Are Walmart, Costco, Aldi, or Target Open on Thanksgiving 2026? Here’s the List
If you need a last-minute Thanksgiving ingredient, November 26 is not the day to assume every big-box store will be open. Walmart, Costco, Aldi, and Target are all set to be closed on Thanksgiving Day 2026, while several other major grocery chains have different policies or have not yet confirmed their schedules.
That makes a little planning worthwhile before you head out for milk, butter, dessert, or anything else you forgot for the holiday meal. Here is what shoppers can expect from the major chains.
Walmart will be closed on Thanksgiving
Walmart has confirmed that its stores will be closed on Thanksgiving this year. The company announced the decision October 7, saying its stores will again close on Thanksgiving and Christmas so employees can spend the holidays with their loved ones.
For shoppers, the important date is Thursday, November 26, 2026. If Walmart is part of your usual Thanksgiving shopping routine, plan to make that trip before the holiday rather than counting on the store being open that day.
The Thanksgiving closure applies to Walmart stores. It does not automatically answer questions about every delivery, pickup, pharmacy, or third-party service, so shoppers should not assume those services follow the same schedule.
Costco is also closed November 26
Costco has a specific 2026 Thanksgiving closure listed on its official holiday schedule. The warehouse club states that it will be closed Thursday, November 26, 2026, in observance of Thanksgiving.
That makes Costco one of the clearest cases for shoppers planning ahead. There is no need to rely on an older holiday schedule or assume the store will operate on Thanksgiving because it has regular hours on another day.
If you need bulk groceries or other supplies from Costco for the holiday, November 25 or earlier is the safer time to make that shopping trip.
Aldi closes for Thanksgiving under its holiday policy
Aldi also closes its stores on Thanksgiving Day. Unlike Walmart and Costco, the information comes from Aldi’s standing holiday policy rather than a separately dated announcement specifically for Thanksgiving 2026.
Aldi’s hours information lists Thanksgiving Day among its annual store closures. So shoppers should plan around a closed store on November 26 rather than expecting normal Thanksgiving hours.
The policy is particularly useful for customers who rely on Aldi for holiday ingredients. Getting the shopping done before Thanksgiving can save you from making an unnecessary trip to a locked store.
Target remains closed on Thanksgiving
Target’s Thanksgiving closure is also part of a permanent policy. The retailer previously announced that its stores would remain closed on Thanksgiving, making November 26, 2026, another holiday closure.
That means Target shoppers should not expect a Thanksgiving Day opening simply because the date changes from year to year. The company’s permanent policy continues to cover the holiday.
As with the other retailers, shoppers should distinguish the physical store’s holiday schedule from any assumptions about online orders, pickup, or other services.
What about Whole Foods Market?
Whole Foods Market has a different approach. Its current holiday-hours policy says many stores are open with modified hours on Thanksgiving.
The key word is “many.” Whole Foods directs shoppers to individual store pages for actual hours, so there is no single Thanksgiving opening time that applies to every location.
If Whole Foods is your backup for a forgotten ingredient, check the specific store before leaving home. Holiday hours can differ by location.
Kroger’s Thanksgiving hours are still unclear
Kroger’s official holiday-hours page does not currently provide a confirmed Thanksgiving 2026 schedule in the information available for shoppers.
That means customers should not rely on older Thanksgiving hours or estimates circulating elsewhere. A previous year’s schedule does not establish what a Kroger store will do on November 26, 2026.
For anyone planning a Thanksgiving grocery run at Kroger, the safest approach is to check the store’s current holiday information before making the trip.
Trader Joe’s has not confirmed its 2026 schedule
Trader Joe’s also does not have a confirmed November 26, 2026, schedule in the current announcements and store information reviewed for this holiday.
The important distinction is that an older Thanksgiving closure does not automatically establish the 2026 schedule. Shoppers should look for an update from Trader Joe’s or check their individual location before planning a Thanksgiving Day visit.
Plan your Thanksgiving shopping before Thursday
For the four major chains in the headline, the picture is straightforward: Walmart, Costco, Aldi, and Target are closed on Thanksgiving Day 2026.
Whole Foods is a different story, with many locations operating on modified hours. Kroger and Trader Joe’s do not yet have confirmed Thanksgiving schedules to rely on.
The simplest way to avoid a wasted trip is to finish important grocery shopping before Thursday, November 26. For anything you still need on Thanksgiving Day, check the specific store’s current holiday hours rather than relying on a normal schedule or last year’s information.
