Thanksgiving 2026: About, Prepare & Enjoy

What's your dinner menu for Thanksgiving 2026? Every November, people will prepare turkeys and pies to celebrate Thanksgiving with their family and friends. Do you know why we celebrate Thanksgiving and what traditions arel? Follow Trip.com, you will know all the things about Thanksgiving and special events in 2026!

About Thanksgiving 2026

Thanksgiving 2026 Date

Thanksgiving is a beloved American holiday held on the fourth Thursday of November, which is November 26 in 2026. This festival is included in federal holiday so everyone will have time for family, gratitude, and reflection on the blessings of the year.

Thanksgiving Schdule

Origin of Thanksgiving

The tradition of Thanksgiving dates back to the early 1600s, when the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Native Americans came together to celebrate the harvest in 1621. This first Thanksgiving set the stage for what would become a national holiday in the United States. President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863, during the Civil War, to foster unity and healing.

Today, Thanksgiving is about giving thanks for the harvest and the past year’s fortunes, but it also serves as a time for togetherness, often shared through a special meal.

Tradition of Thanksgiving

Modern traditions revolve around:

• Feasting: Turkey is the centerpiece of the meal, accompanied by stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie.
• Parades and Performances: The Macy’s Parade in New York City is watched by millions and is a staple of the holiday.
• Football: NFL games are a Thanksgiving staple, with families gathering to watch the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys play.
• Expressions of Gratitude: Many families go around the table, each person sharing something they are thankful for before digging into the meal.

Prepare Thanksgiving 2026: Food, Drink & Decor

Thanksgiving Food

A traditional Thanksgiving meal is an opportunity to showcase some of the best flavors of fall. Here’s a breakdown of must-have dishes:

• Main Dish: The turkey is the showstopper. Whether you’re roasting it the traditional way or trying a new method, make sure to brine the turkey for added flavor. This year, consider a unique preparation style, like brining the turkey or smoking it for an added flavor punch. For smaller gatherings, try a stuffed turkey breast or herb-roasted chicken.
• Side Dishes: Classic sides like mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, and cornbread stuffing are essentials. Add a modern touch by including roasted Brussels sprouts with balsamic glaze, honey-glazed carrots, or a quinoa-based salad for healthier options. For something fresh, add roasted Brussels sprouts or a cranberry-orange relish to your spread.
• Desserts: End the feast with classic pies like pumpkin, pecan, and apple. This year, experiment with a twist on tradition by offering a salted caramel pumpkin pie or bourbon pecan pie.

Thanksgiving Drinks

Pairing the right drinks with your Thanksgiving meal can enhance the experience for your guests:

• Wines: Serve a combination of white and red wines. Chardonnay and Riesling are excellent choices for white wine lovers, as they complement turkey and lighter sides. For red wine enthusiasts, Pinot Noir or Zinfandel pairs well with heartier dishes like stuffing and cranberry sauce.
• Cocktails: A festive cocktail like a cranberry Moscow mule or a spiced apple sangria can add a fun twist to the celebration.
• Non-Alcoholic Options: Offer sparkling water with a splash of cranberry juice or apple cider, and serve warm beverages like hot apple cider or spiced tea for a cozy feel.

Thanksgiving Decor

Thanksgiving decor sets the tone for the celebration and brings warmth to the holiday:

• Table Setting: Choose a warm color palette of rich reds, golds, and oranges to capture the autumn spirit. Use rustic elements like wooden chargers, plaid napkins, and seasonal centerpieces featuring pumpkins, gourds, and fall foliage.
• Nature-Inspired Centerpieces: Incorporate items like pinecones, acorns, and dried leaves to create a beautiful, natural centerpiece. You can also add candles for a cozy, intimate ambiance.
• Personalized Touches: Create name cards for each guest or place a gratitude card at each setting, encouraging everyone to write something they’re thankful for. These small touches help make the meal more meaningful.

How to Enjoy Thanksgiving 2026

Special Events 2026:

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (New York City)

The iconic Macy’s Parade is a must-see event, whether you’re attending in person or watching from home. The parade features massive character balloons, floats, and live performances. Thanksgiving 2026 brings the 100th edition: it steps off at 8:30 a.m. on November 26 from West 77th Street and Central Park West and finishes at Macy’s Herald Square about three and a half hours later, with more than 30 giant character balloons, floats and Broadway performances. Sidewalk viewing is free and unticketed; arrive by 6:30 a.m. for a spot on Central Park West between 75th and 61st Streets, or watch on NBC and Peacock.

NFL Thanksgiving Games

If you’re near Detroit or Dallas, catch the live NFL games featuring the Detroit Lions or the Dallas Cowboys, both of which have been playing on Thanksgiving Day for decades. Thanksgiving 2026 is a tripleheader on November 26: the Chicago Bears visit the Detroit Lions at 1 p.m. ET (CBS), the Philadelphia Eagles visit the Dallas Cowboys at 4:30 p.m. ET (FOX), and the Kansas City Chiefs visit the Buffalo Bills at 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC). Tickets sell through Ticketmaster and each team’s box office.

Source: NBC news

Turkey Trot Races

Turkey Trot races take place in cities across the U.S. and are a great way to start the holiday. From 5Ks to fun runs, these races bring communities together. Cities like San Francisco, Denver, and Austin have popular runs that are open to participants of all ages. These events often benefit local charities and are a great way to stay active before the big meal.

Home Night:

If you’re spending Thanksgiving at home, there are plenty of activities to keep the evening fun and relaxing:

• Movie Night:
• After the feast, cozy up for a movie marathon. Popular Thanksgiving movies include:
• A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
• Home for the Holidays
• Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.
• For something different, stream feel-good family comedies or animated films:
• Cheaper by the Dozen
• The Parent Trap
• Coco
• Frozen
• Finding Nemo
• Board Games:
• Classic board games like Monopoly, Scrabble, or a Thanksgiving-themed bingo are great for all ages.
• Family Photo Album Night:
• Go through old family photos together, reminiscing about past holidays and creating new memories. You could even start a new tradition by taking a yearly Thanksgiving family photo.
• Outdoor Fire Pit:
• If you have a backyard, set up an outdoor fire pit and enjoy s’mores or hot cocoa under the stars. It’s a perfect way to extend the holiday vibe into the evening.

Thanksgiving 2026: Parade, Games & Ticket Prices

Thanksgiving 2026 falls on Thursday, November 26. Here are the dates, tickets and prices that are already confirmed for the week, from the free stuff on the street to the seats that sell out first.

• Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, New York — Thursday, November 26, 2026, 8:30 a.m. to about noon. The 100th edition runs 2.5 miles from West 77th Street and Central Park West to Macy’s Herald Square. Sidewalk viewing is free and there are no public grandstand tickets; third-party brunch-and-view packages start around $300 per person.
• Balloon inflation — Wednesday, November 25, roughly 1 to 10 p.m. around the American Museum of Natural History on Central Park West. Free, and far calmer than parade morning.
• NFL Thanksgiving tripleheader — Bears at Lions, 1 p.m. ET (CBS); Eagles at Cowboys, 4:30 p.m. ET (FOX); Chiefs at Bills, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC). Tickets go through Ticketmaster and the teams’ box offices.
• Black Friday — Friday, November 27, 2026. Walmart, Target and Home Depot open at 6 a.m., and Kohl’s and JCPenney have opened at 5 a.m. in recent years. Cyber Monday follows on November 30.
• Turkey trots — most cities run their 5K or 10K on the morning of November 26. Entry usually costs $30 to $60 and often supports a local charity.

Getting There: Thanksgiving 2026 Travel

Thanksgiving week is the most concentrated travel period of the U.S. year — the AAA window for 2026 runs Tuesday, November 24 through Monday, November 30 — and the crowds land on very specific days.

• Flying: Wednesday, November 25 is the heaviest departure day and Sunday, November 29 the heaviest return, while Thanksgiving Day itself is the quietest day of the week at airport security. Arrive 2 to 3 hours before a domestic flight, and budget more than last year: domestic round-trip fares were tracking about 13% above 2025 in late summer 2026.
• Driving: about nine in ten Thanksgiving travelers go by car. AAA marks the afternoon and evening of the Wednesday, the Sunday and the Monday after as the worst windows, and Thanksgiving Day itself as the lightest. Gas averaged about $4.09 a gallon in late August 2026.
• Amtrak: extra trains and extra cars run through Thanksgiving week, with advance reservations required on Keystone, Pennsylvanian, Empire Service, Hiawatha and Pacific Surfliner services. Book early — the Northeast Corridor sells out first.
• New York City on parade morning: Central Park West from 81st Street to Columbus Circle, Columbus Circle, Central Park South and 6th Avenue from 59th to 34th Street all close, and crosstown movement is restricted from about 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Subways run a modified weekend schedule; use the 1, 2, 3, B, C, D or E trains and walk the last few blocks.

What’s Open on Thanksgiving Day 2026

Thursday, November 26 is one of the quietest retail days of the year in the U.S. Most chains now stay shut so staff can be home, and the places that open run short hours.

• Closed: Walmart, Sam’s Club, Costco, Home Depot and Lowe’s have confirmed they will close on November 26, 2026; Target, Best Buy, Kohl’s, Macy’s and most other big chains closed in 2025 and are expected to follow. Banks, post offices and government offices are shut, and there is no mail delivery.
• Open: many grocery stores and pharmacies run shortened hours on Thanksgiving morning, and gas stations, some movie theaters and hotel restaurants stay open. Check the individual store before you drive over.
• Black Friday, November 27: stores reopen mostly between 5 and 6 a.m., after Walmart’s Black Friday Deals run from November 23 to 29 and Target’s early holiday sales in early November. The best prices of the week are usually online from Thanksgiving evening.