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Stores Open on Thanksgiving Day 2026

Updated October 30, 2026 · By CloseToMe.place Editorial Team · 5 min read

Most big retailers, including Walmart, Target, Costco and Best Buy, closed on Thanksgiving Day in 2025 and are expected to stay closed on Thursday, November 26, 2026. Many grocery stores, drugstores and convenience stores do open on the holiday, usually with shorter hours, so you can still grab forgotten ingredients if you go early.

Open in Google Maps: “grocery store open now”

Last updated: October 30, 2026. Most chains haven't published their 2026 holiday hours yet. The lists below are based on 2025 schedules reported by TODAY and Hip2Save. Where we say "expected," the store closed or opened in 2025 and is likely to follow the same pattern. Confirm with your local store before you go.

Big retailers closed on Thanksgiving

Closing on Thanksgiving has become the norm for large chains. Here are the major stores that were closed on Thanksgiving Day 2025 and are expected to close again in 2026:

If you need something from one of these stores, your best bets are to shop by Wednesday, November 25, or order online. Most of these retailers keep their websites and apps running on the holiday, but in-store pickup won't be available until Black Friday.

Malls generally follow their anchor stores, so most shopping centers are closed or nearly empty on the holiday. Our guide to shopping centers near you covers typical mall hours around the holidays.

Grocery stores: often open with short hours

Grocery stores are the main exception. Many open on Thanksgiving morning so shoppers can pick up last-minute items, then close early in the afternoon. Hours vary by location, but here's how major chains handled Thanksgiving 2025:

Closed in 2025: Aldi, Trader Joe's, Publix, Winn-Dixie, Hy-Vee, Costco and Sam's Club, plus Walmart and Target grocery departments.

One regional note: TODAY reported that some chains that opened elsewhere, such as Stop & Shop and Whole Foods, kept stores closed in Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, where state rules limit holiday retail. For everyday hours and delivery options, see our guide to grocery stores near you.

Pharmacies and convenience stores

If you need medicine or basics on the holiday, these are your most dependable options:

• CVS: Many locations opened in 2025 with modified hours. Pharmacy counter hours may be shorter than store hours.
• Walgreens: Most stores closed in 2025, but most 24-hour pharmacy locations stayed open.
• Grocery store pharmacies: Often closed on Thanksgiving, even when the store itself is open.
• Dollar General, Dollar Tree and Family Dollar: Many open, with hours varying by location.
• 7-Eleven and gas station convenience stores: Commonly open, with hours that vary.

For prescriptions, the safest move is to refill by Wednesday. If something comes up on the day, our guide to pharmacies near you explains how to check counter hours and transfer a prescription.

Open in Google Maps: “pharmacy open now”

Other closures to plan around

Thanksgiving is a federal holiday, so a few everyday services shut down regardless of what stores do:

• Post offices are closed, and regular mail isn't delivered.
• Banks and credit unions are generally closed, though ATMs and mobile banking keep working.
• Government offices, including most DMVs and courts, are closed.
• Public transit often runs on a holiday or weekend schedule; check your local agency before relying on it.

Many of these services reopen on Black Friday, but some offices and banks keep reduced hours that day, so call ahead if you have an important errand.

Not cooking this year? We keep a separate list of restaurants open on Thanksgiving on our sister site.

Black Friday (Nov 27) opening times

Black Friday 2026 is Friday, November 27. Retailers usually announce exact times a few weeks before. Here's when major stores opened on Black Friday 2025, according to TODAY's store-hours roundup:

Expect similar early openings in 2026, but don't rely on last year's times for a doorbuster. Keep in mind that many "Black Friday" deals now start online days or even weeks earlier, and some retailers run the same prices in stores and on their apps. If you're after one specific item, checking online first can save you a cold early-morning line. Check the store's website or app the week of Thanksgiving.

Tips for last-minute shopping

A few habits make holiday-week shopping much less stressful:

1. Shop Tuesday or early Wednesday. The day before Thanksgiving tends to be packed, and popular items can sell out.
2. Go early on Thursday. If your grocery store opens, arrive in the first hour; many close by early afternoon.
3. Check the store's own site the night before. Holiday hours change, and map apps are not always updated. Our guide on what's open near you right now explains how to double-check listings.
4. Order pickup or delivery ahead. Holiday slots fill quickly, so book a few days in advance.
5. Know your backups. Drugstores, dollar stores and convenience stores carry basics like butter, broth, foil and batteries.
6. Refill prescriptions early. Pharmacy counters are among the first services to close.

Quick summary

• Thanksgiving 2026 is Thursday, November 26; Black Friday is November 27.
• Walmart, Target, Costco, Best Buy, Home Depot and most big retailers closed in 2025 and are expected to close again.
• Many grocery chains open Thanksgiving morning and close by early or mid-afternoon; Aldi, Trader Joe's and Publix closed in 2025.
• Some CVS stores and Walgreens 24-hour pharmacies were open in 2025; grocery pharmacies often close.
• Confirm 2026 hours with your local store before you go.

Frequently asked questions

Information can change. Always confirm hours and details directly with the business.

Sources

• Hip2Save - Retailers expected to be closed on Thanksgiving 2026
• TODAY - All the stores closed on Thanksgiving in 2025
• TODAY - Black Friday store hours 2025

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