The short answer:
- United States: Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday in November.
- Earliest possible date: November 22; latest: November 28.
- This year (2025): Thursday, November 27.
- Canada: Thanksgiving is the second Monday in October.
- Earliest possible date: October 8; latest: October 14.
- This year (2025): Monday, October 13.
How the dates are set
- U.S.: Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving in 1863, traditionally on the last Thursday in November. In 1941, Congress fixed it to the fourth Thursday, which is what we use today.
- Canada: Parliament set Thanksgiving as a national holiday on the second Monday in October, aligning it with the harvest season.
Upcoming Thanksgiving dates
| Year | U.S. (fourth Thursday in Nov) | Canada (second Monday in Oct) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Thu, Nov 27 | Mon, Oct 13 |
| 2026 | Thu, Nov 26 | Mon, Oct 12 |
| 2027 | Thu, Nov 25 | Mon, Oct 11 |
| 2028 | Thu, Nov 23 | Mon, Oct 9 |
| 2029 | Thu, Nov 22 | Mon, Oct 8 |
| 2030 | Thu, Nov 28 | Mon, Oct 14 |
Quick tricks to figure it out yourself
- U.S.: Find the first Thursday in November, then count three more Thursdays (that’s the fourth).
- Canada: Find the first Monday in October, then go to the next Monday (that’s the second).
Elsewhere
A few other nations observe their own Thanksgiving-style holidays. For example:
- Liberia: first Thursday in November.
- Grenada: October 25 (fixed date).
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