Quick Answer: What's Open on Christmas Day 2026?
Most major retailers, grocery stores, and malls are CLOSED on Christmas Day (December 25, 2026). That is the core answer to what is open on Christmas Day in the U.S. However, essential businesses and selected chains are still open with reduced schedules.
What's typically OPEN on Christmas Day:
- ✅ Many chain restaurants (Denny's, IHOP, Waffle House)
- ✅ Select convenience stores (7-Eleven, Circle K, Wawa, Sheetz)
- ✅ Most gas stations, especially 24-hour locations
- ✅ Some pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid) with modified hours
- ✅ Movie theaters and hotel dining
- ✅ Emergency services (hospitals, police, fire, urgent needs)
What's typically CLOSED on Christmas Day:
- ❌ Major retail chains and most grocery stores
- ❌ Shopping malls and department stores
- ❌ Banks, post offices, and government offices
- ❌ Most salons, dry cleaners, and non-essential businesses
Why do so many places close? Christmas Day is a federal holiday, and many companies now prioritize employee time off. This trend has grown in recent years. For practical planning, use a Christmas countdown so you finish key shopping before your final week.
In this guide, you will find:
This guide explains exactly what is open on Christmas Day by category so you can make quick decisions.
- 📍 Category-by-category breakdown of what is open on Christmas Day
- 📍 Restaurant, store, and service examples with practical notes
- 📍 Emergency and backup options if you forgot something
- 📍 A planning timeline to reduce holiday stress
- 📍 FAQ answers for urgent Christmas Day hours questions
Important reminder: policies vary by city, franchise owner, and staffing. Always call ahead before driving anywhere.
Restaurants Open Christmas Day
If you are searching what restaurants are open on Christmas Day, there is good news: many national chains and hotel dining rooms stay open with reduced hours. If you plan to dine out, reserve early. A practical rule is booking when there are still 20-30 days left on a Christmas countdown timer.
Fast Food & Casual Restaurants Open on Christmas
Typically OPEN on Christmas Day (hours vary):
- 🍔 Denny's: Often one of the most reliable Dec 25 options.
- 🥞 IHOP: Many locations open with holiday schedules.
- 🧇 Waffle House: Known for staying open 24/7, including holidays.
- 🍕 Domino's: Some stores open for carryout or delivery, especially metro areas.
- 🍕 Papa John's: Select franchise locations open on Christmas Day.
- 🌮 Taco Bell: Some urban stores open, many suburban stores closed.
- ☕ Starbucks: Select stores open, often airports/hotels/tourist zones.
- 🍗 Boston Market: Historically popular for holiday meals and takeout.
Franchise variability is the key reason hours differ. Two stores in the same brand may have opposite schedules. Call ahead, check apps, and call ahead again if the trip is important.
Fine Dining & Hotel Restaurants Open on Christmas
For upscale dining, Christmas Day availability is usually best at hotel restaurants, casino restaurants, and select steakhouse brands. Expect premium pricing, fixed menus, and high demand.
- 🍽️ Hotel restaurants: Often open, especially in destination cities.
- 🍽️ Casino restaurants: Usually open due to 24/7 operations.
- 🍽️ Ruth's Chris, The Capital Grille, Fogo de Chão: Some locations open; market-dependent.
Reservation timeline:
- • 30+ days before Christmas: best availability
- • 15-20 days before Christmas: limited but still possible
- • Under 10 days: very tight inventory
- • Christmas Day: walk-ins are rare at popular spots
Coffee Shops & Bakeries on Dec 25
- ☕ Starbucks: Most locations closed, some exception stores open.
- ☕ Dunkin': Mostly closed, occasional franchise exceptions.
- 🥐 Panera Bread: Usually closed on Christmas Day.
- 🍩 Krispy Kreme: Mostly closed, rare exceptions by location.
Bottom line: assume your usual coffee stop is closed on Christmas Day unless you confirm otherwise. Call ahead before leaving home.
Stores Open Christmas Day
The direct answer for Christmas Day shopping is simple: almost no major retail store is open. Company- wide closure policies now cover most big-box and mall-based brands.
Convenience Stores & Gas Stations
Your best chance for shopping on Christmas Day:
- ⛽ 7-Eleven: many locations open 24/7
- ⛽ Circle K: many locations open, hours vary by owner
- ⛽ Wawa: typically open in East Coast markets
- ⛽ Sheetz: usually open in Mid-Atlantic footprints
- ⛽ QuikTrip: many stores open in participating regions
- ⛽ Gas station mini-marts: often open with limited stock
Typically available: milk, bread, drinks, snacks, batteries, chargers, OTC meds, basic auto supplies.
Typically unavailable: full grocery selection, apparel, large electronics, specialty gift items, full produce.
Major Retailers CLOSED on Dec 25, 2026
- ❌ Walmart
- ❌ Target
- ❌ Costco
- ❌ Best Buy
- ❌ Home Depot
- ❌ Lowe's
- ❌ Macy's
- ❌ Kohl's
- ❌ TJ Maxx / Marshalls / HomeGoods
- ❌ Most shopping malls and department-store anchors
If you are asking what is open for retail on Christmas Day, think convenience-first, not mall-first. Your realistic options are limited, so planning before December 25 matters much more than last-minute searching.
Grocery Stores & Pharmacies Open Christmas Day
Grocery Stores on Dec 25
Most grocery chains are closed on Christmas Day. That includes many mainstream banners in major metro and suburban markets. A few pharmacy-backed stores and convenience locations remain open with small grocery assortments.
Most major grocery formats are CLOSED:
- ❌ Kroger-family banners
- ❌ Safeway / Albertsons-family banners
- ❌ Publix, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Aldi (market-dependent but usually closed)
Limited grocery options that may be OPEN:
- ✅ Walgreens (reduced hours, limited grocery selection)
- ✅ CVS (some stores, often reduced schedules)
- ✅ Convenience chains with mini-marts
Practical move: complete grocery runs by December 23 and use a Christmas countdown reminder for perishables and medication checks.
Pharmacies Open Christmas Day
Pharmacy access is usually better than grocery access on Christmas Day.
- ✅ CVS: many locations open; 24-hour sites are strongest option.
- ✅ Walgreens: selected locations open, reduced hours common.
- ✅ Rite Aid: some locations open depending on region.
- ❌ Most in-grocery pharmacies: closed when host store is closed.
Crucial detail: store hours and pharmacy-counter hours may be different. Always call ahead, and call ahead before you leave if the visit is urgent. For refill reliability, finish key prescriptions before your last week.
Entertainment & Essential Support Open Christmas Day
Movie Theaters on Dec 25
🎬 Movie theaters are usually open on Christmas Day, and the day is often one of the highest attendance dates of the year. Large chains such as AMC, Regal, and Cinemark typically run full or near-full schedules depending on local demand. Booking ahead is smart because blockbuster showtimes can sell out quickly.
Gas Stations on Dec 25
⛽ Most gas stations are open on Christmas Day, especially 24-hour sites and highway locations. Even when attached stores reduce hours, pay-at-pump usually remains active. Expect basic convenience inventory but not full grocery depth.
Emergency Services on Christmas Day
🚑 Core emergency support is always open on Christmas Day. Hospitals and ERs run 24/7. Police and fire departments are fully operational. Many urgent care centers also open with reduced schedules.
- 🏥 Hospitals and ERs: 24/7
- 🏥 Urgent care: location-dependent holiday hours
- 👮 Police and fire: 24/7
- 🚗 Roadside assistance: active, but wait times can be longer
- 🔧 Emergency home repairs: available, often with holiday surcharges
- ✈️ Airports and hotels: operational with variable staffing
For medical or safety emergencies, call 911 immediately. Do not delay because it is a holiday.
Other Closures on Dec 25
- ❌ Banks: closed
- ❌ Post offices: closed, no regular delivery
- ❌ Government offices: closed
- ❌ Libraries: closed
- ❌ Most salons and dry cleaners: closed
- ❌ Most auto repair shops: closed except emergency support
If your question is what is open for non-essential needs on Christmas Day, the realistic answer is: very little.
How to Plan Ahead for Christmas Day
The best response to Christmas Day closures is proactive planning. Use a Christmas countdown timer to track milestones and move tasks earlier.
14-10 Days Before Christmas
- ✅ Complete most gift shopping while stock is strong.
- ✅ Buy non-perishables and household basics in bulk.
- ✅ Place final online orders with delivery buffers.
- ✅ Refill essential prescriptions.
- ✅ Pre-book dining, travel, and service appointments.
When the timer shows two weeks or less, switch to execution mode and check your Christmas countdown daily.
7-5 Days Before Christmas
- ✅ Finish all remaining gift purchases.
- ✅ Buy perishables for Christmas meals.
- ✅ Fill your gas tank and check car essentials.
- ✅ Withdraw cash if needed for tips or emergencies.
- ✅ Buy batteries, chargers, pet food, diapers, coffee, and paper goods.
This is your last low-stress window. Use a simple countdown reminder for daily checks.
3-1 Days Before Christmas
- ✅ Confirm Christmas Day restaurant reservations.
- ✅ Confirm pharmacy and urgent-care availability if relevant.
- ✅ Verify Christmas Eve early closing times locally.
- ✅ Create backup options if one location is closed.
Assume everything takes longer in the final 72 hours. Call ahead before every important trip.
Dec 25 Survival Tips
- 🎯 Call ahead before every stop.
- 🎯 Keep 2-3 backup options for critical needs.
- 🎯 Check official store locators and maps first.
- 🎯 Expect reduced inventory and slower operations.
- 🎯 Be patient with holiday staff.
- 🎯 If possible, accept closures and enjoy the day.
Christmas Day Hours FAQs
Is Walmart open on Dec 25?
No. Walmart stores are generally closed on Dec 25. That includes most grocery and pharmacy operations within the same footprint. Stores usually reopen December 26. If you need essentials on December 25, check convenience stores or pharmacy chains that remain open.
Is Target open on Dec 25?
No. Target stores are closed on Dec 25. This has been a consistent holiday policy in recent years. You can still prepare by shopping in advance and confirming Christmas Eve closing times, since many locations close early on December 24.
Are grocery stores open on Dec 25?
Most are closed. If you are asking what is open for groceries on Dec 25, options are usually limited to convenience stores and selected pharmacy-backed locations with small food assortments. Plan major grocery runs before Christmas Eve.
What restaurants are open on Dec 25?
Many chain restaurants are open on Dec 25 with modified hours, including reliable casual formats and selected delivery franchises. Hotel and casino restaurants also remain good options. For high-demand venues, reserve early and call ahead to reconfirm same-day hours.
Are pharmacies open on Dec 25?
Some are. Many 24-hour CVS and Walgreens locations remain open on Dec 25, but pharmacy counters may run different schedules than front stores. Always call ahead and confirm pharmacy-window hours before leaving home.
Are gas stations open on Dec 25?
Yes, most gas stations are open on Dec 25, especially 24-hour locations and highway sites. Fuel access is usually reliable through pay-at-pump, even when attached mini-marts run reduced holiday schedules.
Are movie theaters open on Dec 25?
Usually yes. Dec 25 is one of the busiest movie-going days of the year. Major chains typically run broad schedules, and popular premieres can sell out. Buying tickets online in advance is the best strategy.
Is Starbucks open on Dec 25?
Some Starbucks locations are open on Dec 25, but many standard storefronts close. Airport, hotel, and high-traffic tourist locations are more likely to stay open. Check the app before visiting and call ahead for confirmation.
Are banks open on Dec 25?
No. Banks are closed on Dec 25 because it is a federal holiday. ATMs remain available for cash withdrawals, but branch services and teller windows are not open.
Is Amazon delivering on Dec 25?
Dec 25 delivery is limited and market-specific. Most standard package deliveries pause on December 25, with larger fulfillment activity concentrated on days before and after. For holiday-critical items, order early and track cutoffs.
Are convenience stores open on Dec 25?
Many are. 24-hour convenience formats are often the most reliable answer for urgent Dec 25 needs. Inventory is basic, so expect essentials rather than full shopping selection.
What time do stores close on Christmas Eve?
Many stores close early on December 24, often between mid-afternoon and early evening. Exact times vary by market, staffing, and chain policy. Always check online and call ahead before making your final Christmas Eve shopping trip.
When should I finish Christmas shopping?
A good deadline is 5-7 days before Christmas. That gives buffer for stock gaps and shipping delays. Use a Christmas countdown to set milestone reminders and complete critical tasks while choices are still wide.
What if I forgot something important on Dec 25?
Start with convenience stores, selected pharmacies, and gas-station mini-marts. Call ahead before every trip. If one option is closed, use backup locations immediately. For future years, shift key purchases earlier to reduce Dec 25 dependency.
Are emergency services available on Dec 25?
Yes. Emergency support remains open on Dec 25: hospitals, ERs, police, and fire departments all run continuously. For true emergencies, call 911 right away. Do not wait for non-emergency channels when immediate care is needed.
Plan Ahead for a Stress-Free Christmas Day
Now you know what is open on Christmas Day 2026 and what is usually closed. The practical takeaway is simple: most retail is closed, essential formats remain open, and planning ahead protects your holiday experience.
Quick recap:
- ✅ OPEN: selected restaurants, convenience stores, gas stations, some pharmacies, movie theaters, emergency services
- ❌ CLOSED: most major retailers, most grocery stores, malls, banks, post offices, and non-essential services
Your timeline:
- 📅 14-10 days out: major shopping, non-perishables, prescriptions
- 📅 7-5 days out: perishables, fuel, batteries, final essentials
- 📅 3-1 days out: confirmations, backups, final checks
- 📅 Christmas Day: fewer errands, more celebration
For easier planning and clear milestones, set up your Start Your Christmas Countdown Now.
Bottom line: Dec 25 is for people, not panic shopping. Plan earlier, call ahead when needed, and remember that memories matter more than perfection. Merry Christmas and happy planning! 🎄
On Christmas Day, keep plans simple. On Christmas Day, focus on connection. On Christmas Day, let your preparation do the heavy lifting.