Thanksgiving 2026: Date, Fourth Thursday Rule and What's Open
Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026. Here is why it is always the fourth Thursday, which retailers have officially confirmed Thanksgiving closures, and how mail, banks and markets are affected.
- Thanksgiving 2026 is Thursday, Nov. 26, the fourth Thursday of November, a rule Congress set in a law signed on Dec. 26, 1941.
- Walmart, Costco, Lowe's and Kohl's have officially confirmed Thanksgiving closures; Target's permanent 2021 policy means it is expected to close too.
- There is no mail, bank branches and stock markets are closed, and markets close early at 1 p.m. ET on Black Friday, Nov. 27.
Thanksgiving 2026 is Thursday, November 26, a federal holiday that falls on the fourth Thursday of November, as federal law requires. Walmart, Costco, Lowe's and Kohl's have officially confirmed that their stores will be closed that day, and Target has kept stores closed on Thanksgiving since making the policy permanent in 2021. Black Friday follows on November 27.
Here is why the holiday lands where it does, which stores have announced closures, and how banks, mail and markets are affected. Store information is current as of October 26, 2026, and more retailers usually post hours in November. Planning the rest of the day? See our guides to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Thanksgiving NFL games.
When is Thanksgiving 2026?
The Office of Personnel Management lists Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, November 26, 2026, and the Federal Reserve's holiday schedule gives the same date. Because the rule is the fourth Thursday rather than a fixed date, the holiday moves each year. It can fall anywhere from November 22 to November 28, as Wikipedia notes.
The Fed's calendar shows the next few dates: November 25, 2027; November 23, 2028; November 22, 2029; and November 28, 2030. Last year, Thanksgiving fell on November 27, 2025.
Why Thanksgiving is on the fourth Thursday
Early dates varied. The first federal Congress asked President George Washington to recommend a day of thanksgiving, and he chose Thursday, November 26, 1789, according to the National Archives. Later presidents picked their own dates and even months.
Abraham Lincoln set the pattern. His proclamation of October 3, 1863, called for a national day of thanksgiving on the last Thursday of November, and the holiday was held then for decades. Wikipedia notes that Lincoln acted after years of editorials by magazine editor Sarah Josepha Hale, the holiday's leading advocate.
The rule changed because of a calendar quirk. November 1939 had five Thursdays, and the last fell on November 30. Worried that a short Christmas shopping season would slow the economic recovery, President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving a week earlier, to November 23. The National Archives says 32 states followed him and 16 kept the later date, so for two years the country celebrated two Thanksgivings. Critics nicknamed the earlier one "Franksgiving."
Congress settled the matter in 1941. The House voted on October 6 to make the last Thursday a legal holiday, and the Senate changed that to the fourth Thursday so that five-Thursday Novembers would not cause confusion. Roosevelt signed the resolution on December 26, 1941, and it took effect in 1942. Today the rule sits in 5 U.S.C. 6103, which lists "Thanksgiving Day, the fourth Thursday in November."
Which stores are closed on Thanksgiving 2026?
Only a handful of retailers have announced Thanksgiving plans so far. These closures come from the companies themselves:
- Walmart: In an October 7, 2026 announcement, Walmart said stores will be closed again on Thanksgiving and Christmas so employees can spend the holidays with family. Its October 26 release says the in-store Black Friday Deals event runs November 23 to 29, starting at 6 a.m. local time.
- Costco: Costco's holiday savings page states, "In observance of Thanksgiving, Costco will be closed Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026." The page was live on October 26.
- Lowe's: In its October 8, 2026 holiday announcement, Lowe's said stores will stay closed on Thanksgiving Day, while online deals continue. Black Friday Doorbusters open to all customers on November 27.
- Kohl's: Kohl's said in an October 21, 2026 release that its stores will once again be closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Target has not restated its Thanksgiving hours for 2026. It made the closure permanent in November 2021, when chief executive Brian Cornell told employees that what began as a pandemic measure was "now our new standard," NPR reported. Target's 2026 holiday releases on October 21 and October 22 cover early Black Friday deals from November 5 to 7 and a Thanksgiving meal offer, but not store hours. A 2026 closure is therefore expected, not yet confirmed.
Other big chains have not said yet. Sam's Club's October 15 Thanksgiving meal announcement does not mention holiday hours, and Best Buy's press center had no holiday hours release as of October 26. Grocery and pharmacy hours vary by chain and by location, so check with your local store before you go.
Holiday shopping dates retailers have announced
Stores may be dark on Thanksgiving Day, but the sales calendar around it is already filling up. These dates come from the retailers' own announcements; they cover event timing only, not specific deals:
- Target: a new Deal of the Day every day from November 1 to December 24, plus early Black Friday deals from November 5 to 7, according to its October 21 release.
- Walmart: Early Black Friday Deals from November 12 to 15, Black Friday Deals from November 23 to 29, and Cyber Monday deals online from November 30 to December 2. In-store events start at 6 a.m. local time and online events at 12:01 a.m. ET.
- Lowe's: Black Friday deals began on October 29, four weeks before Black Friday, with a "12 Days of Deals" event from November 16.
- Kohl's: free in-store returns through January 31, 2027, on items bought from October 4 to December 30.
Banks, mail, markets and schools on Thanksgiving
- Mail: No mail service on Thanksgiving Day, according to the Postal Service's 2026 holiday list.
- Banks: Thanksgiving is a Federal Reserve holiday, so expect bank branches to be closed. AARP notes that some states also observe the day after Thanksgiving, so local branches may close or shorten hours on November 27.
- Stock markets: The NYSE and Nasdaq are closed on November 26 and close early at 1 p.m. ET on Friday, November 27. Eligible options on NYSE markets trade until 1:15 p.m.
- Bond market: SIFMA recommends a full close on Thanksgiving and a 2 p.m. ET early close on November 27.
- Schools: Many districts take a break. New York City public schools, for example, close November 26 and 27 for Thanksgiving recess under the 2026-27 calendar.
- Federal offices: Closed on Thanksgiving Day. The day after Thanksgiving is not on OPM's list of federal holidays, so federal offices are scheduled to reopen on Friday, November 27.
What to watch for
- More store hours: Retailers often post Thanksgiving and Black Friday hours in November. We will add official announcements as they appear.
- Target: whether Target confirms its Thanksgiving closure and its Black Friday opening time.
- Black Friday: Deal events have already started online. Our Black Friday 2026 guide tracks dates, store hours and spending forecasts.
Our take
Closing on Thanksgiving now looks like the default for the largest chains. NPR reported in 2021 that Target, Walmart and Macy's were closing for a second Thanksgiving in a row, and Walmart says its stores will be closed "again" this year. For shoppers, the practical result is that holiday deals start online and weeks earlier, while store doors open on Friday morning.
Frequently asked questions
What date is Thanksgiving 2026?
Thanksgiving 2026 is Thursday, November 26. It is a federal holiday, and in 2027 it falls on Thursday, November 25.
Why is Thanksgiving always on a Thursday?
Abraham Lincoln's 1863 proclamation set the holiday on the last Thursday of November. After President Roosevelt moved it a week earlier in 1939, Congress fixed it on the fourth Thursday in a law signed on December 26, 1941.
Is Walmart open on Thanksgiving 2026?
No. Walmart said on October 7, 2026, that its stores will be closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Its in-store Black Friday Deals event runs November 23 to 29, starting at 6 a.m. local time.
Is Target open on Thanksgiving 2026?
Target is expected to be closed. It made its Thanksgiving closure permanent in 2021, but as of October 26, 2026, it had not restated its hours for this year.
Is the stock market open the day after Thanksgiving?
Yes, but only for part of the day. The NYSE and Nasdaq are closed on Thanksgiving, November 26, and close early at 1 p.m. ET on Friday, November 27.
Sources
- Federal Holidays, U.S. Office of Personnel Management
- 5 U.S. Code § 6103 - Holidays, Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute
- K.8 - Holidays Observed by the Federal Reserve System 2026-2030, Federal Reserve Board
- Congress Establishes Thanksgiving, National Archives
- Thanksgiving (United States), Wikipedia
- New Ways to Shop, Holiday Traditions to Keep: Walmart is Ready for the Season, Walmart
- Walmart Unwraps Three Major Holiday Shopping Events, Bringing Big Savings on Gifts and Seasonal Favorites, Walmart
- Holiday Savings Valid Oct. 30 - Nov. 15, Costco
- Lowe's Unveils Holiday 2026 Lineup with New Gifts and Décor, MyLowe's Rewards Perks and Weeks of Black Friday Savings, Lowe's
- Kohl's Brings Holiday Magic to Life for Customers with Top Gifts, Incredible Savings, and New Ways to Shop, Kohl's
- Target will no longer open its stores on Thanksgiving Day, NPR
- Target Makes it Easier for Guests to Discover Stylish Holiday Gifts They Can't Wait to Give, Target
- Target Brings More Value and Delight to Thanksgiving with a $30 Meal for Six and Fresh Takes on Holiday Favorites, Target
- Sam's Club Presents Its 2026 Member's Mark Thanksgiving Meal, Sam's Club
- Press Center, Best Buy
- Holidays & Events, U.S. Postal Service
- Holidays & Trading Hours, New York Stock Exchange
- U.S. Equity and Options Markets Holiday Schedule 2026, Nasdaq Trader
- Holiday Schedule, SIFMA
- Federal Bank Holidays 2026: Find Out if Your Branch Is Open on Veterans Day, AARP
- 2026-2027 School Year Calendar, New York City Public Schools
How we wrote this
GessyMorgan explainers are built from public reporting and official sources. This post draws on the 21 sources listed above, each linked where we use it. It was drafted with AI assistance and checked against those sources before publishing. We did not test products, attend events or interview anyone for this article. Facts are current as of October 26, 2026, and we update the post when they change.
