Thanksgiving 2026: the date and a practical hosting calendar
U.S. Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, 2026. Check the Canadian date, then plan invitations, shopping, turkey thawing and leftovers.
By Celebration Help
In the United States, Thanksgiving this year is Thursday, November 26, 2026, confirmed by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s 2026 holiday schedule. It falls on the fourth Thursday in November, not on a fixed date.
In Canada, Thanksgiving was Monday, October 12, 2026, according to the Canada Revenue Agency’s public-holiday calendar.
The hosting calendar below is for a U.S. Thanksgiving meal on November 26. If you’re gathering on another day, work backward from your actual meal date.
A practical Thanksgiving hosting calendar
These are suggested planning checkpoints, not deadlines you have to meet.
| When | What to settle |
|---|---|
| November 1–8 | Invite guests with an arrival time and meal time. Ask about dietary needs and travel constraints. Decide whether you’ll cook everything, share dishes or order part of the meal. |
| By Thursday, November 12 — two weeks before | Set the menu and spending limit. Assign specific dishes to guests, including whether they need oven space. Check any caterer’s or bakery’s ordering deadline directly. |
| By Thursday, November 19 — one week before | Confirm the headcount. Buy shelf-stable ingredients, check serving dishes and your food thermometer, and write an oven schedule. Make refrigerator space for ingredients and leftovers. |
| November 20–23 | If serving frozen turkey, begin refrigerator thawing according to its weight; see the timing below. |
| November 24–25 | Buy remaining perishable ingredients. Prepare only dishes whose recipes support advance preparation and safe storage. Set the table and confirm guest contributions. |
| Thursday, November 26 | Follow your cooking schedule, check food temperatures and set a reminder to put leftovers away promptly. |
| November 27–30 | Use refrigerated leftovers within the safe storage window, or freeze them sooner. |
For a smaller workload, choose a main dish and a few sides you can manage comfortably. A guest bringing a ready-to-serve dish is more helpful than an extra dish that competes for the oven.
Put turkey thawing on the calendar
If you’re serving frozen turkey, allow about 24 hours for every 4–5 pounds in a refrigerator set to 40°F (4°C) or below. FoodSafety.gov’s thawing chart gives these ranges:
- 4–12 pounds: 1–3 days; allow three full days by starting November 23.
- 12–16 pounds: 3–4 days; allow four full days by starting November 22.
- 16–20 pounds: 4–5 days; allow five full days by starting November 21.
- 20–24 pounds: 5–6 days; allow six full days by starting November 20.
Count full 24-hour periods back from when cooking will begin, rather than simply counting calendar dates. If you’ve missed the refrigerator-thawing window, do not thaw turkey on the counter. Follow the USDA’s safe-thawing instructions: for cold-water thawing, keep the turkey in airtight packaging or a leak-proof bag, submerge it in cold water, change the water every 30 minutes and cook immediately after thawing. Allow about 30 minutes per pound, according to the FoodSafety.gov chart above.
On Thanksgiving Day, use a thermometer—not the clock alone—to confirm turkey reaches 165°F (74°C) in the innermost thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast. The center of the stuffing must also reach 165°F, as specified in the official poultry cooking guidance.
Plan for leftovers before guests arrive
Have shallow containers ready. FoodSafety.gov advises dividing leftovers into small portions and refrigerating or freezing them within two hours of cooking; don’t wait for them to cool to room temperature.
Properly stored refrigerated Thanksgiving leftovers keep for 3–4 days. For a November 26 meal, Monday, November 30 is the outer use-or-freeze deadline. Freeze portions earlier if you already know you won’t eat them in time.