Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving share a menu more often than they share a calendar or a guest list. Thanksgiving is the U.S. federal holiday, on the fourth Thursday of November. In 2026, that is November 26. Friendsgiving is an informal meal with friends, with no official date and no required formality. For a definition, see what is Friendsgiving. For how to actually run the friends’ meal, see how to host a Friendsgiving.
Date, guests, and tone
Thanksgiving usually gathers family, or the people you already have a standing tradition with. Friendsgiving is the chosen table: roommates, coworkers, friends who live far from relatives, or a mix of couples. The tone is typically looser. Folding chairs, a buffet line, and a playlist are normal. That does not make the food less serious. You can still roast a turkey or build a vegetarian Friendsgiving menu.
Who cooks, and who pays
A family Thanksgiving is often cooked in one kitchen, sometimes with a few assigned sides. A Friendsgiving is frequently a potluck, or the cost of groceries is split. That changes the etiquette: guests may be expected to bring a dish, arrive on time, and help clean up. See Friendsgiving etiquette and how to split the cost. How to be a good Thanksgiving guest is still useful, but it is written more for a family dinner invitation.
You can do both
Many people attend a Friendsgiving on the weekend and a family meal on Thursday, or the other way around. If that is your week, pick a Friendsgiving date that does not wreck travel, and do not cook two full turkeys unless you really want to. A potluck, a turkey breast, or a prepared main can keep the friends’ meal in bounds. Pack leftovers the same way you would after Thursday; start with how to store Thanksgiving leftovers. The food-safety rules do not change just because the guest list is friends instead of relatives. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours, and reheat leftover turkey to 165°F if you serve it again later in the week. For planning the friends’ gathering itself, return to the Friendsgiving guide and the main Thanksgiving guide.
Helpful kitchen tools
- Everyday White 16-Inch Porcelain Turkey Platter — Useful at either kind of table when it is time to serve the main.
- Pyrex Deep 9×13-Inch Glass Baking Dish with Lid — The potluck workhorse for a Friendsgiving side.
- TempPro TP19H 1-Second Digital Meat Thermometer — Still needed if anyone is roasting poultry, at either gathering.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Friendsgiving the same holiday as Thanksgiving?
No. Thanksgiving is the official U.S. holiday on the fourth Thursday in November. Friendsgiving is an informal meal with friends.
Which one should I host?
It depends on who you want at the table. Some people host both, on different days, and keep the friends’ meal as a potluck so the week stays manageable.
Does Friendsgiving have to be formal?
Usually no. Casual seating, a buffet, and assigned dishes are common.