Thanksgiving 2026 Facts & Statistics
An original, sourced collection of Thanksgiving numbers — turkey production, holiday travel, the history from 1621 to today, parade and football traditions, and the dinner table by the numbers. Thanksgiving 2026 is Thursday, November 26, 2026.
Thursday, Nov 26
Thanksgiving 2026 date
Thanksgiving always falls on the fourth Thursday of November.
Thursday
Day of the week
Set by federal law to the fourth Thursday of November since 1941.
1621
First harvest feast
A three-day harvest celebration at Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts.
1863
National holiday since
Declared by President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War.
U.S. turkey production (millions raised)
Rounded annual estimates from USDA NASS. The long-term trend shows a gentle decline even as Thanksgiving demand holds steady.
~46 million turkeys eaten at Thanksgiving
The National Turkey Federation estimates roughly 46 million turkeys are eaten each Thanksgiving in the U.S. — about one for nearly every other household.
~88% of households eat turkey on Thanksgiving
Survey estimates put turkey on roughly 88% of Thanksgiving tables, making it the single most consistent dish on the holiday menu.
Minnesota leads U.S. turkey production
Minnesota, North Carolina, Arkansas, Indiana, and Virginia are consistently the top turkey-producing states (USDA NASS).
Thanksgiving holiday travel (millions, 50+ miles)
Headline AAA estimates of Americans traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday period, including the sharp 2020 pandemic dip.
The dinner table by the numbers
Cranberry sauce: ~80% of Thanksgiving tables
Industry estimates suggest roughly four out of five Thanksgiving meals include cranberry sauce — canned or homemade. Wisconsin is the top cranberry-producing state.
Sweet potato casserole's Southern roots
Sweet potato casserole (often topped with marshmallows) traces to early-1900s recipes and is one of the most-searched Thanksgiving side dishes each November.
Pumpkin pie is the #1 Thanksgiving dessert
Pumpkin pie is the most-searched and most-baked Thanksgiving pie, followed by pecan and apple. Libby's produces a large share of canned pumpkin used in the U.S.
Parades, football & pardons
Macy's Parade began in 1924
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade started in 1924 and switched to its signature giant character balloons in 1927. It has aired nationally on NBC since 1953.
The NFL has played on Thanksgiving since 1920
The NFL has hosted games on Thanksgiving every year since 1920. Detroit and Dallas have hosted every Thanksgiving since 1978 (with rare exceptions).
Presidential turkey pardons go back to 1989
The modern presidential turkey pardon became an official annual tradition under President George H. W. Bush in 1989, though informal pardons date to the Truman era.
Thanksgiving history at a glance
- 1621
The Plymouth harvest feast
Pilgrims and Wampanoag shared a three-day harvest celebration — the event later identified as the 'first Thanksgiving.'
- 1789
First national proclamation
President George Washington proclaimed a day of national thanksgiving for the new Constitution.
- 1863
A national holiday
President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday, set to the final Thursday of November.
- 1939
Franksgiving
President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved it up a week to extend the holiday shopping season — a move widely contested by 1941.
- 1941
Fixed to the fourth Thursday
Congress fixed Thanksgiving to the fourth Thursday of November by federal law — where it has stayed ever since.
Sources & methodology
Historical dates are drawn from primary-source archives and federal records. Modern figures are the most commonly cited public estimates for the year shown; exact counts vary year to year and by methodology. We update this page each season as new public figures are released.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture — National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS) — Turkey production & cranberry/sweet potato production figures. Annual turkey-raised estimates, top producing states, and crop data.
- American Automobile Association (AAA) Thanksgiving travel forecast — AAA. Estimates of Americans traveling 50+ miles for the Thanksgiving holiday.
- U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) — U.S. Department of Transportation. Holiday-period travel volume estimates.
- National Turkey Federation & National Retail Federation (NRF) — Industry trade groups. Turkey consumption and holiday-spending estimates.
- Library of Congress & Pilgrim Hall Museum — Primary-source historical archives. 1621 Plymouth feast records and the 1789/1863/1941 proclamations and laws.
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