When is Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving in the United States is the fourth Thursday of November, so it always falls between November 22 and November 28. Thanksgiving 2026 is on Thursday, November 26, 2026. It is a federal holiday, and many schools and employers also close the Friday after.
U.S. and Canadian Thanksgiving dates
Canada celebrates its Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October, about six weeks earlier.
| Year | U.S. Thanksgiving | Canadian Thanksgiving |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Thu, Nov 26 | Mon, Oct 12 |
| 2027 | Thu, Nov 25 | Mon, Oct 11 |
| 2028 | Thu, Nov 23 | Mon, Oct 9 |
| 2029 | Thu, Nov 22 | Mon, Oct 8 |
| 2030 | Thu, Nov 28 | Mon, Oct 14 |
| 2031 | Thu, Nov 27 | Mon, Oct 13 |
| 2032 | Thu, Nov 25 | Mon, Oct 11 |
| 2033 | Thu, Nov 24 | Mon, Oct 10 |
History of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving traces its story to the autumn of 1621, when the Plymouth colonists and members of the Wampanoag people shared a harvest celebration that lasted several days. Days of thanksgiving were common in the colonies, but they were set locally and irregularly. George Washington proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving for November 26, 1789, yet there was still no fixed annual date.
The magazine editor Sarah Josepha Hale campaigned for decades for a national holiday, and in 1863, during the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of November as a day of thanksgiving. Presidents kept that custom until 1939, when Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the holiday a week earlier to lengthen the shopping season before Christmas. The change was unpopular and states disagreed on which Thursday to observe, so in 1941 Congress fixed Thanksgiving permanently as the fourth Thursday of November.
How Thanksgiving is celebrated
The center of the day is a family meal, usually roast turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. Millions watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, held since 1924, and the traditional NFL games hosted by the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys. The president also "pardons" a turkey at the White House each year. Many people volunteer at food banks or community dinners during the holiday week.
Planning with the countdown
- Travel: the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after are among the busiest travel days of the year. Book flights early and consider flying on Thanksgiving Day itself or on Monday to avoid the peaks.
- Thawing the turkey: the USDA recommends thawing a frozen turkey in the refrigerator and allowing about 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds. A 20-pound bird needs four to five days, so move it to the fridge when the countdown reaches about 5.
- Ordering: fresh or heritage turkeys from a butcher or farm are often reserved weeks in advance, and grocery stores are most crowded in the last two or three days.
- Hosting: plan the menu and oven schedule a week or two out, and buy nonperishables early to skip the final rush.
Frequently asked questions
What date is Thanksgiving 2026?
Thanksgiving 2026 is on Thursday, November 26, 2026.
Why is Thanksgiving always on a Thursday?
Presidential proclamations named a Thursday from Lincoln’s 1863 proclamation onward, and the 1941 law fixed the holiday on the fourth Thursday of November.
What is the earliest and latest date for Thanksgiving?
Because it is the fourth Thursday of November, Thanksgiving can fall no earlier than November 22 and no later than November 28.
When is Canadian Thanksgiving in 2026?
Canadian Thanksgiving is the second Monday of October, which in 2026 is Monday, October 12, 2026.
Is the day after Thanksgiving a holiday?
It is not a federal holiday, but many state governments, schools and private employers give the Friday off, making it a four-day weekend for a lot of people.
Last updated: October 8, 2026