When is Thanksgiving Day?
Fourth Thursday in November. Here is the date, the background and what to know before you make plans.
Next Thanksgiving Day
Thursday, November 26, 2026Thanksgiving Day dates, 2026–2031
Rule: Fourth Thursday in November. When it falls on a weekend, federal offices observe it on the Friday before (Saturday) or the Monday after (Sunday).
What’s open on Thanksgiving
| Service | Typical status |
|---|---|
| Banks | Closed |
| Post Office / Mail delivery | Closed |
| Stock market (NYSE, Nasdaq) | Closed |
| Federal & most state government offices | Closed |
| Public schools | Closed Closed (most districts close both Thursday and Friday) |
Thanksgiving is a federal holiday, so banks, the stock market, the post office and most government offices close nationwide, and many businesses also close for the Friday after. Individual banks, school districts and employers can still make their own call, so confirm directly if a closure affects an important errand or appointment. Check any date with the holiday status checker.
The story behind Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving’s popular origin story traces to a 1621 harvest celebration shared by Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag people, though the holiday as celebrated today owes more to 19th-century efforts to formalize it. Sarah Josepha Hale, editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book, campaigned for decades for a national Thanksgiving before President Abraham Lincoln declared it a national holiday in 1863, during the Civil War, as a unifying gesture.
The date shifted in 1939 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved it a week earlier to extend the Christmas shopping season during the Depression, a controversial change some states initially refused to follow. Congress settled the date permanently as the fourth Thursday in November in 1941.
The familiar “first Thanksgiving” story often leaves out Wampanoag people and later colonial violence. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian offers Native perspectives and resources for learning about the history with more care.
How it’s celebrated
Turkey dinners, family gatherings, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (running since 1924), and NFL football are the defining American traditions. The day after, Black Friday, has become the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season.
Turkey wasn’t necessarily on the menu at the original 1621 gathering — the only surviving written account mentions deer and wildfowl, with turkey’s centrality coming later in the holiday’s mythology.
Plan a gathering without the rush
Four to six weeks ahead, settle travel and lodging. Two weeks ahead, confirm the guest count, dietary needs and who is bringing each dish. A few days ahead, check safe thawing and cooking guidance for perishable food and review grocery hours.
If the day is quieter, a shared meal, community event, volunteering or personal reflection can all be meaningful. Many public offices close Thursday; Friday schedules vary by state and employer.
Thanksgiving planning checklist
- Four to six weeks ahead: book long-distance travel and confirm overnight arrangements.
- Two weeks ahead: settle the guest count, dietary needs and shared dishes.
- Three to five days ahead: check food-safety timing, grocery hours, weather and traffic.
- The day before: confirm arrival times and any pickup, transit or parking changes.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Thanksgiving on a Thursday?
Federal law sets it on the fourth Thursday of November.
Is the Friday after Thanksgiving a federal holiday?
No. Some states and employers close, but it is not one of the federal holidays.
Should I assume every store is closed?
No. Hours vary widely; check individual stores and transit providers.
When is Thanksgiving in 2027?
Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 25, 2027.
Are schools closed on the Friday after Thanksgiving?
Many districts include Friday in Thanksgiving recess, but it is not a federal holiday. Check the current district calendar.
Sources and how we check
- National Archives: Congress establishes Thanksgiving
- Smithsonian: Native perspectives on Thanksgiving
Federal holiday dates and observed-day rules follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Market dates follow the NYSE holiday calendar; bank dates follow the Federal Reserve. Read our editorial policy or report a correction.