Thanksgiving Statistics By Shopping Trends And Facts (2026)

Overview

Thanksgiving Statistics: Thanksgiving is a special holiday that reminds us to be thankful for the good things in our lives. It is a time when families and friends come together to enjoy a delicious meal, share happy moments, and create lasting memories. People also use this day to help others and show kindness to those in need. The holiday began as a harvest celebration, where people gave thanks for a successful season and the food they had.

Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated with traditions like eating turkey, watching parades, and spending quality time with loved ones. More than anything, it teaches us the importance of gratitude, love, sharing, and togetherness.

Key Highlights

• Thanksgiving 2026 will be celebrated on Thursday, November 26, in the United States, following the tradition of observing it on the fourth Thursday of November.
• Nearly 46 million turkeys are eaten across the U.S. during Thanksgiving, making turkey the holiday’s signature dish.
• The average Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people costs about USD 64, showing the continuing affordability of a traditional family meal.
• Around 73% of Americans celebrate Thanksgiving at home or at the home of family and friends, making it one of the country’s most family-centered holidays.
• Almost 47 million Americans travel over 50 miles during Thanksgiving, making it one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
• More than 200 million shoppers are expected to shop during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, driving one of the biggest retail events of the year.
• About 87% of Thanksgiving hosts serve turkey as the main course, while many families also experiment with new side dishes.
• Pumpkin pie remains America’s favorite Thanksgiving dessert, with nearly half of holiday diners choosing it over other pie varieties.
• Experts estimate that 80%–90% of serious injuries are preventable, highlighting the importance of safe cooking, driving, and holiday travel during Thanksgiving.
• Thanksgiving-inspired harvest festivals are celebrated in several countries, including Canada, Brazil, Liberia, Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdom, each with its own traditions and dates.

Thanksgiving Historical Background

• Harvest celebrations existed long before European settlement.
• The 1621 feast between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag is the best-known early Thanksgiving, although similar ceremonies were recorded in 1565 and 1619.

Traditions

• Families gather to share a meal and express gratitude.
• More than 90% of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving.
• During the 1830s, an 8- to 10-pound turkey cost about USD 1 day’s wages.
• Many people watch football, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, join turkey trots, volunteer, or donate food.
• The U.S. president traditionally pardons one or two turkeys.

Date

• According to Almanac, Thanksgiving in the United States will be celebrated on Thursday, November 26, 2026.
• It is observed every year on the fourth Thursday of November.
• The holiday can fall between November 22 and November 28.
• Future dates are November 25, 2027, November 23, 2028, and November 22, 2029.
• In Canada, Thanksgiving will be observed on Monday, October 12, 2026.

Thanksgiving Facts and Consumer Trends, 2026

• A typical Thanksgiving dinner contains 3,150-4,500 calories per person.
• Americans consume about 7.2 billion calories from turkey on Thanksgiving each year.
• It takes the average man about 10 hours to burn 4,500 calories.
• Around 13% of Americans plan to order takeout or dine out on Thanksgiving.
• The average cost of a Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people is about USD 64.05.
• The world’s most expensive Thanksgiving dinner, worth nearly USD 150,000, was served at Old Homestead Steakhouse in New York City.
• Nearly 40 million turkeys are prepared for Thanksgiving each year.
• About 64% of Americans may choose an alternative to turkey because of higher meat prices.
• Around 54% plan to add new side-dish recipes to their menu.
• The Butterball Turkey Talk-Line answers more than 100,000 questions every November and December.
• A typical Thanksgiving gathering includes about 7 guests, including family members.

Thanksgiving Food Statistics

• eatturkey.org reported that around 46 million turkeys are eaten during Thanksgiving in the United States each year.
• A traditional Thanksgiving dinner for about 10 people costs USD 61.17 in 2023, down from USD 64.05 in 2022, indicating a lower average meal cost.
• A typical Thanksgiving meal contains about 3,000 calories and 160 grams of fat.
• According to Venngage, the most expensive Thanksgiving dinner costs around USD 181,000.
• The Old Homestead Steakhouse in New York City created this luxury meal for 12 people.
• The menu included 2 free-range 20-pound turkeys, edible gold flakes, premium saffron, imported spices, UK sourdough bread, Japanese pork, Sri Lankan cinnamon, French Échiré butter, cranberry sauce made with strawberries sourced from Canada, Mexico, and Japan, and French wine.

Thanksgiving Dish Popularity

Preferred Thanksgiving Celebration Location in the United States

• Thanksgiving 2026 will be observed on Thursday, November 26.
• Research shows that most Americans prefer celebrating Thanksgiving in a private home.
• According to pewresearch.org, around 34% plan to celebrate at their own home, while 39% choose a family member’s or friend’s home, for a total of about 73%.
• Only 3%-5% prefer restaurants, hotels, or other public places.
• The Ipsos report further stated that overall, about 80%-90% of Americans are expected to celebrate Thanksgiving.
• Among people celebrating away from home, 89% mainly travel by car.
• About 69% complete their trip in less than 1 hour.
• These findings indicate that home-based celebrations remain the preferred choice for Thanksgiving in 2026.

Thanksgiving Consumer Participation and Spending Statistics

• Fortunly’s report also stated that around 94% of Americans planned to celebrate Thanksgiving in 2025, while only 6% chose not to participate.
• Among those celebrating, 87% served turkey as the main dish.
• About 71% of hosts welcomed 3-10 guests for their Thanksgiving meal.
• Americans spent an average of USD 952 during the 2025 Thanksgiving season, including USD 175 on food, USD 110 on drinks, USD 83 on decorations, and USD 293 on travel.
• A traditional Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people cost an average of USD 55.18 in 2025, a 5% decrease from 2024 and the third consecutive annual price decline.
• Thanksgiving dinners generated nearly USD 2 billion in food spending across the United States.
• Consumers spent over USD 983.3 million on turkeys in 2024, down from USD 1.2 billion in 2023.
• About 48% of hosts asked guests to bring food or drinks, with average contributions of USD 47.

Thanksgiving and Similar Harvest Celebrations by Country

(Source: worldpopulationreview.com)

• United States: National Thanksgiving Day will be celebrated on Thursday, November 26, 2026 (fourth Thursday of November).
• Canada: Thanksgiving will be observed on Monday, October 12, 2026 (second Monday of October).
• Liberia: National Thanksgiving Day will fall on Thursday, November 5, 2026 (first Thursday of November).
• Grenada: Thanksgiving Day will be celebrated on Sunday, October 25, 2026 (fixed annual date).
• Saint Lucia: Thanksgiving Day will be observed on Monday, October 5, 2026 (the first Monday of October).
• Norfolk Island (Australia): Thanksgiving will be celebrated on Wednesday, November 25, 2026 (last Wednesday of November).
• Brazil: National Thanksgiving Day will be observed on Thursday, November 26, 2026 (fourth Thursday of November).
• Japan: Labor Thanksgiving Day will be celebrated on Monday, November 23, 2026.
• Germany: Erntedankfest will be celebrated in early October 2026, with dates varying by region.
• Netherlands: Church-based Thanksgiving will be observed on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.
• United Kingdom: Harvest Festival celebrations will take place during autumn 2026, with dates varying by community.

Thanksgiving Shopping Statistics in the United States by Consumer Participation and Shopping Trends

• The Lending Tree report also mentioned that around 87% of Americans are expected to celebrate Thanksgiving in 2026, supporting strong demand for food, travel, decorations, and holiday shopping.
• According to the National Retail Federation, more than 200 million consumers are expected to shop during the Thanksgiving weekend, following the record 202.9 million shoppers in 2025.
• Shopping is increasingly planned weeks before Thanksgiving, with consumers focusing on early deals and value.

By Spending and Shopping Behavior

• Average Thanksgiving weekend spending is expected to remain in the mid-USD 300 range, following an average of USD 337.86 per shopper in 2025.
• About 96% of Thanksgiving weekend shoppers are expected to make at least one holiday-related purchase.
• Gifts account for about 67% of total weekend spending, or roughly USD 225.74 per shopper.
• Average seasonal spending reached USD 952 in 2025, including USD 175 on food, USD 110 on drinks, USD 83 on decorations, and USD 293 on travel.

By Popular Categories and Online Shopping

• Supermarkets (47%) and online stores (45%) remain the most popular shopping destinations, followed by department stores (40%), clothing stores (37%), and discount stores (30%).
• Clothing and accessories are the most purchased gifts (51%), followed by toys (32%), books and media (28%), and gift cards (26%).
• Thanksgiving Day online spending reached about USD 6.4 billion in 2025, while AI-assisted shopping continues to grow, with AI-driven traffic more than tripling year over year and AI service usage increasing 42% on Black Friday.

By Consumer Value and Spending Outlook

• Around 35% of consumers expect to reduce discretionary spending, while 24% plan to spend more.
• About 52% of shoppers are expected to use debt for holiday purchases.
• Baby Boomers are projected to increase spending by 5%, while Gen Z plans to reduce holiday spending by 23%, reflecting a stronger focus on value in 2026.

Thanksgiving Safety and Injury Statistics

• Thanksgiving 2026 falls during a period of improving workplace safety, although travel and home accidents remain significant concerns.
• According to bls.gov, U.S. employers reported about 2.5 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2026, a 3.1% decrease from 2.6 million in 2025.
• Only 10% of workers say they feel unsafe at work, while 22% feel very safe.
• Around 18% report that their employer has never conducted a safety drill, and 33% say they receive no online safety training.
• About 60% feel prepared to handle workplace emergencies, while 88% have access to personal protective equipment when needed.
• Experts estimate that 80%-90% of serious injuries and more than 99% of accidents are preventable with proper safety practices.
• Road safety is improving, with an estimated 3,960 traffic deaths in April 2026, down 5% from 2025 and 14% from 2024, although Thanksgiving remains one of the busiest travel periods.

Thanksgiving Travel Statistics

• Almost 46.9 million people in the United States traveled more than 50 miles for Thanksgiving.
• Globally, people have driven almost 41.9 million miles to their Thanksgiving dinners.
• The Wednesday before Thanksgiving, between 3:00 and 5:00 pm, is the worst time to travel before Thanksgiving.
• The traffic improves by almost 60% between Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving.
• Almost 36.1 million people have flown to their Thanksgiving dinners, as per the Thanksgiving statistics.
• If people fly out on Thanksgiving Day rather than the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, they could save USD 40 per trip.
• A Friday or a Tuesday for a return flight is almost 25% less than a Saturday, Sunday, or Monday.

Closing Remarks

Thanksgiving is one of the most important holidays in the United States. It brings families and friends together to share meals, express gratitude, and enjoy long-standing traditions. In 2026, the holiday is expected to see high participation, strong consumer spending, and increased travel and shopping.

While people celebrate in different ways, following simple safety measures can help prevent accidents. Overall, Thanksgiving continues to strengthen family bonds, support businesses, and play a key role in American culture and the economy.

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