When is Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is on November 26, 2026.
That is 85 days away, on a Thursday.
Upcoming dates
- 2026Thu, November 26
- 2027Thu, November 25
- 2028Thu, November 23
- 2029Thu, November 22
When is Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November, so it never has a fixed calendar date and instead moves a little each year. The earliest it can occur is November 22 and the latest is November 28.
It is a federal holiday, which means government offices, banks, and most schools and businesses close. Many workers also get the Friday after off, giving them a long four-day weekend.
The story behind the day
The holiday traces back to a 1621 harvest feast shared by the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag people. For centuries it was celebrated on scattered days chosen by individual states or presidents.
In 1863, during the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving on the last Thursday of November. Congress fixed it to the fourth Thursday in 1941, settling the date we still use.
How Thanksgiving is celebrated
The centerpiece is a large family meal, almost always built around roast turkey with sides like stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. Households often travel long distances to gather, making it one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has rolled through New York City since 1924, and American football is a fixture of the afternoon. The following day, known as Black Friday, kicks off the holiday shopping season.
Count down to Thanksgiving
Put a live countdown to Thanksgiving on your Home Screen with NanoCount, in days, weeks or working days. Free, no subscription, no ads.
Frequently asked questions
- When is Thanksgiving?
- Thanksgiving is on November 26, 2026.
- What day of the week is Thanksgiving?
- This year, Thanksgiving falls on a Thursday.
- How many days until Thanksgiving?
- 85 days.