Thanksgiving Countdown
Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States, a feast built around gratitude, family and a very large turkey. This countdown is to Thanksgiving 2026 on November 26, 2026, updating automatically each year.
How many days until Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is on Thursday, November 26, 2026, which is 138 days away. The live countdown above ticks down to the exact moment, to the second.
From Plymouth to a national holiday
The 1621 harvest feast shared by the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag is the traditional origin story. Sarah Josepha Hale campaigned for decades to make it national, and Abraham Lincoln proclaimed it a nationwide holiday in 1863, in the middle of the Civil War.
Modern traditions
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has marched since 1924, the presidential turkey pardon became an annual ritual, and football and Black Friday shopping now bracket the meal. Canada celebrates its own Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October.
Quick facts
- Made a national holiday by Lincoln in 1863
- Fixed to the fourth Thursday of November in 1941
- The Macy's parade has run since 1924
- About 46 million turkeys are eaten each Thanksgiving
A U.S. federal holiday
Thanksgiving is one of the 11 official U.S. federal holidays. Not sure which one comes next? The next federal holiday countdown always ticks down to whichever is soonest — and the next long weekend countdown tells you when you're off work for 3 days straight.
Talk turkey
Everything for the big dinner — including the pants with room for seconds.
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Thanksgiving — frequently asked questions
When is Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is on Thursday, November 26, 2026.
How many days until Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is on Thursday, November 26, 2026, which is 138 days away. The live countdown above ticks down to the exact moment, to the second.
Fact-checked & updated July 2026 · alarm-clock.org