Quick answer: Thanksgiving Day 2026 is Thursday, November 26. Almost every US public school district closes on Thursday and Friday (November 26–27). Many also close on Wednesday, November 25, and some take the whole week of November 23–27 off. There is no national Thanksgiving break date for schools: your district sets it, so check your district's calendar before you book travel.
TL;DR
- Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, November 26, 2026 (federal holiday).
- Shortest common break: Thursday–Friday, November 26–27 (for example, New York City, Chicago, Boston, Seattle).
- Three-day break: Wednesday–Friday, November 25–27 (for example, Fairfax County, Milwaukee, Minneapolis).
- Full week: Monday–Friday, November 23–27 (for example, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Nashville, Omaha, Miami-Dade County).
- Students usually return on Monday, November 30, 2026.
When is Thanksgiving break 2026?
Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday of November, so in 2026 it falls on Thursday, November 26. Federal offices close that day. Schools are different: each district decides how many days to close around the holiday, and the answer ranges from two days to a full week.
That is why searching "when is Thanksgiving break" gives different answers to different families. A parent in Houston and a parent in New York City have different Thanksgiving breaks in 2026, even though the holiday is the same day.
Thanksgiving break 2026 dates for major school districts
The table below lists the Thanksgiving break in the 2026–27 calendars of large US school districts. Each date was read from the district's own published calendar on October 30, 2026. It is a sample of large districts, not every district in each state. Calendars can change, so open the source link and confirm.
| District | State | No school for students | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| DistrictNew York City Public Schools | StateNew York | No school for studentsThu Nov 26 – Fri Nov 27 | Length2 days |
| DistrictChicago Public Schools | StateIllinois | No school for studentsThu Nov 26 – Fri Nov 27 | Length2 days |
| DistrictBoston Public Schools | StateMassachusetts | No school for studentsThu Nov 26 – Fri Nov 27 | Length2 days |
| DistrictSeattle Public Schools | StateWashington | No school for studentsThu Nov 26 – Fri Nov 27 | Length2 days |
| DistrictLos Angeles Unified | StateCalifornia | No school for studentsThu Nov 26 – Fri Nov 27 (Thanksgiving holiday)* | Length2 days* |
| DistrictClark County School District | StateNevada | No school for studentsWed Nov 25 – Fri Nov 27** | Length3 days |
| DistrictFairfax County Public Schools | StateVirginia | No school for studentsWed Nov 25 – Fri Nov 27 | Length3 days |
| DistrictMilwaukee Public Schools | StateWisconsin | No school for studentsWed Nov 25 – Fri Nov 27 | Length3 days |
| DistrictMinneapolis Public Schools | StateMinnesota | No school for studentsWed Nov 25 – Fri Nov 27 | Length3 days |
| DistrictPortland Public Schools | StateOregon | No school for studentsWed Nov 25 – Fri Nov 27 (listed as "Fall break")*** | Length3 days |
| DistrictHouston ISD | StateTexas | No school for studentsMon Nov 23 – Fri Nov 27 | Length5 days |
| DistrictDallas ISD | StateTexas | No school for studentsMon Nov 23 – Fri Nov 27 | Length5 days |
| DistrictAtlanta Public Schools | StateGeorgia | No school for studentsMon Nov 23 – Fri Nov 27 | Length5 days |
| DistrictMetro Nashville Public Schools | StateTennessee | No school for studentsMon Nov 23 – Fri Nov 27 | Length5 days |
| DistrictOmaha Public Schools | StateNebraska | No school for studentsMon Nov 23 – Fri Nov 27 | Length5 days |
| DistrictMiami-Dade County Public Schools | StateFlorida | No school for studentsMon Nov 23 – Fri Nov 27 (Thanksgiving recess) | Length5 days |
\ LAUSD lists November 26–27 as the Thanksgiving holiday. Confirm November 23–25 with your school before planning around them. \ Clark County marks Wednesday, November 25 as a no-school "contingency day" that the district could use for make-up classes if needed. \** Portland lists November 23–24 as conference days. Check with your school whether students attend.
Sources: see the list at the end of this page.
How long is Thanksgiving break?
Most US school districts use one of three patterns:
- Two days (Thursday–Friday). School runs Monday to Wednesday, then closes for Thanksgiving Day and the Friday after. Families get a four-day weekend.
- Three days (Wednesday–Friday). The district adds the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, which gives a five-day break including the weekend.
- A full week (Monday–Friday). The whole week of Thanksgiving is off, giving nine days in a row from Saturday, November 21 to Sunday, November 29.
High schools usually follow the same district calendar as elementary and middle schools, so "how long is Thanksgiving break for high school" usually has the same answer as for younger students in the same district. Some districts schedule conferences or teacher work days on the Monday or Tuesday of Thanksgiving week, so read the calendar legend.
When does Thanksgiving break start, and when do students go back?
- Starts: Monday, November 23, Wednesday, November 25, or Thursday, November 26, 2026, depending on the district.
- Ends: Friday, November 27, 2026, in every district in the table above.
- Back to school: usually Monday, November 30, 2026.
Is there school on Thanksgiving Day? Not in any of the districts listed above. Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, is a no-school day in all of them.
How to check your own district's Thanksgiving break
- Find your school district (not just your state). States set broad rules, but districts publish the calendar.
- Open the district's 2026–27 school calendar, usually under "Calendar" on the district website.
- Look for "Thanksgiving," "Thanksgiving recess," "fall break," or "non-school day" in November.
- Read the legend. "Teacher workday," "conference day," and "contingency day" can mean different things for students.
- Confirm with your child's school before booking non-refundable travel, especially if your school is a charter or private school.
TermBreaks publishes state and district calendars as a planning reference. Start with the United States hub, then open your state, for example Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, California, Illinois or New York. District calendars include New York City Public Schools, Chicago Public Schools, Houston ISD and Fairfax County Public Schools. The methodology page explains how calendars are sourced.
Plan travel around Thanksgiving break
Thanksgiving week is one of the busiest travel periods of the year, so the exact break length matters. A Thursday–Friday break gives a four-day weekend. A full-week break gives nine days. If your children attend schools in two different districts, or you are visiting family in another state, compare both calendars with holiday overlap, and use long weekends to see how the holiday combines with other days off.
For the rest of the school year, see the United States school holidays 2026 guide.
FAQ
When is Thanksgiving break 2026?
Thanksgiving Day is Thursday, November 26, 2026. Most school districts are closed November 26–27. Many also close November 25, and some close the full week of November 23–27.
Is Thanksgiving break a full week?
In some districts, yes. Houston ISD, Dallas ISD, Atlanta Public Schools, Metro Nashville, Omaha and Miami-Dade County close Monday–Friday, November 23–27, 2026. Others, such as New York City and Chicago, close only Thursday and Friday.
Is there school on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving?
It depends on the district. Fairfax County, Milwaukee and Minneapolis are closed on Wednesday, November 25, 2026. New York City, Chicago and Seattle do not list it as a day off, and Boston lists it as an early-release day. Check your own school.
When do students go back after Thanksgiving break?
In the districts listed above, the break ends on Friday, November 27, 2026, so students usually return on Monday, November 30.
Does TermBreaks set these dates?
No. School districts set their own calendars. TermBreaks is a planning reference that links to each district's published calendar. Always confirm critical dates with your school or district.
Sources
Dates checked on October 30, 2026:
- Thanksgiving Day 2026: US Office of Personnel Management, federal holidays
- New York City Public Schools 2026–27 calendar
- Los Angeles Unified 2026–27 instructional calendar (PDF)
- Chicago Public Schools calendars
- Clark County School District 2026–27 student calendar (PDF)
- Houston ISD 2026–27 yearly calendar (PDF)
- Dallas ISD 2026–27 traditional calendar (PDF)
- Fairfax County Public Schools standard school year calendar
- Atlanta Public Schools 2026–27 student calendar (PDF)
- Metro Nashville Public Schools 2026–27 district calendar (PDF)
- Milwaukee Public Schools 2026–27 calendar (PDF)
- Portland Public Schools 2026–27 calendar (PDF)
- Minneapolis Public Schools 2026–27 calendar (PDF)
- Omaha Public Schools 2026–27 calendar (PDF)
- Boston Public Schools 2026–27 calendar (PDF)
- Seattle Public Schools 2026–27 calendar (PDF)
- Miami-Dade County Public Schools 2026–27 elementary and secondary calendar (PDF)