CME Trading Hours and Holiday Schedule (2026)

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CME Trading Hours and Holiday Schedule (2026)

If you trade futures, one of the most important things to understand is: when the CME is open and when the CME is closed. Many new traders assume the futures market is open 24 hours a day, but that's not quite true.

The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) operates nearly around the clock during the trading week, but there are daily maintenance breaks, weekend closures, and holiday schedules that every trader should know.

This guide covers the normal trading hours, daily maintenance windows, weekend closures, and the major U.S. holidays that affect CME markets during 2026.

Normal CME Trading Hours

Most CME futures products—including equity index futures, forex futures, energy futures, metals, and many agricultural contracts—follow a similar weekly schedule.

Weekly Trading Schedule

- Market Opens: Sunday at 6:00 PM Eastern Time (ET)
- Market Closes: Friday at 5:00 PM Eastern Time (ET)

Trading continues almost continuously throughout the week except for a short maintenance period each day.

Daily Maintenance Break

The CME performs a daily maintenance period each weekday.

- Maintenance Window is 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM Eastern Time (ET)

During this hour, trading is paused for most electronic futures markets before the next trading session begins.

Weekend Closure

Unlike the Forex market, CME futures are completely closed for part of the weekend.

Weekend Schedule

- Trading ends: Friday at 5:00 PM Eastern Time (ET)
- Trading resumes: Sunday at 6:00 PM Eastern Time (ET)

This allows the exchange to perform maintenance before markets reopen.

CME Holiday Schedule for 2026

Several U.S. holidays result in either:

- Early market closures
- Delayed openings
- Full closures for certain products

The exact schedule depends on the product being traded, but the following holidays commonly affect CME Globex trading.

New Year's Day

Holiday: Thursday, January 1, 2026

Expect:

- Reduced trading hours
- Some products opening later after the holiday
- Certain contracts remaining closed for part of the trading day

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Holiday: Monday, January 19, 2026

Many futures markets close early Monday afternoon before reopening later in the evening.

Presidents' Day

Holiday: Monday, February 16, 2026

Similar to MLK Day:

* Early afternoon close
* Evening reopening for the next session

Good Friday

Holiday: Friday, April 3, 2026

Most CME futures markets are closed for Good Friday.

Some products may also have adjusted trading hours on Thursday evening.

Memorial Day

Holiday: Monday, May 25, 2026

Expect:

- Early close on Monday
- Regular trading resumes Monday evening for Tuesday's session

Juneteenth National Independence Day

Holiday: Friday, June 19, 2026

Many CME products observe reduced trading hours.

Always verify product-specific schedules before trading.

Independence Day

Because July 4 falls on a Saturday in 2026, the observed federal holiday is Friday, July 3, 2026.

Expect:

- Early market close on Thursday
- Modified trading on Friday
- Normal Sunday evening reopening

Labor Day

Holiday: Monday, September 7, 2026

Most futures markets close early Monday afternoon before reopening Monday evening.

Thanksgiving

Holiday: Thursday, November 26, 2026

Thanksgiving produces one of the most modified schedules of the year.

Typically:

- Early close Wednesday for some products
- Reduced Thursday trading
- Early close again on Friday

Many traders avoid opening new positions during Thanksgiving week because liquidity is significantly lower.

Christmas

Holiday: Friday, December 25, 2026

Expect:

- Early close on Christmas Eve
- Markets closed for Christmas Day
- Normal trading resumes afterward according to CME schedules

Why Holiday Trading Can Be Different

Even when markets are technically open, holidays often bring:

- Lower trading volume
- Wider bid/ask spreads
- Slower price movement
- Less liquidity
- Increased volatility after reopening

Professional traders often reduce position sizes or avoid entering new trades immediately before major holiday closures.

Do All CME Products Follow the Same Schedule?

No.

While many products share similar trading hours, some contracts have unique schedules.

Examples include:

- Stock Index Futures (ES, NQ, YM, RTY)
- Crude Oil Futures (CL)
- Gold Futures (GC)
- Treasury Futures (ZN, ZB)
- Agricultural Futures (Corn, Soybeans, Wheat)
- Livestock Futures

Each contract may have slightly different holiday hours, settlement periods, or maintenance windows.

Always verify the specific contract you're trading before placing orders around a holiday.

Time Zones Matter

Most trading platforms allow you to display charts using your local time zone.

The CME itself publishes schedules using Central Time (CT), while many brokers and trading platforms display hours in:

- Eastern Time (ET)
- Central Time (CT)
- UTC

Be sure you know which time zone your platform uses to avoid missing session opens or closes.

Tips for Trading Around CME Holidays

- Check the holiday calendar before each trading week.
- Be aware of daily maintenance breaks.
- Expect lighter volume before major holidays.
- Watch for wider spreads during shortened sessions.
- Confirm your broker's trading hours, as some brokers may impose additional restrictions.

Final Comments

The CME offers nearly 24-hour access to global futures markets, but understanding its schedule is essential for successful trading.

Remember these key times:

- Weekly open: Sunday, 6:00 PM ET
- Daily maintenance: 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM ET
- Weekly close: Friday, 5:00 PM ET
- Holiday sessions often feature shortened trading hours or temporary closures.

Keeping track of the CME calendar helps you avoid unexpected market closures, manage risk more effectively, and plan your trading around periods of lower liquidity.