Thanksgiving 2026 falls on Thursday, November 26. Many companies also give the following day, Friday the 27th, off, so for many people it becomes a four-day weekend together with Saturday and Sunday. In this article, we’ve rounded up tips for avoiding travel crowds, the parade and NFL games on the day itself, Black Friday, long-weekend events in New York, Los Angeles, the Bay Area and Hawaii, and the classic ways Japanese people living in the U.S. spend the holiday, focusing on information we could confirm on official pages.

What you’ll learn in this article

The dates of the 2026 Thanksgiving four-day weekend and a guide to the times when travel and trips home tend to be most crowded
What’s open and what’s closed on Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday, plus long-weekend events in each city
Ways to use the long weekend that are unique to Japanese people living in the U.S., such as reserving osechi (Japanese New Year’s dishes) at Japanese supermarkets

Dates, times and prices were checked on the organizers’ official pages as of October 21, 2026. They may change, so please check the latest information at each link before you head out. Major retailers had not yet officially announced their 2026 closures and hours when this article was written, so we describe the usual pattern based on the previous year (2025).

2026 Thanksgiving weekend at a glance

Date	Main happenings	Key points
Wed., Nov. 25	Day before the holiday	Usually the busiest day on both roads and at airports. In New York, you can watch the parade balloons being inflated in the evening
Thu., Nov. 26	Thanksgiving Day (federal holiday)	Macy’s 100th parade, three NFL games and Turkey Trots. Major retailers are usually closed
Fri., Nov. 27	Black Friday	Sales from early morning. Waikiki Holiday Parade; Christmas in the Park opens in San Jose
Sat., Nov. 28	Small Business Saturday	A day for shopping at small local stores. Little Tokyo farmers market
Sun., Nov. 29	Last day of the long weekend	Hollywood Christmas Parade. Leave in the morning to avoid traffic on the way home
Mon., Nov. 30	Cyber Monday	The final stretch of online sales

Planning travel and trips home: peak crowds and how to avoid them

Thanksgiving is the busiest travel period of the year. AAA (the American Automobile Association) forecast for 2025 that about 81.8 million people would travel 50 miles or more from home during the seven days from the Tuesday before through the Monday after Thanksgiving, with about 90% of them, more than 73 million people, going by car and about 6 million flying domestically. The 2026 forecast is usually released in mid-November and had not yet been published as of October 21.

Here are the peak driving times for 2025 compiled by AAA and INRIX (local time in each area).

Tuesday and Wednesday before the holiday: busiest from 11 a.m. to 8–9 p.m. We recommend leaving before 11 a.m.
Thanksgiving Day (Thursday): roads are mostly clear
Friday and Saturday: busy from 1 p.m. to 7–8 p.m. Leave before 10–11 a.m.
Sunday, the last day of the long weekend: busy from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Leave early in the morning or wait until late at night

If you’re flying, security lines get longer, so get to the airport about an hour earlier than usual. Lodging is priced at holiday rates, so be sure to book early and check the cancellation terms.

How to spend Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 26)

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (New York)

2026 marks the 100th parade since it began in 1924. Macy’s official page announces that it will be broadcast live on NBC and Peacock on Thursday, November 26, and that 100 balloons and floats will appear. The 2026 route and start time have not yet been posted on the official page (it usually starts at 8:30 a.m.).

Date and time: Thursday, November 26, 2026. Check the official website for the 2026 start time and route
Location: Manhattan (usually from the Upper West Side to Macy’s flagship store on 34th Street)
Price: Free to watch along the route
Official: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Viewing spots and the balloon inflation the day before are covered in detail in our article on the 2026 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (the 100th).

NFL Thanksgiving games (watching on TV)

Football is a Thanksgiving afternoon tradition. According to the NFL’s official schedule, three games are set for Thursday, November 26, 2026 (Eastern Time).

1 p.m. Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions (CBS)
4:30 p.m. Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys (FOX)
8:20 p.m. Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills (NBC)
Also scheduled: Packers at Rams (Netflix) at 8 p.m. the day before, Wed. the 25th, and Broncos at Steelers (Prime Video) at 3 p.m. on Fri. the 27th
Official: NFL Week 12 Schedule

Turkey Trots (morning running events)

Turkey Trots, 5K and 10K runs held on Thanksgiving morning, take place all over the country. For example, Turkey Trot LA in Los Angeles has announced on its official website that it will be held on Thursday, November 26, 2026.

Date and time: Thursday, November 26, 2026. The 5K starts at 8 a.m. and 8:15 a.m., the 10K at 9 a.m., the Widdle Wobble for kids at 10:15 a.m., and the Dog Jog, where you run with your dog, at 7:30 a.m. (all Pacific Time)
Location: Downtown LA. The finish line and event area are at Grand Park (across from City Hall)
Price: Advance registration required. Entry fees (including fees) are $49.90 for the 5K, $54.90 for the 10K, $69.90 for the 5K and 10K combo, $41.90 for the Dog Jog and $23.90 for the kids’ Widdle Wobble (checked on the official registration page on October 22, 2026)
Official: Turkey Trot LA

You can find a race in your city by searching for “Turkey Trot” plus your city name. Entries that come with a T-shirt or medal may close early, so register early.

What’s closed and what’s open on Thanksgiving Day

In recent years, major retailers (Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Costco and others) have typically closed on Thanksgiving Day and opened early the next morning for Black Friday. As of October 21, the companies had not yet made official announcements for 2026, so check each store’s page before you go. Pharmacies and some grocery chains often open with shortened hours, but this varies by location. Restaurants are split between those offering special Thanksgiving dinner menus and those that close, so if you plan to eat out, make a reservation early.

From Black Friday (Nov. 27) to Cyber Monday

On Black Friday, many big-box stores usually open around 5 or 6 a.m., and it’s most crowded right after opening. These days sales start in early November and the same prices are increasingly available online, so the only things really worth lining up for are limited-quantity doorbuster deals. Once each retailer’s Black Friday Ad comes out, compare prices and stock in store and online before deciding.

REI states on its official website that it closes its stores every year on Black Friday (#OptOutside). Shop for outdoor gear at other stores or online
Saturday, November 28, is Small Business Saturday. Started by American Express, it’s a day to shop at small local businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, which makes it a perfect time to visit Japantowns and independent shops
Monday, November 30, is Cyber Monday. There are many online sales on electronics and computer accessories, so it’s a good time to make a final decision on items you were debating over the long weekend

Don’t forget to check return deadlines (many stores extend them into January for the holiday season), keep your receipts and watch your valuables in crowds. If you’re driving, parking is easiest first thing in the morning or just before closing.

By city: events and places to visit over the long weekend

New York

Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park: Opens Wednesday, October 28, 2026. The skating rink is free to enter (skate rental is extra) and is open 8 a.m.–midnight from November 19 to January 3, including holidays. The holiday shops run through January 3, 2027. Official: Bryant Park Winter Village
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree: In 2026, the tree arrives on November 7, and the lighting ceremony is on Wednesday, December 2. Over the long weekend, you can see the tree before it’s lit. Official: Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
Japan Society Gallery: The exhibition “Gen’ichirō Inokuma’s NYC Salon,” about painter Gen’ichirō Inokuma, who lived in New York for 20 years, runs through January 10, 2027. Open noon–6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays; $20 general, $15 students and seniors. The gallery says it is closed on major holidays, so go on the weekend. Official: Japan Society Gallery

For directions and free Fridays, see our guide to visiting Japan Society in New York.

Los Angeles

The Hollywood Christmas Parade: The official website has announced it will be held on Sunday, November 29, 2026. Watching from the sidewalks along Hollywood Blvd. is free; grandstand seats are paid, with regular prices of $120 for adults and $60 for under 16 (Ticketmaster). Check the official website for the start time. On the day, sections of Hollywood Blvd. are closed to traffic from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., so the Metro B Line is convenient. Official: The Hollywood Christmas Parade
Little Tokyo Farmers Market: According to JACCC (Japanese American Cultural & Community Center), it’s held every Saturday from October 17 to December 26, 2026. During the long weekend, that means Saturday, November 28 (check the hours). Official: JACCC Events
The Japanese American National Museum (JANM) is closed for renovations and is scheduled to reopen on January 23, 2027. For exploring the neighborhood, see our guide to Little Tokyo (LA)

Bay Area

Christmas in the Park (San Jose): Held at Plaza de Cesar Chavez downtown from Friday, November 27, 2026, to January 1, 2027. Open daily noon–10 p.m.; free admission. According to the official FAQ, there is a community tree lighting on the evening of opening day (check the time). Official: Christmas in the Park
Union Square in SF: The outdoor ice rink and Macy’s big tree are usually the highlights, but we could not confirm the 2026 dates on the official pages as of October 21. Check official information before you go
Japantown: This is the season when Japan Center and Peace Plaza are decked out in holiday decorations. For directions, see our guide to San Francisco’s Japantown

Hawaii (Oahu)

Waikiki Holiday Parade: A parade honoring Pearl Harbor survivors and veterans, held every year on the Friday after Thanksgiving. The official website has announced it will be held on Friday, November 27, 2026. It starts at Fort DeRussy Park in Waikiki, travels about 1.5 miles along Kalakaua Ave., and ends at Kapiolani Park. Check the official website for the start time. Official: Waikiki Holiday Parade
Honolulu City Lights: Opens with a ceremony at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 5, 2026, the week after the long weekend (free). The lights are not yet on during the long weekend. Official: Honolulu City Lights

Japan-related events in Hawaii this fall and winter are rounded up in Japanese events in Hawaii (Oahu), fall to winter 2026.

Favorites for Japanese people living in the U.S.: Japanese supermarkets, osechi reservations and Japanese food

Not every family roasts a turkey. This is also a time when many families keep it simple with rotisserie chicken or with Japanese food that works well for a gathering, such as hand-rolled sushi or hot pot. If you’re going to use a Japanese supermarket over the long weekend, keep the following points in mind.

Reserving osechi and Christmas cakes: Nijiya Market says on its official website that it will soon start taking osechi reservations, and it features them, along with Christmas cake reservations, as December highlights (as of October 21). Reservation periods vary by store and by year, so check in store or on the website over the long weekend. Official: Nijiya Market
Mitsuwa (New Jersey store): The official page lists hours of 9:30 a.m.–9 p.m. daily, with a note that they may change without notice. Check the store page or in-store notices for Thanksgiving Day hours. Official: Mitsuwa New Jersey
Shop before the long weekend: On the Wednesday right before Thanksgiving, checkout lines are long at every supermarket. For the locations and hours of Japanese supermarkets, see our roundups for NY and NJ, LA and Torrance, the Bay Area and Hawaii

Japanese festivals and New Year events from December on are rounded up in our 2026–2027 calendar of Japanese festivals across the U.S.

What to wear, what to bring and things to keep in mind

Staying warm: At the New York parade, you’ll be standing outdoors for 2–3 hours from early morning. Bring gloves, a hat and hand warmers, plus a small mat for kids to sit on. Evening parades in LA and Hawaii also get chilly after sunset
Driving: The holidays are a time of stepped-up DUI enforcement. If you’re driving to a party, choose a designated driver or use a ride-hailing app. For long trips, avoid the peak times above and fill up on gas by the day before
Crowds and safety: Watch out for pickpockets at parades and sales. Keep valuables in your front pockets or a zippered bag. On your way home from evening parades, follow the flow of people to the station and avoid dark side streets
Weather: Late November can bring snow or rain to the Northeast, and rain is possible on the West Coast too. For outdoor events, check official social media on the day for cancellations or changes

Frequently asked questions

Is the day after Thanksgiving (Friday) a holiday?

The only federal holiday is Thursday, November 26. However, many companies give Friday off and many school districts take the whole Thanksgiving week off, so for many people it’s effectively a four-day weekend. Check your employer’s or school’s calendar.

Are any supermarkets open on Thanksgiving Day?

Big discount stores and warehouse clubs are usually closed, but some grocery chains and pharmacies open with shortened hours. It varies by store, Japanese supermarkets included, so check each company’s app or store page for that day’s hours.

Do I have to line up to shop on Black Friday?

These days sales start in early November, and the same prices are increasingly available online. The only things worth lining up for are limited-quantity doorbusters; regular sale items can be bought during the day or on Cyber Monday.

Summary

The 2026 Thanksgiving long weekend runs from Thursday, November 26, to Sunday, November 29. Traffic is heaviest on the Wednesday before and on the afternoon of Sunday, the last day, so plan to leave in the morning. On Thanksgiving Day there’s Macy’s 100th parade and the NFL; from Friday, Black Friday, the Waikiki parade and Christmas in the Park in San Jose; and on Sunday, the Hollywood Christmas Parade, so each city has its own ways to enjoy the weekend. Osechi reservations at Japanese supermarkets also get going around this time, so check them out over the long weekend. Dates, times and prices may change, so please check the latest information on each official page before you head out.

Sources and references (checked October 21, 2026)

This article is also available in Japanese.

How to Spend the Thanksgiving 2026 Long Weekend (Nov. 26–29) | Travel, Black Friday and Japanese Favorites