Thanksgiving Day 2026
Thanksgiving Day 2026 is on Thursday, November 26, 2026 (in 45 days). It is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November and is a U.S. federal holiday.
- Date
- Thursday, November 26, 2026
- Countdown
- In 45 days
- Federal holiday
- Yes
- Date rule
- Fourth Thursday of November
- Possible dates
- November 22 to November 28
- Next occurrence
- Thursday, November 25, 2027
Thanksgiving Day dates by year
| Year | Date | Weekday | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | November 27, 2025 | Thursday | 319 days ago |
| 2026 | November 26, 2026 | Thursday | in 45 days |
| 2027 | November 25, 2027 | Thursday | in 13 months |
| 2028 | November 23, 2028 | Thursday | in 2 years |
| 2029 | November 22, 2029 | Thursday | in 3 years |
| 2030 | November 28, 2030 | Thursday | in 4 years |
| 2031 | November 27, 2031 | Thursday | in 5 years |
| 2032 | November 25, 2032 | Thursday | in 6 years |
| 2033 | November 24, 2033 | Thursday | in 7 years |
| 2034 | November 23, 2034 | Thursday | in 8 years |
Dates are calculated from the rule shown above, not copied from a list, so they stay correct for any year. See everything else happening that month in the calendar for November 2026.
How the date of Thanksgiving is set
Thanksgiving Day is the fourth Thursday in November. That is the wording of federal law (5 U.S.C. § 6103), so the date moves between November 22 and November 28 while the weekday is always Thursday. Because it is always a Thursday, Thanksgiving never needs a weekend "observed" day like Christmas or Independence Day sometimes do.
In 2027 Thanksgiving Day is on Thursday, November 25, 2027.
Why the fourth Thursday and not the last
Abraham Lincoln's 1863 proclamation put Thanksgiving on the last Thursday of November, and presidents kept that date for decades. In 1939 November had five Thursdays, and Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the holiday to the fourth one, a week early, because businesses worried about a short holiday shopping season. The states did not agree. In 1939, 23 states followed the earlier date, 22 kept the last Thursday and 3 celebrated on both; in 1940 and 1941, 32 states followed the earlier date and 16 did not. For three years Americans celebrated on different dates depending on where they lived.
Congress ended the split with a joint resolution that President Roosevelt signed on December 26, 1941: Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday of November. The two rules differ only in years with five Thursdays. In 2028, for example, Thanksgiving is November 23, while the last Thursday of that month is November 30.
A short history of Thanksgiving in the United States
The first national thanksgiving proclamation came from George Washington, for Thursday, November 26, 1789. Lincoln's 1863 proclamation turned it into a yearly tradition. Thanksgiving has been a holiday for federal employees since the late 1800s, and the date was fixed in law at the fourth Thursday in 1941.
Some traditions are newer than people assume: the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City first marched on November 27, 1924, the Detroit Lions have played an NFL game on Thanksgiving every year since 1934 except 1939 to 1944, and the first official White House turkey pardon was held by President George H. W. Bush on November 17, 1989.
What is open and closed on Thanksgiving
Federal government offices, federal courts, the Federal Reserve Banks and the U.S. Postal Service (no regular mail delivery) are closed. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are closed on Thanksgiving Day and close early, at 1:00 p.m. ET, on the Friday after (Friday, November 27, 2026).
The Friday after Thanksgiving, often called Black Friday, is not a federal holiday under 5 U.S.C. § 6103, although some states treat it as a state holiday. Stores, restaurants and most private businesses set their own hours, which vary widely.
Frequently asked questions about Thanksgiving Day
When is Thanksgiving Day 2026?
Thanksgiving Day 2026 is on Thursday, November 26, 2026.
When is Thanksgiving Day 2027?
Thanksgiving Day 2027 is on Thursday, November 25, 2027.
Is Thanksgiving always on the same date?
No. Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday of November, so the date ranges from November 22 to November 28, but the weekday is always Thursday.
Why is Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday and not the last?
Congress fixed the fourth Thursday in a joint resolution signed on December 26, 1941, after President Roosevelt's 1939 change left the country celebrating on two different dates. In years with five Thursdays in November, such as 2028, the fourth Thursday is a week earlier than the last one.
Is Thanksgiving a federal holiday?
Yes. 5 U.S.C. § 6103 lists "Thanksgiving Day, the fourth Thursday in November" as a legal public holiday, so federal offices are closed.
Is the day after Thanksgiving a federal holiday?
No. The Friday after Thanksgiving is not a federal holiday, although some states observe it as a state holiday.
Are banks and the stock market open on Thanksgiving?
No. The Federal Reserve Banks, the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are closed on Thanksgiving Day. The stock exchanges close early, at 1:00 p.m. ET, on the Friday after.