Millions of Americans will be celebrating New Year’s Day, a major U.S. holiday, marking the start of 2026, which falls on Thursday, January 1.
Here’s what’s open and closed on New Year’s Day 2026.
What’s open on New Year’s Day 2026?
New Year’s Day is a national holiday, but some businesses will remain open. Companies that sell online, like Amazon and Walmart, will have their websites and apps open for transactions.
Major retail chains
Some large retailers with stores across the country will be closed, while others will remain open.
Target, Walmart, Home Depot, and Best Buy are among the big retailers that will be open.
Major grocery chains
Large grocery chains, including Kroger, Whole Foods, Wegmans, and Safeway, will be open. BJ‘s Wholesale Club will also be open, although its competitors, Costco and Sam’s Club, will be closed.
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Fast-food and convenience store chains
Fast-food operators, such as McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Burger King, will have many of their stores open. Some diners and restaurants in local areas may be open on limited hours, so it’s best to call ahead to check.
Major movie theater chains
Going out to watch movies is a popular way for some to ring in the New Year, and many Hollywood studios use the holiday for 2025 year-end releases and to promote popular films to boost ticket sales. Major movie theater chains such as AMC Theaters, Regal Cinemas, and Alamo Drafthouse will be open.
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Public transportation
Mass transit in most major metropolitan areas will be accessible, although buses and trains may be running less frequently due to operating on a holiday schedule.
What’s closed on New Year’s Day?
New Year’s Day is one of the few holidays when many businesses are closed to give workers a day off. Banks, government offices, and public services, such as libraries and USPS, will be closed.
Warehouse clubs
Costco and Sam’s Club will both be closed on New Year’s Day. BJ’s Wholesale Club, however, will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Financial markets
The stock and bond markets will be closed on New Year’s Day, including the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market.
The bond market will close early on New Year’s Eve, at 2 p.m., and there’ll be no trading on New Year’s Day, according to Sifma. Currency markets will be closed on New Year’s Day, as many countries will also observe a trading halt.
National parks
Visitors’ centers at National parks and monuments tend to be closed on New Year’s Day, although hiking trails may remain accessible.
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A short history of New Year’s Day in the United States
The earliest recorded festivities in honor of a new year’s arrival date back some 4,000 years to ancient Babylon, where the first new moon following the vernal equinox heralded the start of a new year, accordingto History.com.
Nowadays, people celebrate by socializing and dancing during the waning hours of the previous year and into the early hours of the new year. In 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant signed a law recognizing New Year’s Day as a federal holiday.
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