Thanksgiving 2026: Thursday, November 26
Thanksgiving Day 2026 falls on Thursday, November 26, 2026 — the fourth Thursday of November, as fixed by federal law. Schools and many employers also close Friday, November 27, which turns it into a four-day weekend.
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 |
How the date is decided
Since 1941, Thanksgiving has been the fourth Thursday of November — not a fixed calendar date. That is why it moves between November 22 and November 28 from year to year.
It took a while to get there. George Washington issued the first national Thanksgiving proclamation in 1789, and Abraham Lincoln set an annual date in 1863 (the last Thursday of November). In 1939 Franklin D. Roosevelt moved it a week earlier to lengthen the Christmas shopping season — the widely mocked "Franksgiving" — and Congress settled the argument in 1941 by writing the fourth Thursday into law.
In 2026 the fourth Thursday lands on November 26 — late in the possible range, though not the latest: the holiday has to fall on November 1 being a Saturday to reach November 28, which next happens in 2030.
The 2026 long weekend: what to take off
Thanksgiving is always a Thursday, so the break depends entirely on whether you get Friday off. Here is how the arithmetic works in 2026:
| Days you take off | Total break | Dates | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| None | 4 days | Thu Nov 26 – Sun Nov 29 | The default Thanksgiving weekend |
| Fri Nov 27 | 5 days | Thu Nov 26 – Mon Nov 30 | Most common — many employers already close |
| Mon–Wed Nov 23–25 | 9 days | Sat Nov 21 – Sun Nov 29 | 3 leave days buys a 9-day break |
| Mon–Wed Nov 23–25 + Fri Nov 27 | 10 days | Sat Nov 21 – Mon Nov 30 | 4 leave days for a 10-day break |
Is the Friday after Thanksgiving a holiday?
Not federally. Congress has never added it to the list in 5 U.S.C. §6103, so it stays a regular workday at the federal level even though plenty of offices close anyway.
States that do observe it
Several states add the day after Thanksgiving as a holiday for state employees — among them California, Nevada (where it is called Family Day), Texas and New Mexico. Private employers are not bound by these rules. If it matters for your pay or your child's school calendar, check your own state's official holiday list rather than assuming.
Why it feels like a holiday anyway
Retail, travel and hospitality run at full speed on Black Friday, while offices, banks and schools largely stay shut. The result is a day that is simultaneously the year's biggest shopping day and a quiet day for everyone else.
What is closed on Thanksgiving 2026
- Federal offices and courts — closed, along with most state and local government offices
- USPS — no regular mail delivery; most Post Offices are closed
- Banks — the Federal Reserve is closed, and most bank branches follow
- Stock markets — NYSE and Nasdaq are closed Thursday, with an early close on Friday November 27
- Schools — most districts close Thursday and Friday
- Supermarkets and pharmacies — shortened hours, varying by chain; big-box retailers typically reopen Thursday evening for Black Friday
Thanksgiving travel in 2026
November 26 is late in the range, which leaves one of the shorter gaps between Thanksgiving and Christmas — 29 days, against 33 in a year like 2029 when Thanksgiving falls on November 22. Both the airport rush and shipping deadlines compress accordingly.
If you are flying, Wednesday November 25 is the heaviest travel day of the year in normal patterns, and Sunday November 29 is the worst day to fly back. Shipping anything by ground for Christmas delivery is tighter than usual this year.
Thanksgiving elsewhere in the world
The United States is not the only country with a Thanksgiving, though it is the one most people search for:
| Country | When | 2026 date |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Fourth Thursday of November | November 26, 2026 |
| Canada | Second Monday of October | October 12, 2026 |
| Liberia | First Thursday of November | November 5, 2026 |
| Saint Lucia | First Monday of October | October 5, 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
What date is Thanksgiving 2026?
Thanksgiving Day 2026 is Thursday, November 26, 2026.
What day of the week is Thanksgiving 2026?
Thursday. Thanksgiving always falls on a Thursday, which is why it creates a four-day weekend when Friday is also taken off.
Is Thanksgiving always the fourth Thursday of November?
Yes, since 1941, when Congress fixed it by statute. Before that it was the last Thursday of November, and for two years (1939 and 1940) Roosevelt moved it a week earlier.
When is Thanksgiving 2027?
Thanksgiving 2027 falls on Thursday, November 25, 2027. The year after, Thanksgiving 2028 is Thursday, November 23, 2028.
When is Black Friday 2026?
Black Friday 2026 is Friday, November 27, 2026 — the day after Thanksgiving.
When is Cyber Monday 2026?
Cyber Monday 2026 is Monday, November 30, 2026 — the Monday after Thanksgiving.
Is the Friday after Thanksgiving a federal holiday?
No. Only Thanksgiving Day itself is on the federal list. Some states give their own employees the Friday off, and many private employers close by custom.
How many days off do you get for Thanksgiving 2026?
At minimum four days: Thursday November 26 through Sunday November 29. With Friday off it becomes five days, and taking Monday to Wednesday (November 23–25) off turns it into a nine-day break.
Why does Thanksgiving change date every year?
Because it is defined by weekday, not calendar date — the fourth Thursday of November. The same weekday rule moves it between November 22 and November 28.
Do all 50 states celebrate Thanksgiving on the same day?
Yes, all 50 states observe Thanksgiving on the same federal date. What differs is whether the Friday after is also a holiday, which is set state by state.
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 Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday
- U.S. Postal Service — Holiday Schedule — confirms no regular delivery on Thanksgiving
- NYSE — Markets Hours & Calendars — market closure and early-close days
Last verified against official sources on September 26, 2026.