What's open on Thanksgiving Day 2026?
Thanksgiving Day is a federal holiday, next on Thursday, November 26, 2026. Here is what is open and closed on the observed date: post office, banks, stock market, government offices, schools and stores.
| Service | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Post Office (USPS) | Closed | No regular mail delivery; Priority Mail Express is still delivered. |
| Banks | Closed | Banks follow the Federal Reserve holiday schedule; branches reopen Friday. |
| Stock market (NYSE, Nasdaq) | Closed | No trading; markets close early at 1 p.m. ET on the Friday after. |
| Federal offices | Closed | All non-essential federal agencies and federal courts close. |
| State and local government | Closed | A public holiday in every state; many states also close the Friday after. |
| Public schools | Closed | Schools close Thursday and Friday, and many take the whole week. |
| Retail stores and malls | Closed | Most major chains and malls close for the day and reopen early on Black Friday. |
| Restaurants and grocery stores | Varies | Grocery stores typically close by early afternoon; some restaurants serve Thanksgiving dinner. |
Why these close and others do not
Three separate rules decide what shuts on any given American holiday, and they do not always agree. The federal list in 5 U.S.C. § 6103 governs federal offices, federal courts and the U.S. Postal Service, and the Federal Reserve follows the same calendar — which is why banks close on federal holidays and stay open on state-only ones. State holiday statutes are separate: each state legislature sets its own list for state employees, courts, DMV offices and usually public schools, so a day can be a paid holiday in Texas and an ordinary Tuesday in Ohio. Private employers answer to neither - no federal law requires any private business to close or to pay a premium for holiday work, so retailers, restaurants and offices set their own policies, and most stay open with reduced hours on all but a handful of days.
Thanksgiving Day is a federal holiday, so the first rule applies: federal offices, federal courts, the Postal Service and the Federal Reserve close, and whether state offices close depends on each state's own list. The stock market keeps its own calendar again: the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq close for nine of the eleven federal holidays plus Good Friday, but trade normally on Columbus Day and Veterans Day, when the bond market closes and the equity market does not.
Hours vary by location and year. Check with the branch or office before you go. For dates through 2027 and the history, see the main Thanksgiving Day page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the post office open on Thanksgiving Day?
No. No regular mail delivery; Priority Mail Express is still delivered.
Are banks open on Thanksgiving Day?
No. Banks follow the Federal Reserve holiday schedule; branches reopen Friday.
Is the stock market open on Thanksgiving Day?
No. No trading; markets close early at 1 p.m. ET on the Friday after.
Are federal offices open on Thanksgiving Day?
No. All non-essential federal agencies and federal courts close.
Are state offices, courts and the DMV open on Thanksgiving Day?
No. A public holiday in every state; many states also close the Friday after.
Are schools open on Thanksgiving Day?
No. Schools close Thursday and Friday, and many take the whole week.
Are stores open on Thanksgiving Day?
No. Most major chains and malls close for the day and reopen early on Black Friday.
Are restaurants and grocery stores open on Thanksgiving Day?
It depends. Grocery stores typically close by early afternoon; some restaurants serve Thanksgiving dinner.