Thanksgiving countdown: when is Thanksgiving 2026?
A live countdown to Thanksgiving in the United States or Canada, in your own time zone.
US rule: 5 U.S.C. 6103 · Canada: second Monday in October · Runs in your browserLast reviewed: October 9, 2026
The short answer
US Thanksgiving 2026 is on Thursday, November 26, 2026, the fourth Thursday in November. Canadian Thanksgiving 2026 is on Monday, October 12, 2026, the second Monday in October. Pick a country in the counter above to see the days, hours and minutes left in your time zone.
How it is calculated
US: find the first Thursday of November, then add 21 days.
Canada: find the first Monday of October, then add 7 days.
The countdown runs to 12:00 a.m. on the holiday in your device’s time zone and moves to next year the day after.
Worked example
The Martins live in Toronto and have family in Ohio, so they plan for both 2026 Thanksgivings.
- October 1, 2026, is a Thursday; the second Monday of October is Monday, October 12, 2026
- November 1, 2026, is a Sunday; the fourth Thursday of November is Thursday, November 26, 2026
- Days between the two holidays: 45 (6 weeks and 3 days)
Canadian Thanksgiving on October 12, then US Thanksgiving 45 days later on November 26.
Quick reference table
| Year | US (4th Thursday in Nov.) | Canada (2nd Monday in Oct.) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | November 26, 2026 | October 12, 2026 |
| 2027 | November 25, 2027 | October 11, 2027 |
| 2028 | November 23, 2028 | October 9, 2028 |
| 2029 | November 22, 2029 | October 8, 2029 |
| 2030 | November 28, 2030 | October 14, 2030 |
| 2031 | November 27, 2031 | October 13, 2031 |
Special cases and common mistakes
- US Thanksgiving is always between November 22 and 28, because the fourth Thursday can only land in that week. Canadian Thanksgiving is always between October 8 and 14.
- Fourth, not last. In years when November has five Thursdays, US Thanksgiving is still the fourth one, a week before the last Thursday.
- Canada’s is a long weekend by design. It always falls on a Monday. It is a general holiday for federally regulated employees; each province sets its own rules for other workers.
- The Friday after US Thanksgiving is not a federal holiday. Many employers give it off, but the federal list includes only the Thursday.
- Always 45 days apart. November 1 always falls three days later in the week than October 1, so the second Monday in October and the fourth Thursday in November keep the same distance every year.
Frequently asked questions
How many days until Thanksgiving?
Pick United States or Canada in the counter at the top of this page. It shows the days, hours, minutes and seconds until 12:00 a.m. on Thanksgiving in your time zone and updates every second.
When is Thanksgiving 2026 in the US?
Thursday, November 26, 2026. US Thanksgiving is set by federal law as the fourth Thursday in November.
When is Canadian Thanksgiving 2026?
Monday, October 12, 2026. Canadian Thanksgiving is held on the second Monday in October.
When is Thanksgiving 2027?
US Thanksgiving 2027 is Thursday, November 25, 2027, and Canadian Thanksgiving 2027 is Monday, October 11, 2027.
Why is Canadian Thanksgiving earlier than American Thanksgiving?
The two countries fixed different days: Canada uses the second Monday in October and the US uses the fourth Thursday in November. Because of how October and November line up, the two are always exactly 45 days apart.
Sources
- 5 U.S.C. § 6103(a): “Thanksgiving Day, the fourth Thursday in November” (Cornell LII) (Last reviewed: October 9, 2026)
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Federal Holidays (dates 2026–2030) (Last reviewed: October 9, 2026)
- Canada Revenue Agency, Public holidays (Thanksgiving Day 2026) (Last reviewed: October 9, 2026)
- Government of Canada, Annual vacations and general holidays (federally regulated employers) (Last reviewed: October 9, 2026)