Canadian Thanksgiving is on the second Monday in October, not the fourth Thursday in November. In 2026 it fell on Monday, October 12; in 2027 it will be Monday, October 11. It is a statutory holiday in most of Canada, with a harvest-season meal that often looks familiar to U.S. hosts: turkey or another roast, sides and pie. For the U.S. date, see when is Thanksgiving in the United States. For the rest of a U.S. menu, start with the Thanksgiving guide or how to host Thanksgiving.
How the date is set
The date is the second Monday in October, a rule that does not move with the U.S. calendar. Count Mondays in October rather than copying the fourth-Thursday habit used in the United States. Because 2026’s Canadian holiday has already passed, this page is most useful for travel plans, for looking back at this year’s date, and for 2027, when the second Monday is October 11.
Several provinces and territories observe the Monday as a statutory holiday; a few workplaces may use a slightly different local practice, so check an official provincial calendar if you are scheduling travel or a school break. The meal itself is a family and harvest tradition, not a copy of the U.S. Thursday feast.
How it differs from the U.S. holiday
The two holidays share autumn food and a thank-you at the table, but they are not the same civic date and they do not share the same origin story in every telling. If you are cooking in the United States on Thursday, November 26, 2026, keep using the Thanksgiving guide for thaw times, 165°F, and leftovers. If you are comparing the two calendars, start here and then read when is Thanksgiving in the United States. Related: how to host Thanksgiving.
If you are traveling between the two countries in October or November, do not assume a shared long weekend. Canadian schools and many offices are off on the October Monday; the U.S. holiday comes later, on a Thursday, and the Friday after is not a federal holiday everywhere.
Frequently asked questions
When is Canadian Thanksgiving in 2026 and 2027?
It was Monday, October 12, 2026, and it will be Monday, October 11, 2027, the second Monday in October both years.
Is Canadian Thanksgiving the same day as U.S. Thanksgiving?
No. Canada uses the second Monday in October. The United States uses the fourth Thursday in November, which in 2026 is November 26.
Do Canadians eat turkey too?
Often yes, though the menu varies by family, just as it does in the United States. The date rule is what you can count on.
Helpful kitchen tools
- Cuisinart Stainless 16-Inch Roasting Pan with Rack and Deluxe Basting Set — If you are also roasting a U.S. Thanksgiving turkey later in November, use a shallow pan with a rack.
- OXO Good Grips Chef’s Precision Digital Instant Read Thermometer — The safety test for turkey is still 165°F, on either calendar.
- OXO Good Grips 11-Pound Digital Kitchen Food Scale — Weigh the bird if you need to plan thaw time for a later U.S. dinner.
- OXO Good Grips 2-Cup and 4-Cup Glass Measuring Cup Set — Useful for sides and gravy whenever you cook the meal.
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