Walmart, the United States’ largest retail chain, has confirmed that it will close all of its more than 4,600 stores across the country on December 25, 2025, as part of its holiday schedule — marking one of only two occasions each year, alongside Thanksgiving, when the retailer halts operations nationwide.
The decision means that shoppers accustomed to last-minute Christmas purchases will find Walmart’s doors shut for a full 24-hour period on Christmas Day, disrupting the usual availability of in-store shopping at a pivotal time for gift buying and festive preparations. The closure is part of a long-standing tradition at the retail giant aimed at giving employees the opportunity to spend time with family during significant holidays.
In preparation for this closure, Walmart has also adjusted its operations for Christmas Eve. Most U.S. outposts will operate on shortened hours on December 24, opening in the morning and closing early in the evening to allow workers some lead-in time before the full holiday shutdown. Customers have been advised to plan their shopping accordingly and to complete major purchases before the curtailed service begins.
The retailer’s decision to power down every store nationwide underscores Walmart’s continued emphasis on balancing business demands with employee welfare, particularly at times of cultural and familial importance. The company has maintained in recent years that closing on Thanksgiving and Christmas fosters better morale among its workforce and reflects a broader shift among major employers who see value in offering meaningful breaks during major holidays.
Although physical stores will be closed, Walmart’s online platforms are expected to remain active around the holiday, allowing some customers to place orders digitally. However, the delivery and fulfilment of online orders may be affected by the store closures, and customers have been warned to check service timelines if they are relying on internet purchases as part of their holiday shopping strategy.
The Christmas closure also forces logistical recalibrations for services tied to Walmart’s in-store operations, including pharmacies, vision centres and other ancillary services that are typically anchored by physical locations. Those services, which many customers depend on for last-minute needs, will also be unavailable on the day the doors are closed, prompting shoppers to make arrangements in advance.
Retail analysts say this is unlikely to significantly dent Walmart’s annual sales figures, given that the day of closure falls on a holiday when many other shops and businesses are also closed. Still, the announcement serves as an important reminder of the scale at which the retail giant operates and the impact its holiday schedule has on consumer behaviour.
Walmart’s Christmas shutdown comes at a time when many retailers are increasingly reconsidering how and when they operate throughout the year, balancing profitability with workforce expectations and broader economic conditions. The choice to maintain a full closure on Christmas Day — rather than remaining open to capture last-minute sales — highlights the company’s strategic priorities as it navigates evolving retail trends.
The full halt in store operations is set to begin late on December 24, with normal business resuming on December 26, as stores reopen for regular hours and customers return to shop post-holiday sales and exchanges.
