Thanksgiving Day 2026
Thanksgiving 2026 falls on Thursday, November 26 — the fourth Thursday of the month.
Time until Thanksgiving Day 2026
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Date: November 26, 2026 (Thursday)
What is Thanksgiving Day?
Thanksgiving is a day of gratitude rooted in the harvest feasts of early colonial America, most famously the 1621 meal shared by Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag people. It became a fixed national holiday in 1941, set to the fourth Thursday of November.
Modern Thanksgiving centers on a large meal — roast turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie — shared with family and friends. It is the busiest travel period of the American year, as tens of millions of people journey home for the long weekend.
The day also kicks off the holiday shopping season: Black Friday follows immediately, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has marched through New York since 1924. Presidents traditionally "pardon" a turkey in a lighthearted White House ceremony.
Frequently asked questions
When is Thanksgiving 2026?
Thursday, November 26, 2026 — always the fourth Thursday in November.
Is Thanksgiving a federal holiday?
Yes. It is also the start of a four-day weekend for most workers, since the Friday after is widely taken off.
Why is Thanksgiving always on a Thursday?
A 1941 federal law fixed it to the fourth Thursday of November, standardizing a tradition of presidential proclamations dating back to Lincoln in 1863.