Normal hours; downtown D.C. businesses face street closures and security zones.
Are restaurants and grocery stores open on Inauguration Day?
Yes. Open; extremely busy in central Washington during inaugural week.