In the United States, Thanksgiving is celebrated every year on the fourth Thursday in November.

When is it this year?

  • In 2026, Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26.
  • It is a federal holiday, so most schools, banks, and government offices are closed that day.

How the date is set

  • The holiday date is defined by law as the fourth Thursday of November, which is why the exact calendar date shifts between November 22 and 28 each year.
  • This rule has been in place since the 1940s, after earlier proclamations that used the last Thursday of November instead.

Quick historical note

  • Thanksgiving in the U.S. developed from harvest festival traditions and days of giving thanks proclaimed in the colonial period.
  • It became a national annual holiday during President Abraham Lincoln’s administration in 1863.