What's open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2027?
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday, next on Monday, January 18, 2027. 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; Priority Mail Express is still delivered. |
| Banks | Closed | Federal Reserve holiday; branches close, ATMs and online banking work. |
| Stock market (NYSE, Nasdaq) | Closed | NYSE and Nasdaq are closed for the full day; bond markets also close. |
| Federal offices | Closed | Federal agencies, federal courts and Social Security offices close. |
| State and local government | Closed | A holiday in every state; state offices, courts, DMVs and most city offices close. |
| Public schools | Closed | Most K-12 schools and colleges close; a few districts hold classes or service days. |
| Retail stores and malls | Open | Normal hours; many retailers run three-day-weekend sales. |
| Restaurants and grocery stores | Open | Normal hours; busy near parades and community events. |
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 retailers, restaurants and offices set their own policies, and most stay open with reduced hours on all but a handful of days.
Martin Luther King Jr. 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 Martin Luther King Jr. Day page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the post office open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day?
No. No regular mail delivery; Priority Mail Express is still delivered.
Are banks open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day?
No. Federal Reserve holiday; branches close, ATMs and online banking work.
Is the stock market open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day?
No. NYSE and Nasdaq are closed for the full day; bond markets also close.
Are federal offices open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day?
No. Federal agencies, federal courts and Social Security offices close.
Are state offices, courts and the DMV open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day?
No. A holiday in every state; state offices, courts, DMVs and most city offices close.
Are schools open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day?
No. Most K-12 schools and colleges close; a few districts hold classes or service days.
Are stores open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day?
Yes. Normal hours; many retailers run three-day-weekend sales.
Are restaurants and grocery stores open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day?
Yes. Normal hours; busy near parades and community events.