Thanksgiving dates for the next 5 years
| Year | Date | Day of the week | Federal holiday observed | Days from September 29, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | November 26, 2026 | Thursday | Same day | 58 |
| 2027 | November 25, 2027 | Thursday | Same day | 422 |
| 2028 | November 23, 2028 | Thursday | Same day | 786 |
| 2029 | November 22, 2029 | Thursday | Same day | 1,150 |
| 2030 | November 28, 2030 | Thursday | Same day | 1,521 |
Thanksgiving is on the fourth Thursday in November. Every date on this page is calculated from that rule, not copied from a list, and the countdown above updates automatically for your time zone.
About Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is the fourth Thursday in November. It is always on a Thursday, so its calendar date changes every year: it can be as early as November 22 and as late as November 28. In 2026 it is on November 26; in 2027 it is on November 25.
The rule dates to 1941: the Senate amended a House resolution to set the holiday on the fourth Thursday, which accounts for Novembers with five Thursdays, and President Roosevelt signed it on December 26, 1941 (National Archives).
Thanksgiving Day is one of the 11 legal public holidays in 5 U.S.C. 6103. When a federal holiday falls on a Saturday, most federal employees get the preceding Friday off; when it falls on a Sunday, they get the following Monday off (OPM). In the next 10 years it always falls on a weekday. Private employers set their own holiday schedules — the Fair Labor Standards Act does not require pay for holidays not worked (U.S. Department of Labor).
How the countdown is counted
The number of days is the difference between today’s date and Thanksgiving, so on the day before it the countdown reads 1 day, and on the day itself it reads 0. Weeks are whole 7-day blocks with the leftover days shown separately. Business days count Monday through Friday from today up to the day before Thanksgiving, skipping any federal holiday on its observed date — the same rules the date calculator uses. To count to a different date, or to include the holiday itself, change the end date in the calculator above.
Days until other holidays
- Days until Halloween: Saturday, October 31, 2026
- Days until Christmas: Friday, December 25, 2026
- Days until New Year’s Day: Friday, January 1, 2027
- Days until Valentine’s Day: Sunday, February 14, 2027
- Days until St. Patrick’s Day: Wednesday, March 17, 2027
- Days until Easter: Sunday, March 28, 2027
- Days until Mother’s Day: Sunday, May 9, 2027
- Days until Memorial Day: Monday, May 31, 2027
- Days until Father’s Day: Sunday, June 20, 2027
- Days until Independence Day: Sunday, July 4, 2027
- Days until Labor Day: Monday, September 6, 2027
- All holiday countdowns
Frequently asked questions
How many days until Thanksgiving 2026?
As of September 29, 2026, there are 58 days until Thanksgiving 2026 on Thursday, November 26, 2026 — 8 weeks and 2 days. Counting only Monday through Friday and skipping observed federal holidays, 40 business days remain (today counted, Thanksgiving itself not). The countdown at the top of this page updates for your own date.
What day of the week is Thanksgiving 2026?
Thanksgiving 2026 falls on a Thursday (November 26, 2026). In 2027 it is on Thursday, November 25, 2027, and in 2028 on Thursday, November 23, 2028, because Thanksgiving is on the fourth Thursday in November.
Is Thanksgiving a federal holiday?
Yes. Thanksgiving Day is one of the 11 legal public holidays in 5 U.S.C. 6103 and falls on the fourth Thursday in November. In 2026 it falls on a Thursday, so it is observed on the day itself. Private employers are not required by federal law to give the day off or pay extra for it.
Why is Thanksgiving on a different date every year?
Thanksgiving is set by a weekday rule, not a date: federal law makes it the fourth Thursday in November. Because November 1 falls on a different weekday each year, the fourth Thursday can be any date from November 22 to November 28. In 2026 it is November 26, and in 2027 it is November 25.
Is the day after Thanksgiving a federal holiday?
No. Only Thanksgiving Day itself is a legal public holiday under 5 U.S.C. 6103. The Friday after Thanksgiving (November 27, 2026 this year) is a normal workday for federal agencies, although some employers give it as a paid holiday under their own policies.