How Many Days Until Thanksgiving 2026?

How the date of Thanksgiving is set

Since 1942, US federal law has fixed Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November. Before that, presidents picked the date each year. Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving in 1863, and it was usually held on the last Thursday of November. In 1939 Franklin D. Roosevelt moved it a week earlier to lengthen the holiday shopping season. The controversy ended when Congress set the fourth Thursday by law in 1941.

Because it is the fourth Thursday, and not the last, Thanksgiving can fall on any date from November 22 to November 28.

Thanksgiving week 2026 calendar

Turkey thawing guide: when to start

The most common Thanksgiving mistake is a frozen turkey on Thursday morning. Thawing in the refrigerator takes about 24 hours for every 4–5 pounds (per USDA guidance).

Cook turkey to an internal temperature of 165 °F (74 °C), checked in the thickest part of the thigh, wing and breast.

Thanksgiving dinner countdown

• 3 weeks out: confirm the guest list and who is bringing what. Order a fresh or heritage turkey if you want one.
• 1 week out: shop for non-perishables, plan oven time, and make pie crust dough to freeze.
• Weekend before: start thawing a large frozen turkey (see the table above).
• Tuesday–Wednesday: make cranberry sauce, pies and casseroles you can reheat. Wednesday is one of the busiest travel days of the year, so leave early.
• Thursday: roast the turkey, and let it rest 20–30 minutes before carving.

Canadian Thanksgiving vs. US Thanksgiving

Canada celebrates Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October, which lines up with its earlier harvest. It is a statutory holiday in most provinces. The US holiday is later and on a Thursday, and it leads straight into Black Friday.

Thanksgiving dates for upcoming years

How many days until Thanksgiving from other dates?

Counting from the start of each date to the start of Thanksgiving 2026 (Thursday, November 26, 2026):

Need a different start date? Count the days from any date to Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving quick facts

• Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November, so it's always between November 22 and 28.
• The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City began in 1924.
• The day before Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel days of the year in the US.
• The NFL has played games on Thanksgiving Day since the league's early years; the Detroit Lions have hosted a game almost every year since 1934.

Plan around Thanksgiving

Sources

• U.S. Office of Personnel Management: Federal holidays
• National Archives: Congress establishes Thanksgiving
• USDA FSIS: Safe turkey thawing

More countdowns like Thanksgiving

Last reviewed: Wednesday, September 30, 2026. The countdown uses your device's clock and time zone. How we get our dates.