Thanksgiving Day 2026 falls on Thursday, November 26, 2026, the fourth Thursday of November. The latest verified benchmarks, all from 2025, show a record 81.8 million holiday travelers, a $55.18 classic dinner for 10, and 202.9 million Thanksgiving-weekend shoppers.
Thanksgiving Day 2026 – Introduction
Thanksgiving Day is the fourth Thursday of November, and in 2026 it lands on November 26. Federal offices close, families gather, and the country runs on turkey, travel and television. The 2026 holiday brings three milestones: the 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the NFL’s first Thanksgiving Eve game, and the first five-game Thanksgiving football week. This report gives US readers the date, history, food prices, travel volumes, TV audiences and shopping totals in one place.
Every figure comes from a named source. Where a 2026 count does not exist yet, the report uses the most recent verified 2025 result and says so. AAA, the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Retail Federation publish their 2026 numbers in mid-to-late November. Tables use bold headers and bold first columns, and each ASCII chart sits directly above its table.
Interesting Facts About Thanksgiving Day 2026
2025 THANKSGIVING DAY BY THE NUMBERS (millions)
Holiday-weekend shoppers ████████████████████ 202.9
AAA travelers ████████ 81.8
Turkeys eaten (NTF est.) █████ 46
NFL avg. viewers ████ 44.7
Parade viewers ███ 34.3
| Fact | Figure |
|---|---|
| Thanksgiving Day 2026 date | Thursday, November 26, 2026 |
| Legal rule | Fourth Thursday of November (fixed in 1941) |
| Macy’s parade edition | 100th (first held in 1924) |
| NFL games in 2026 holiday week | 5 (Eve, 3 on Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday) |
| AAA travelers, 2025 | 81.8 million |
| Classic dinner for 10, 2025 | $55.18 |
| 16-pound frozen turkey, 2025 | $21.50 |
| Thanksgiving-weekend shoppers, 2025 | 202.9 million |
| NFL Thanksgiving Day average, 2025 | 44.7 million viewers |
| TSA record screening day, 2025 | 3,133,924 people |
| Turkeys eaten each year (NTF estimate) | 46 million |
Source: AAA and S&P Global Market Intelligence; American Farm Bureau Federation; National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics; NFL; NBCUniversal; Transportation Security Administration; National Turkey Federation.
The facts table mixes confirmed 2026 dates with 2025 results. Thursday, November 26, 2026 is fixed by federal law. The 100th parade and the first Thanksgiving Eve game are on the published calendar. Every dollar and headcount figure is a 2025 actual, because 2026 totals do not exist yet. The $55.18 dinner cost is the Farm Bureau price for 10 people, and the 81.8 million travelers are AAA’s count for the record 2025 holiday period.
The chart shows scale. Shoppers dwarf every other group at 202.9 million, more than double the 81.8 million travelers. The 46 million turkey figure is a long-running National Turkey Federation benchmark, not a 2026 count. TSA’s 3,133,924 screenings on November 30, 2025 set the all-time single-day airport record. The 44.7 million NFL average is the highest Thanksgiving Day average since records began in 1988, and the 34.3 million parade audience is that broadcast’s biggest combined audience on record.
Thanksgiving Day Date 2026 and Upcoming Dates Through 2030
DAY OF NOVEMBER FOR THANKSGIVING DAY
2025 ███████ 27
2026 ██████ 26
2027 █████ 25
2028 ███ 23
2029 ██ 22
2030 ████████ 28
| Year | Thanksgiving Day | Black Friday | Cyber Monday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Thursday, Nov. 27 | Nov. 28 | Dec. 1 |
| 2026 | Thursday, Nov. 26 | Nov. 27 | Nov. 30 |
| 2027 | Thursday, Nov. 25 | Nov. 26 | Nov. 29 |
| 2028 | Thursday, Nov. 23 | Nov. 24 | Nov. 27 |
| 2029 | Thursday, Nov. 22 | Nov. 23 | Nov. 26 |
| 2030 | Thursday, Nov. 28 | Nov. 29 | Dec. 2 |
Source: U.S. Code Title 5, Section 6103 (Office of the Law Revision Counsel); U.S. Office of Personnel Management federal holiday schedule.
Federal law puts Thanksgiving Day on the fourth Thursday of November. That places the 2026 holiday on November 26, one day earlier than November 27, 2025. The date can only fall between November 22 and November 28. It slips one day earlier each year, drops two days in the 2028 leap year to November 23, hits the earliest possible date, November 22, in 2029, then jumps to November 28 in 2030.
Black Friday 2026 is November 27, and Cyber Monday 2026 is November 30. The 2026 shopping window runs five days, the same length as the 2025 window that ended December 1. The gap between Thanksgiving Day 2026 and Christmas is 29 days, one more than in 2025.
Thanksgiving Day History 2026 | Timeline From 1621 to the 100th Parade
YEARS SINCE EVENT, AS OF 2026 (1 block = 20 years)
1621 Plymouth feast ████████████████████ 405
1789 Washington ████████████ 237
1863 Lincoln ████████ 163
1924 First parade █████ 102
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1621 | Plymouth harvest feast; Edward Winslow’s December 1621 letter is the only primary account |
| 1789 | George Washington proclaims a national day of thanksgiving for Thursday, November 26, 1789 |
| 1863 | Abraham Lincoln proclaims the last Thursday of November a national day of thanksgiving |
| 1924 | Macy’s holds its first parade |
| 1934 | Detroit Lions begin hosting a Thanksgiving Day game |
| 1939 | Franklin Roosevelt moves the holiday one week earlier |
| 1941 | Congress fixes it on the fourth Thursday; Roosevelt signs on December 26 |
| 1947 | National Turkey Federation begins presenting a turkey to the President |
| 2006 | NFL adds a third Thanksgiving Day game |
| 2026 | 100th parade and first Thanksgiving Eve NFL game |
Source: Library of Congress; National Archives; National Geographic; NFL; NPR.
The 1621 feast at Plymouth is the origin story, but colonists did not call it Thanksgiving. Winslow’s letter is the only primary source, and it records 5 deer and wild fowl. It lists no pumpkin pie and no cranberry sauce. Washington’s 1789 proclamation and Lincoln’s 1863 proclamation turned local harvest days into a national observance, and Lincoln’s set the last Thursday of November. Washington’s day fell on November 26, 1789, the same calendar date as Thanksgiving Day 2026.
Calendar fights ended in 1941. Roosevelt had moved the holiday one week earlier in 1939, which split the states between two dates. The 1941 law made the fourth Thursday permanent starting in 1942. The modern show grew alongside it: the parade began in 1924, the Lions’ game in 1934, and the third NFL game in 2006. The 2026 parade is the 100th edition because the parade paused for three years, 1942 through 1944, during World War II.
Thanksgiving Turkey Statistics 2026 | Production, Prices & Consumption
TURKEY PRICE PER POUND, NOVEMBER 2025
Wholesale frozen (USDA) █████████████████ $1.70
Retail frozen (Farm Bureau) █████████████ $1.34
Walmart Butterball promo ██████████ $0.97
| Metric | Latest Figure |
|---|---|
| Turkeys raised, 2025 | 195 million (down 3%, lowest in about 40 years) |
| Gap below the 1996 peak | 36% |
| Turkeys eaten at Thanksgiving (NTF estimate) | 46 million |
| USDA 2025 production forecast | 4.8 billion pounds (down 5%) |
| Turkeys affected by avian flu, 2025 | 2.2 million |
| Wholesale frozen price, Nov. 2025 | $1.70+ per pound (up about 80%) |
| Average 16-pound frozen turkey | $21.50 (down 16%) |
| Top producing states | Minnesota, North Carolina, Arkansas, Indiana |
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service and Economic Research Service; American Farm Bureau Federation; Purdue University College of Agriculture; National Turkey Federation.
Supply is tight. Farmers raised 195 million turkeys in 2025, down 3% and 36% below the 1996 peak, the smallest flock in about 40 years. Avian flu affected 2.2 million turkeys, and USDA projected output of 4.8 billion pounds, 5% below 2024. Minnesota, North Carolina, Arkansas and Indiana lead production.
Prices tell two stories. Wholesale frozen birds rose about 80% to more than $1.70 per pound between November 2024 and November 2025. Retail prices fell anyway: a 16-pound frozen turkey averaged $21.50, or $1.34 per pound, down 16%. Grocers used birds as loss leaders, and Walmart advertised Butterball at $0.97 per pound. The 46 million turkeys eaten each Thanksgiving Day is the National Turkey Federation’s long-standing estimate. USDA forecasts higher 2026 output if avian flu eases but expects no big price drop.
Thanksgiving Dinner Cost 2026 | Farm Bureau Price Data by Region
CLASSIC DINNER FOR 10, 2025 ($5 per block)
South ██████████ $50.01
Midwest ███████████ $54.38
National ███████████ $55.18
Northeast ████████████ $60.82
West ████████████ $61.75
| Measure | 2025 Cost |
|---|---|
| National classic dinner for 10 | $55.18 |
| Cost per person | $5.52 |
| South | $50.01 |
| Midwest | $54.38 |
| Northeast | $60.82 |
| West | $61.75 |
| Expanded meal (ham, potatoes, green beans) | $77.09 |
| Record high (2022) | $64.05 |
| Turkey share of classic bill | 39% |
Source: American Farm Bureau Federation, 40th Annual Thanksgiving Dinner Survey (November 2025).
The 40th annual survey priced a classic menu for 10 people at $55.18, or $5.52 per person. That is 5% below 2024 and the third straight annual decline. The record is $64.05 from 2022. The menu has not changed since the survey began in 1986, so prices compare cleanly across decades. Volunteer shoppers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico collect the prices.
Geography moves the bill by $11.74. The South was cheapest at $50.01 and the West most expensive at $61.75. The Midwest at $54.38 sat just below the national average, and the Northeast at $60.82 sat above it. Adding ham, russet potatoes and green beans lifted the expanded meal to $77.09, only 28 cents cheaper than 2024. Turkey made up 39% of the classic bill, its lowest share since 2000, because sides got pricier while the bird got cheaper. The 41st survey, with 2026 prices, usually publishes in mid-to-late November.
Thanksgiving Travel Statistics 2026 | AAA Records, TSA Screenings & Road Trips
2025 THANKSGIVING TRAVELERS BY MODE (millions)
Car ██████████████████ 73
Air ██ 6
Bus/train/cruise █ 2.5
| Metric | 2025 Result | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Total travelers (50+ miles) | 81.8 million | +1.6 million, record |
| By car | 73 million | +1.3 million, about 90% share |
| By air | 6 million | +2% |
| Bus, train, cruise | About 2.5 million | +8.5% |
| Travel period | Nov. 25 to Dec. 1 | 7 days |
| TSA record day (Nov. 30) | 3,133,924 screened | Beat 3,096,797 from June 22 |
| Gasoline, Thanksgiving Day 2024 | $3.06 per gallon | 2025 prices about the same |
Source: AAA and S&P Global Market Intelligence, 2025 Thanksgiving Travel Forecast; Transportation Security Administration.
AAA counted 81.8 million travelers who went at least 50 miles across the seven-day period from November 25 to December 1, 2025. That was 1.6 million more than the prior year and a new record. AAA has used the same seven-day window since 2024. Drivers made up 73 million of them, about 90%. Air passengers reached 6 million, up 2%, and bus, train and cruise trips rose 8.5% to nearly 2.5 million. Regular gasoline averaged $3.06 per gallon on Thanksgiving Day 2024, and AAA said 2025 prices ran about the same.
Airports set their own record. TSA screened 3,133,924 people on Sunday, November 30, 2025, the busiest day in its history, topping the 3,096,797 from June 22, 2025. Which carriers move crowds that large is covered in our report on the busiest airlines in the US. AAA publishes its 2026 Thanksgiving forecast in mid-November. Its projection of 21.7 million US cruise passengers in 2026 already points to more travel growth.
NFL Thanksgiving Day 2026 Schedule and Viewership | Games, Times & Parade Ratings
2025 AUDIENCES (millions, 1 block = 5 million)
Chiefs-Cowboys ███████████ 57.2
Packers-Lions ██████████ 47.7
Macy's parade ███████ 34.3
Bengals-Ravens ██████ 28.4
| Slot | 2025 Game and Audience | 2026 Game, Time (ET), Network |
|---|---|---|
| Early | Packers-Lions, 47.7 million | Bears at Lions, 1:00 p.m., CBS |
| Late afternoon | Chiefs-Cowboys, 57.2 million | Eagles at Cowboys, 4:30 p.m., FOX |
| Primetime | Bengals-Ravens, 28.4 million | Chiefs at Bills, 8:20 p.m., NBC and Peacock |
| Thanksgiving Eve | None | Packers at Rams, 8 p.m. Wednesday, Netflix |
| Black Friday | Not tracked here | Broncos at Steelers, 3 p.m., Prime Video |
| Macy’s parade | 99th, 34.3 million viewers | 100th, 8:30 a.m., NBC and Peacock |
Source: NFL Communications (2025 viewership); NBCUniversal; Nielsen; NFL 2026 schedule release.
Football sets the Thanksgiving Day TV record. The 2025 three-game average was 44.7 million viewers, up from 34.5 million in 2024 and the fourth straight annual record. Chiefs-Cowboys drew 57.2 million and became the most-watched regular-season NFL game ever. The early game drew 47.7 million and the primetime game 28.4 million. Streaming averaged 2.2 million, up 58%. NFL games filled 8 of the 10 most-watched TV programs of Thanksgiving week.
The 2026 slate expands. The Lions host the Bears at 1:00 p.m., the Cowboys host the Eagles at 4:30 p.m., and the Chiefs visit the Bills at 8:20 p.m. Netflix carries the first Thanksgiving Eve game, Packers at Rams, on November 25. Prime Video shows Broncos at Steelers on November 27. That makes 5 games in 3 days. The parade also grew: 34.3 million viewers on NBC and Peacock in 2025, up 8%, ahead of the 100th edition at 8:30 a.m. on November 26.
Black Friday and Thanksgiving Shopping Statistics 2026 | NRF and Adobe Data
2025 ONLINE SALES, ADOBE ($ billions)
Thanksgiving Day ██████ 6.4
Black Friday ████████████ 11.8
Cyber Monday ██████████████ 14.25
| Metric | 2025 Result | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving-weekend shoppers (NRF) | 202.9 million | Record; prior record 200.4 million |
| Average spend per shopper | $337.86 | +7% |
| Total spend (NRF estimate) | $68.5 billion | Up from $62 billion |
| In-store shoppers | 129.5 million | +3% |
| Online shoppers | 134.9 million | +9% |
| Thanksgiving Day online sales | $6.4 billion | +5.3% |
| Black Friday online sales | $11.8 billion | +9.1% |
| Cyber Monday online sales | $14.25 billion | +7.1% |
| Five-day online total | $44.2 billion | +7.7% |
Source: National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics; Adobe Analytics.
NRF counted 202.9 million shoppers across the five days from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday. The record passed the 2023 mark of 200.4 million and NRF’s own 186.9 million forecast. Average spend rose 7% to $337.86, lifting the total to about $68.5 billion from $62 billion. In-store shoppers numbered 129.5 million, up 3%, and online shoppers numbered 134.9 million, up 9%. Supermarkets (47%) and online (45%) were the top destinations, and the Sunday after Thanksgiving Day drew a record 32.6 million in-store shoppers, up 27%.
Adobe tracked the online side. Thanksgiving Day sales hit $6.4 billion, up 5.3%. Black Friday reached $11.8 billion, up 9.1%. Cyber Monday hit $14.25 billion, up 7.1%, the biggest online day in US history, and the five-day total reached $44.2 billion, up 7.7%. Much of that spending lands on plastic, and our credit card debt statistics in the US report tracks revolving balances above $1.21 trillion in 2026.
Thanksgiving Day 2026 FAQ
What is the date of Thanksgiving Day 2026?
Thanksgiving Day 2026 is Thursday, November 26, 2026, the fourth Thursday of November.
Is Thanksgiving Day 2026 a federal holiday?
Yes. Federal offices close on November 26, 2026. The Friday after is not a federal holiday.
How many people travel for Thanksgiving Day?
AAA counted a record 81.8 million travelers in 2025, including 73 million by car and 6 million by air. AAA releases its 2026 forecast in mid-November.
How much does Thanksgiving dinner cost in 2026?
The latest verified figure is $55.18 for 10 people, from the Farm Bureau’s 2025 survey. The 2026 survey publishes in mid-to-late November.
How many turkeys do Americans eat on Thanksgiving Day?
The National Turkey Federation estimates about 46 million turkeys.
What temperature should a Thanksgiving turkey reach?
USDA says turkey is safe at an internal temperature of 165°F. For the wider picture on food safety, see our foodborne illness statistics in the US report, which cites the CDC estimate of 48 million cases a year.
What time is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2026?
The 100th parade starts at 8:30 a.m. in all time zones on NBC and Peacock.
Which NFL games are on Thanksgiving Day 2026?
Bears at Lions at 1:00 p.m. ET, Eagles at Cowboys at 4:30 p.m. ET, and Chiefs at Bills at 8:20 p.m. ET.
When are Black Friday 2026 and Cyber Monday 2026?
Black Friday 2026 is November 27. Cyber Monday 2026 is November 30.
Is Thanksgiving the busiest travel holiday?
Yes. AAA calls it the single busiest holiday for travel, ahead of Memorial Day and July 4.
Who made Thanksgiving Day a national holiday?
Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving in 1863. Congress fixed the fourth Thursday in 1941.
How many people shop over Thanksgiving weekend?
NRF counted a record 202.9 million shoppers from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday in 2025.
How much do Americans spend online on Black Friday?
Adobe Analytics measured $11.8 billion in US online sales on Black Friday 2025, up 9.1%.
What is the most-watched Thanksgiving Day NFL game?
Chiefs-Cowboys in 2025, with 57.2 million viewers, the most-watched regular-season NFL game on record.
When was the first Thanksgiving?
The Plymouth harvest feast took place in 1621, about 405 years before Thanksgiving Day 2026.
Disclaimer: The data research report we present here is based on information found from various sources. We are not liable for any financial loss, errors, or damages of any kind that may result from the use of the information herein. We acknowledge that though we try to report accurately, we cannot verify the absolute facts of everything that has been represented.
