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

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 (when November 1 is a Friday) to November 28 (when November 1 is a Saturday).

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.

Planning around it

Thanksgiving 2026 is November 26 — the latest date the holiday can fall on. 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.

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 Friday.

What is the latest Thanksgiving can be?

November 28, when November 1 is a Saturday. 2026 falls on November 26, one of the 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 22?

2029 and 2035 in this table. November 22 is the earliest possible date, which happens when November 1 falls on a Friday.

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.