THANKSGIVING 2026
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Thursday, November 26, 2026
Thursday, November 26, 2026
Our free Thanksgiving countdown shows exactly how many days, hours, minutes and seconds remain until Thanksgiving 2026, which falls on Thursday, November 26, 2026. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States, and this live countdown updates every second so you always know how long you have to prepare the perfect feast.
Thanksgiving 2026 falls on Thursday, November 26, 2026 — the fourth Thursday of November. The countdown above calculates this date automatically each year, so it always points to the next upcoming Thanksgiving.
The key to a stress-free Thanksgiving is early planning. With 4+ weeks to go, finalise your guest list, plan your menu, and order any specialty items (heritage turkeys, specialty wines, and popular desserts sell out early). At 2 weeks, buy non-perishable groceries and confirm travel plans with family. At 1 week, begin any make-ahead dishes — cranberry sauce, pie crusts, and stuffing can all be prepared in advance and frozen. At 3 days, thaw your frozen turkey (allow 24 hours per 5 lbs of bird). On the day before, brine or dry-rub the turkey, make the pie filling, and prep vegetables. On Thanksgiving morning, the turkey goes in early — and the countdown to dinner begins.
The American Thanksgiving traces its origins to a 1621 harvest feast shared between the Plymouth Colony pilgrims and the Wampanoag people — one of the earliest moments of cultural exchange in the colonial period. For over a century, individual colonies and states held sporadic Thanksgiving observances. George Washington proclaimed the first national day of thanksgiving in 1789. It wasn't until 1863, during the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a permanent national holiday on the last Thursday of November. In 1941, Congress formally fixed the date to the fourth Thursday — creating the modern holiday. Canada celebrates its own Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October, dating from different colonial and harvest traditions.
The centrepiece of American Thanksgiving is the turkey — over 46 million are consumed annually. Classic sides include stuffing (or dressing), mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, broadcast nationally since 1924, draws millions of viewers. The presidential turkey pardon is an annual White House tradition. NFL football has been broadcast on Thanksgiving since 1934, making it the most-watched day for American football. Black Friday — the day after Thanksgiving — marks the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season, though many retailers now begin deals earlier. Whatever your traditions, the days until Thanksgiving are best spent planning, shopping, and looking forward to time with those you're grateful for.
Thanksgiving 2026 is on Thursday, November 26, 2026 — the fourth Thursday of November. Our countdown calculates this automatically.
No — Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November in the US, so the date shifts each year between November 22nd and November 28th. Our countdown always shows the correct upcoming date.
Canadian Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October. This countdown is set to US Thanksgiving (fourth Thursday in November). For a Canadian Thanksgiving countdown, use our Event Countdown with your date.
Also counting down: Halloween Countdown, Christmas Countdown, New Year Countdown, and Event Countdown for any custom date.