The short answer
Thanksgiving 2026 falls on Thursday, November 26. Walmart, Costco, Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s and Kohl’s have officially confirmed they will close on Thanksgiving 2026, and Target and Publix close every year. Most other big-box chains, such as Macy’s, closed in 2025 but have not announced 2026 hours yet. As a result, the stores open on Thanksgiving are mostly grocery chains with early closing times (Kroger, Safeway, Whole Foods), CVS, dollar stores, convenience stores and some restaurants and coffee shops.
- Is Walmart open on Thanksgiving 2026? No. Walmart confirmed on Oct. 7, 2026, that its stores will be closed on Thanksgiving, and on Oct. 26 it said stores open at 6 a.m. local time on Black Friday, Nov. 27.
- Is Target open on Thanksgiving? No. Target made its Thanksgiving closure a permanent policy.
- Is the post office open on Thanksgiving? No. USPS observes Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 26, 2026) as a federal holiday, so there is no regular mail delivery.
- Banks: Thanksgiving is a Federal Reserve holiday, so most bank branches close; they typically reopen on Black Friday, Nov. 27.
- Grocery runs: Shop by Wednesday, Nov. 25, if you can, because most grocery stores that open on the holiday close by mid-afternoon.
Nov. 26
Thanksgiving Day 2026
6 a.m.
Walmart and Home Depot Black Friday 2026 opening
5 p.m.
Kroger’s Thanksgiving closing time in 2025
1 p.m. ET
NYSE early close on Black Friday 2026
Last checked: October 29, 2026.
In this article
Thanksgiving, the US national day of gratitude held on the fourth Thursday of November, is one of the few days a year when most big retailers lock their doors. In 2026, it lands on Thursday, November 26, and the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the federal HR agency, lists it as a federal holiday. Consequently, government offices, post offices and most banks shut for the day. (If you are in Canada, your Thanksgiving already passed on Monday, October 12, 2026.)
This guide lists the stores open on Thanksgiving, the ones that stay closed, and what time the big chains opened on Black Friday last year. However, as of October 29, 2026, only Walmart, Costco, Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s and Kohl’s have officially confirmed their Thanksgiving 2026 closures, and most retailers have not published their 2026 holiday hours. So we clearly mark every line as either confirmed for 2026 or based on 2025, with a source for each. For the full holiday plan, start with our Thanksgiving 2026 guide, and for the shopping weekend, see our Black Friday 2026 guide.
What stores are open on Thanksgiving 2026?
Very few major retailers will let you shop in person on Thanksgiving Day 2026; Walmart, Costco, Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s and Kohl’s have confirmed they will close, and most other national chains closed in 2025 and have not said anything different for 2026. Instead, the stores open on Thanksgiving tend to be supermarkets with shortened hours, CVS, dollar stores, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s, and convenience stores.
The table below covers the stores people search for most. “Closed (announced)” means the retailer has officially confirmed its 2026 closure. “Standing policy” means the company has said it closes every Thanksgiving, so we expect the same in 2026. “Not announced yet” means you should treat the 2025 status as a guide, not a promise.
| Store | Thanksgiving Day 2026 (Nov. 26) | Black Friday opening (Nov. 27) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart | Closed (announced Oct. 7, 2026) | 6 a.m. local (announced Oct. 26, 2026; 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. in 2025) | Walmart (2026), Fox 5 DC (2025) |
| Target | Closed (standing policy) | Not announced yet (6 a.m. in 2025) | ABC13 (2023), Fox 5 DC (2025) |
| Costco | Closed (announced on costco.com, checked Oct. 29, 2026) | Not announced yet (10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. in 2025) | Costco (2026), Fox 5 DC (2025) |
| Sam’s Club | Not announced yet (closed in 2025) | Not announced yet (7 a.m. in 2025) | Gray News, Fox 5 DC (2025) |
| BJ’s Wholesale Club | Not announced yet (closed in 2025) | Not announced yet (7 a.m. in 2025) | Gray News, Fox 5 DC (2025) |
| Best Buy | Closed (announced Oct. 27, 2026) | Not announced yet (6 a.m. to 10 p.m. in 2025) | Best Buy (2026), Fox 5 DC (2025) |
| Home Depot | Closed (announced on Home Depot’s 2026 holiday hours page) | 6 a.m. (announced; 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. in 2025) | Home Depot (2026), Fox 5 DC (2025) |
| Lowe’s | Closed (announced Oct. 8, 2026) | Not announced yet (6 a.m. in 2025) | Lowe’s (2026), Fox 5 DC (2025) |
| Kohl’s | Closed (announced Oct. 21, 2026) | Not announced yet (5 a.m. in 2025) | Kohl’s (2026), Fox 5 DC (2025) |
| Macy’s | Not announced yet (closed in 2025) | Not announced yet (6 a.m. to 10 p.m. in 2025) | Hip2Save, Fox 5 DC (2025) |
| JCPenney | Not announced yet (closed in 2025) | Not announced yet (5 a.m. in 2025) | Hip2Save, Fox 5 DC (2025) |
| T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods | Not announced yet (closed in 2025) | Not announced yet (7 a.m. to 10 p.m. in 2025) | Gray News, Fox 5 DC (2025) |
| REI | Not announced yet (closed in 2025) | Not announced yet (closed on Black Friday 2025) | Fox 5 DC (2025) |
| Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s | Not announced yet (9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in 2025) | Not announced yet | Hip2Save (2025) |
| Dollar General | Not announced yet (most open in 2025; hours varied) | Not announced yet | Gray News (2025) |
| Dollar Tree | Not announced yet (most open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in 2025) | Not announced yet | Fox 13 (2025) |
| Big Lots | Not announced yet (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in 2025) | Not announced yet | Fox 13 (2025) |
Is Walmart, Target or Costco open on Thanksgiving?
No. Walmart and Costco have both officially confirmed that their US stores will close on Thanksgiving 2026, and Target says its Thanksgiving closure is permanent. All three also closed on Thanksgiving 2025.
Is Walmart open on Thanksgiving 2026?
No. Walmart, the largest US retailer, said in its October 7, 2026, holiday announcement that stores “will be closed again on Thanksgiving and Christmas this year.” In 2025, it also kept every store closed on Thanksgiving and reopened at 6 a.m. local time on Black Friday, according to Complex, citing USA Today. For 2026, Walmart said in its October 26, 2026, Black Friday announcement that its Black Friday Deals event starts in stores at 6 a.m. local time on Friday, November 27, and online at 12:01 a.m. ET on November 23 for Walmart+ members, then for everyone on November 24. Meanwhile, Walmart’s online store and app stay available on the holiday; in 2025, its second Black Friday deals event started online on November 25, two days before Thanksgiving, according to Walmart’s own announcement. For its Black Friday event dates and Walmart+ early access, see our Walmart Black Friday 2026 guide.
Is Target open on Thanksgiving?
No. Target first closed stores on Thanksgiving during the pandemic and later made the closure permanent; in November 2023, CEO Brian Cornell said that once he heard how much team members valued the time off, keeping the policy was an easy call, as ABC13 reported. Therefore, expect Target stores to stay closed on November 26, 2026. In 2025, Target stores reopened at 6 a.m. on Black Friday.
Is Costco open on Thanksgiving?
No. Costco’s Thanksgiving Day savings page states that “Costco will be closed Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026,” in observance of the holiday. Instead, Costco is running online-only Thanksgiving Day deals on costco.com that day. Costco warehouses also closed on Thanksgiving 2025, according to the company’s website as cited by Gray News. By contrast, Sam’s Club and BJ’s Wholesale Club have not announced 2026 hours; both closed on Thanksgiving 2025 and reopened at 7 a.m. on Black Friday.
Best Buy, Home Depot and other stores open on Thanksgiving?
Mostly not. Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Kohl’s, Macy’s, JCPenney, Dick’s Sporting Goods, IKEA, Apple, Ulta Beauty and Sephora all closed on Thanksgiving 2025, according to a running list from Hip2Save. On the other hand, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s opened from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., which makes them some of the only big-box stores open on Thanksgiving last year. Of that group, Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s and Kohl’s have confirmed their 2026 plans so far. Best Buy’s October 27, 2026, holiday calendar says its stores will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, although deals stay available in the Best Buy app and on BestBuy.com; extended store hours start Nov. 1, and Best Buy has not published a Black Friday opening time. Home Depot’s 2026 holiday store hours page lists stores as closed on Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 26, and opening at 6 a.m. on Black Friday, Nov. 27, although operating times can vary by location. Lowe’s October 8, 2026, holiday announcement says stores “will remain closed on Thanksgiving Day,” although MyLowe’s Rewards members get early online access to Black Friday doorbusters that day, one day before the Nov. 27 public release. Kohl’s said in its October 21, 2026, holiday release that stores “will once again be closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day,” and our Kohl’s Black Friday 2026 guide tracks its sale dates and hours. The rest have not announced their Thanksgiving 2026 hours.
Which grocery stores are open on Thanksgiving?
Most traditional supermarket chains open on Thanksgiving morning and close early, while Publix, Aldi, Trader Joe’s and Costco close for the whole day. None of the chains below has posted 2026 hours yet, so the times come from 2025.
Kroger, the largest traditional supermarket company in the US, kept stores open until 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving 2025, according to its website as cited by Fox 13. By contrast, Publix, the Florida-based chain, closes only three days a year (Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter), according to the USA Today Network. So if you need cranberry sauce on Thursday afternoon, plan around these hours.
| Grocery store | Thanksgiving 2026 | Thanksgiving 2025 hours |
|---|---|---|
| Kroger | Not announced yet | Open, closed at 5 p.m.; most pharmacies closed |
| Publix | Closed (standing policy) | Closed |
| Whole Foods Market | Not announced yet | Most stores open with modified hours |
| Safeway and Vons | Not announced yet | Many stores open with reduced hours |
| Albertsons | Not announced yet | Most 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Acme Markets | Not announced yet | Most 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Meijer | Not announced yet | 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| H-E-B | Not announced yet | 6 a.m. to noon; pharmacies closed |
| Wegmans | Not announced yet | Most closed at 4 p.m.; pharmacies closed |
| Harris Teeter | Not announced yet | Open until 2 p.m.; pharmacies closed |
| Sprouts Farmers Market | Not announced yet | 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. |
| Giant Eagle | Not announced yet | Closed at 3 p.m.; pharmacies closed |
| Ralphs | Not announced yet | Most closed at 10 p.m.; pharmacies closed |
| Food Lion | Not announced yet | Open; closing times varied |
| Amazon Fresh | Not announced yet | Most 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Aldi | Not announced yet | Closed |
| Trader Joe’s | Not announced yet | Closed |
| Lidl | Not announced yet | Closed |
| Hy-Vee and Winn-Dixie | Not announced yet | Closed |
Is Kroger open on Thanksgiving?
Yes, Kroger stayed open on Thanksgiving 2025 but closed early at 5 p.m., and most Kroger pharmacies closed for the day. Kroger has not announced its 2026 hours yet. Also, Kroger banners such as Ralphs, Fry’s and Harris Teeter set their own holiday hours, so check the exact store.
Is Publix open on Thanksgiving?
No. Publix closes every Thanksgiving, along with Christmas and Easter. As a result, Publix shoppers should finish their holiday shopping by Wednesday, November 25, 2026. If you are cooking a frozen bird, you also need to start early; our guide on how long to thaw a turkey gives a start date for every weight.
Are CVS and Walgreens open on Thanksgiving?
CVS kept most stores open on Thanksgiving 2025, usually from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., while Walgreens closed most locations except 24-hour stores. Neither chain has posted 2026 hours yet.
CVS Pharmacy, the largest US drugstore chain, listed most stores at 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on its website last year, according to Fox 13. However, pharmacy counters often keep shorter hours than the front store. Walgreens, meanwhile, shut most stores on Thanksgiving 2025, but its 24-hour locations stayed open. In addition, supermarket pharmacies at Kroger, H-E-B, Wegmans, Harris Teeter and Giant Eagle closed for the day in 2025, so refill prescriptions before the holiday.
Pro tip. If you need medicine on Thanksgiving, search your pharmacy app for “24 hours” first. Then call the pharmacy counter itself, because the front store and the pharmacy can keep different hours on the same day.
Which restaurants are open on Thanksgiving?
Many fast-food chains, Cracker Barrel, IHOP, Waffle House and most Starbucks and Dunkin’ locations opened on Thanksgiving 2025, while Chick-fil-A, Olive Garden, Chipotle and Panera closed. No chain has published 2026 holiday hours yet.
Restaurant hours depend heavily on the franchise owner, so even “open” chains can have closed locations. With that in mind, here is what Gray News reported for Thanksgiving 2025.
| Restaurant | Thanksgiving 2025 status |
|---|---|
| Cracker Barrel | Normal hours; traditional holiday meal from 11 a.m. |
| Starbucks | Most open; hours varied |
| Dunkin’ | Most open; call ahead |
| IHOP | Many open on regular hours |
| Waffle House | Open |
| Golden Corral | Open |
| Whataburger | Open |
| McDonald’s | Hours varied; check the app |
| Burger King, Wendy’s, Popeyes, Arby’s | Most open; hours varied |
| Krispy Kreme | Most open until 2 p.m. |
| Applebee’s | Some open; call ahead |
| Chick-fil-A | Closed |
| Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Outback, Chili’s | Closed |
| Chipotle, Panera, Taco Bell, Raising Cane’s | Closed |
| The Cheesecake Factory | Closed, except two locations |
Is Starbucks open on Thanksgiving?
Most Starbucks locations opened on Thanksgiving 2025, but hours varied by store. Starbucks has not announced 2026 hours, so use the store locator in the Starbucks app, which shows each cafe’s holiday hours. Similarly, check the app before you drive to a McDonald’s or Dunkin’, because franchise owners decide their own holiday hours.
Is the post office open on Thanksgiving? Banks, USPS and shipping
No, the post office is closed on Thanksgiving: the US Postal Service (USPS) lists Thursday, November 26, as one of the federal holidays it observes in 2026. Banks and the stock market also close, and they reopen on Black Friday.
This is one area where 2026 details already exist. First, the USPS listed Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, Nov. 26) among its 2026 holidays in a USPS employee news post. Second, the Federal Reserve, the US central bank, lists November 26, 2026, as a holiday but not November 27. Third, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) closes on Thanksgiving and closes early at 1 p.m. ET on Friday, November 27, 2026.
| Service | Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 26, 2026) | Black Friday (Nov. 27, 2026) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| USPS post offices and mail delivery | Closed; no regular delivery | Not a federal holiday; check local post office hours | Confirmed for 2026 (USPS, OPM) |
| Banks (Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and others) | Most branches closed | Not a Fed holiday; most branches reopened on regular hours in 2025 | Fed calendar confirmed for 2026; branch hours from 2025 (AP) |
| Stock market (NYSE) | Closed | Early close at 1 p.m. ET | Confirmed for 2026 (NYSE) |
| UPS and FedEx | No standard pickup or delivery in 2025; some critical services | Not announced yet | 2025 (AP via Fortune) |
| Government offices and courts | Closed | Varies by state and agency | Federal holiday confirmed (OPM) |
Are banks open the day after Thanksgiving?
Yes, most banks open on Black Friday because the Federal Reserve does not treat the day after Thanksgiving as a holiday. In 2025, branches of Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo and other big banks closed on Thanksgiving and reopened on regular hours on Friday, according to the Associated Press via Fortune. That said, some branches run shorter hours on Black Friday, so check your branch online.
What time do stores open on Black Friday?
Most big retailers opened between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. on Black Friday 2025, with Walmart, Target and Best Buy at 6 a.m. For 2026, Walmart and Home Depot have confirmed a 6 a.m. Black Friday opening; most other retailers usually publish Black Friday hours in November, so their 2026 times below remain unannounced.
Black Friday 2026 falls on Friday, November 27. The 2025 hours below come from Fox 5 DC, which compiled them from store websites and RetailMeNot. For sale start dates, see our Black Friday sale dates by store, and for the online follow-up, our Cyber Monday 2026 guide. Expect crowds, too: 64% of shoppers told the National Retail Federation (NRF), the largest US retail trade group, that they are likely to wait until Thanksgiving weekend for most of their holiday shopping, according to its October 20, 2026, survey.
| Store | Black Friday 2025 hours | Black Friday 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Walmart | 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. | Opens 6 a.m. local (announced Oct. 26) |
| Target | Opened 6 a.m. | Not announced yet |
| Best Buy | 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. | Not announced yet (closed Thanksgiving; extended hours from Nov. 1) |
| Kohl’s | Opened 5 a.m. | Not announced yet |
| JCPenney | Opened 5 a.m. | Not announced yet |
| Old Navy | Opened 5 a.m. | Not announced yet |
| Macy’s | 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. | Not announced yet |
| Home Depot | 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Opens 6 a.m. (announced) |
| Lowe’s | Opened 6 a.m. | Not announced yet |
| Dick’s Sporting Goods | 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. | Not announced yet |
| Ulta Beauty | 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. | Not announced yet |
| Sam’s Club and BJ’s | Opened 7 a.m. | Not announced yet |
| Costco | 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. (Executive members from 9 a.m.) | Not announced yet |
| GameStop | 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. | Not announced yet |
| REI | Closed | Not announced yet |
What time does Walmart open on Black Friday?
Walmart opened at 6 a.m. local time on Black Friday 2025 and stayed open until 11 p.m. For 2026, Walmart’s October 26, 2026, Black Friday announcement says its Black Friday Deals event opens in stores at 6 a.m. local time on Friday, November 27; online, deals start at 12:01 a.m. ET on November 23 for Walmart+ members and November 24 for everyone. Walmart has not published a 2026 closing time.
How to find stores open on Thanksgiving near you
The fastest way to confirm Thanksgiving hours is the store’s own locator page or app, checked a day or two before the holiday. National lists, including this one, can’t capture every franchise or local exception.
Where to check Thanksgiving store hours
- Use the store locator: Walmart, Target, Kroger, CVS and Starbucks all show holiday hours on individual store pages once they set them.
- Check Google Maps: Many stores add “holiday hours” to their listing, but treat it as a hint and confirm with the store.
- Call ahead: Next, phone the store itself, especially for pharmacies, malls and franchise restaurants.
- Shop online instead: Finally, remember that most retailers keep their websites and apps running on Thanksgiving, and many run online deals that day.
Watch out. Call your local store before you go. Holiday hours vary by location, mall stores follow the mall’s schedule, and state laws can change things; for example, Price Chopper kept most stores open until 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving 2025 but closed its Massachusetts stores, according to Hip2Save.
If you would rather stay home, Thanksgiving Day also has plenty to watch. Our Thanksgiving football schedule lists every NFL kickoff, so you can time a quick store run around the games. Before kickoff, the 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade airs from 8:30 a.m. in all time zones on NBC and Peacock.
Our verdict
Plan as if the big-box stores open on Thanksgiving 2026 will be almost none. Walmart, Costco, Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s and Kohl’s have already confirmed they will close on November 26, Target and Publix treat the closure as permanent, and Macy’s closed in 2025 but has not announced 2026 hours. For last-minute groceries, Kroger, Safeway, Albertsons, Meijer and Whole Foods kept shortened hours last year, while CVS and dollar stores filled the gaps. Above all, finish your big shop by Wednesday, November 25, and check each store’s locator the day before. We will update this page as retailers announce their 2026 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Is Walmart open on Thanksgiving 2026?
No. Walmart confirmed on October 7, 2026, that its stores will be closed again on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 26, 2026, as well as on Christmas. Walmart also closed all US stores on Thanksgiving 2025. However, Walmart.com and the Walmart app stay available on the holiday, and Walmart says stores open at 6 a.m. local time on Black Friday, November 27, 2026.
Is Kroger open on Thanksgiving?
Yes, Kroger stores opened on Thanksgiving 2025 but closed early at 5 p.m., and most Kroger pharmacies closed for the day. Kroger has not posted its 2026 hours yet. Kroger-owned banners such as Ralphs, Fry’s and Harris Teeter set their own holiday hours, so check the store page for your exact location before you go.
Is Publix open on Thanksgiving?
No. Publix closes only three days a year, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. That means Publix will almost certainly stay closed on Thursday, November 26, 2026. Plan to finish your Thanksgiving grocery shopping at Publix by Wednesday, November 25, or use another grocer that opens with shortened holiday hours.
Is Starbucks open on Thanksgiving?
Most Starbucks locations opened on Thanksgiving 2025, but hours varied from store to store, and some cafes closed. Starbucks has not announced its 2026 holiday hours yet. The most reliable check is the store locator in the Starbucks app, which shows each cafe’s holiday hours, or a quick call to the location you plan to visit.
What time does Walmart open on Black Friday?
Walmart stores open at 6 a.m. local time on Black Friday, November 27, 2026, when its in-store Black Friday Deals event begins, according to Walmart’s October 26, 2026, announcement. Online, the deals start at 12:01 a.m. ET on November 23 for Walmart+ members and November 24 for everyone. In 2025, Walmart opened at 6 a.m. and stayed open until 11 p.m.; it has not published a 2026 closing time.
Are banks open the day after Thanksgiving?
Yes, most banks open on Black Friday. The Federal Reserve lists Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2026, as a holiday but not Friday, November 27. In 2025, big banks such as Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo reopened on regular hours the day after Thanksgiving, though some branches may keep shorter hours.
