Thanksgiving Day: the exact date, every year through 2035
Thanksgiving is always the fourth Thursday of November. In 2026 that is November 26; in 2027 it is November 25; in 2028, November 23. The full list through 2035 is below.
Thanksgiving Day Dates, 2026–2035
| Year | Date | Day of the week |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | November 26, 2026 | Thursday |
| 2027 | November 25, 2027 | Thursday |
| 2028 | November 23, 2028 | Thursday |
| 2029 | November 22, 2029 | Thursday |
| 2030 | November 28, 2030 | Thursday |
| 2031 | November 27, 2031 | Thursday |
| 2032 | November 25, 2032 | Thursday |
| 2033 | November 24, 2033 | Thursday |
| 2034 | November 23, 2034 | Thursday |
| 2035 | November 22, 2035 | Thursday |
Why the date moves
Thanksgiving is set by weekday rather than by calendar date. Congress fixed it as the fourth Thursday of November in 1941, which means it can land anywhere from November 22 to November 28.
The exact date is decided by which weekday November 1 falls on: November 1 on a Thursday gives November 22 (the earliest possible date), on a Wednesday gives November 23, on a Tuesday gives November 24, on a Monday gives November 25, on a Sunday gives November 26, on a Saturday gives November 27, and on a Friday gives November 28 (the latest possible date).
Two practical consequences: the holiday always falls on a Thursday, so the weekend is always four days long without taking any leave; and the gap between Thanksgiving and Christmas varies by up to a week, which is why shipping and travel deadlines feel tighter in some years.
Which years land on which date
Because the date cycles with the weekday of November 1, some dates in the November 22–28 window are rare. Across 2026 to 2035, November 26, 27 and 28 each occur exactly once — in 2026, 2031 and 2030 respectively.
| Date | Years (2026–2035) | How often |
|---|---|---|
| November 22 | 2029, 2035 | 2 of 10 years |
| November 23 | 2028, 2034 | 2 of 10 years |
| November 24 | 2033 | 1 of 10 years |
| November 25 | 2027, 2032 | 2 of 10 years |
| November 26 | 2026 | 1 of 10 years |
| November 27 | 2031 | 1 of 10 years |
| November 28 | 2030 | 1 of 10 years |
Planning around it
Thanksgiving 2026 is November 26 — one of the three latest dates the holiday can fall on, and its only occurrence between 2026 and 2035. If you are planning travel, note that Wednesday November 25 is typically the busiest departure day of the year, and Sunday November 29 the busiest return day.
Other US holidays in November 2026
| Date | Holiday | Day | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 11, 2026 | Veterans Day | Wednesday | Federal holiday |
| November 26, 2026 | Thanksgiving Day | Thursday | Federal holiday |
| November 27, 2026 | Black Friday | Friday | Observance |
| November 30, 2026 | Cyber Monday | Monday | Observance |
Frequently asked questions
What is the rule for Thanksgiving's date?
The fourth Thursday of November, fixed by federal statute in 1941.
What is the earliest Thanksgiving can be?
November 22. That happens when November 1 falls on a Thursday.
What is the latest Thanksgiving can be?
November 28, when November 1 is a Friday. 2026 falls on November 26, one of the three latest dates.
Which years have Thanksgiving on November 28?
Within this table, only 2030. November 28 is the latest date Thanksgiving can fall on.
Which years have Thanksgiving on November 26?
Within this table, only 2026. It happens when November 1 falls on a Sunday.
Which years have Thanksgiving on November 27?
Within this table, only 2031. It happens when November 1 falls on a Saturday.
Which years have Thanksgiving on November 22?
2029 and 2035 in this table. November 22 is the earliest possible date, which happens when November 1 falls on a Thursday.
Official sources
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management — Federal Holidays — official federal holiday schedule
- 5 U.S.C. § 6103 — Legal Public Holidays (Cornell LII) — the statute that fixes the fourth Thursday
Last verified against official sources on September 26, 2026.