Christmas Day sits at the very top of the closure calendar, ahead of even Thanksgiving and Easter Sunday for how completely it shuts down retail. Where a moderate-impact day like Independence Day barely changes most stores' schedules, and even Christmas Eve just trims hours rather than closing outright, Christmas Day closes almost every category outright. The short list of exceptions - a handful of pharmacies and 24/7 convenience stores - is worth knowing so you're not stuck without something you need.
When Is Christmas Day 2026?
Christmas Day is always December 25, a fixed calendar date rather than a weekday formula like Thanksgiving's "fourth Thursday" rule. In 2026, that puts it on a Friday, which means the day before (Christmas Eve, December 24) is a Thursday and the day after falls on a Saturday. A Friday date gives shoppers one more thing to plan around: with Christmas Day itself closed and Christmas Eve running short hours, the practical shopping window narrows to the days before Thursday the 24th.
Is Walmart Open on Christmas Day?
No. Walmart closes company-wide on Christmas Day, and it's one of the very few days of the year it does. Target and Best Buy follow the same rule, closing every location without exception. Unlike Thanksgiving, where a few grocery stores squeeze in a partial morning, Christmas Day doesn't get that treatment - the closures are close to universal.
Grocery Stores on Christmas Day
Kroger, Publix, and essentially every major grocery chain close entirely on December 25. There isn't a "shop early before they close" workaround the way there sometimes is on Thanksgiving - plan to have everything you need for Christmas dinner purchased by Christmas Eve at the latest, and ideally a day or two earlier to avoid the Christmas Eve rush entirely.
Home Improvement, Electronics & Department Stores
Home Depot, Best Buy, and department stores like Macy's and Kohl's all close on Christmas Day. Costco closes company-wide as well. Shopping malls shut down entirely, taking every tenant store with them, so a Christmas Day mall run isn't an option anywhere. Office supply and electronics retailers follow the same pattern - if it's not a pharmacy or a gas station, assume it's closed.
Pharmacies & Convenience Stores - the Exceptions
CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid keep a limited number of locations open on Christmas Day, usually the 24-hour stores or ones in high-traffic areas, typically running from around 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Not every location participates, so check the specific pharmacy's listing or call ahead if you need a prescription filled. 7-Eleven locations, being largely franchise-operated, often stay open too since many run 24/7 year-round regardless of the date. Gas station convenience stores may also stay open, though staffing is usually minimal.
Restaurants on Christmas Day
Restaurants follow much the same pattern as Thanksgiving - fast food chains, coffee shops, and sit-down restaurants overwhelmingly close so staff can be home for the holiday. A small number of hotel restaurants and certain national chains near travel hubs stay open, and some higher-end restaurants run a Christmas dinner seating by reservation. If eating out is part of your plan, confirm with the specific location well in advance rather than assuming.
| Store | Normal Friday Hours | Christmas Day 2026 Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Walmart | 6:00 AM - 11:00 PM | Closed all day |
| Target | 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM | Closed all day |
| Best Buy | 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM | Closed all day |
| Costco | 10:00 AM - 8:30 PM | Closed all day |
| Kroger | 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM | Closed all day |
| Home Depot | 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM | Closed all day |
| CVS | 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM | Open at select locations, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Walgreens | 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM | Open at select locations, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| 7-Eleven | 24 hours (most locations) | No change - stays open as usual |
| Restaurants | Varies | Almost universally closed |
Hours shown are typical patterns, not guarantees - individual locations set their own holiday schedule, so always confirm with your specific store before making a trip.
Christmas Day vs. Christmas Eve: Opposite Patterns
These two dates sit back to back but behave nothing alike. Christmas Eve is an open-but-shorter day - nearly every store operates on December 24, just with an earlier closing time. Christmas Day flips that completely: it's one of only three dates on the calendar (alongside Thanksgiving and Easter Sunday) that trigger near-universal closures, with only pharmacies and a few convenience stores staying open. Treat December 24 as your last real shopping window and December 25 as a day to assume everything is closed unless you've confirmed otherwise.
Tips for Christmas Week
Finish grocery and gift shopping by December 23 if you can - Christmas Eve stores are open but busy and close early, which makes it a stressful backup plan rather than a reliable one. If you'll need a prescription over the holiday, fill it a few days ahead rather than counting on a Christmas Day pharmacy visit. And if you're chasing post-Christmas deals, most retailers reopen on December 26 with markdown and return traffic, similar in spirit to Black Friday a month earlier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Walmart open on Christmas Day?
No. Walmart closes company-wide on Christmas Day, along with Target, Best Buy, Costco, and essentially every major chain. It's one of the very few days of the year every one of these retailers closes without exception.
What stores are open on Christmas Day?
A limited number of CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid locations stay open with reduced hours, typically around 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. 7-Eleven and other franchise-run convenience stores often stay open too. Almost everything else is closed.
What day is Christmas 2026?
Friday, December 25, 2026. Since it's a fixed calendar date rather than tied to a weekday formula, it lands on a different day of the week every year.
Is Christmas Day the biggest closure day of the year?
Yes. It's the most common closure day across American retail. Even stores that stay open on Thanksgiving and Easter Sunday close on December 25.
When should I finish my Christmas shopping?
Plan to finish essential shopping by December 24. Christmas Eve also runs shortened hours at most stores, with closings typically starting between 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM, so don't wait until the last minute that day either.