Holiday countdown planner

How many days until Christmas?

As of Wednesday, November 11, 2026, there are 44 days until Christmas Day, which falls on Friday, December 25, 2026. For a live count of days, weeks, weekends and sleeps, open our dedicated Christmas countdown, or open this planner set to Christmas: the countdown panel shows the days left from today, and the checklist shows what to do in each of the remaining weeks.

The same countdown answers how many days until Thanksgiving or New Year's Eve. As of Wednesday, November 11, 2026, there are 15 days until Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 26, 2026) and 50 days until New Year's Eve (Thursday, December 31, 2026). Open the planner set to Thanksgiving or New Year's Eve for a count that updates every day.

Here is how the countdown to Christmas 2026 looks from a few key dates. The Mondays column counts the Mondays still ahead, not counting that day itself.

How many Mondays till Christmas?

From November 11, 2026, there are 6 Mondays till Christmas: November 16, 23 and 30, and December 7, 14 and 21. That is a handy way to plan, because each Monday can be a weekly check-in. A simple rhythm: set the budget and gift list on the first Monday, shop the big gifts over the next few, order cards and anything that ships by early December, then use the last two Mondays for wrapping, groceries and the Christmas dinner plan. The planner above lays out the same steps by week.

Christmas 2026 and 2027 at a glance

Christmas Day 2026 is a Friday, and it is the federal holiday on that date. In 2027, Christmas falls on a Saturday, so the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's federal holiday schedule lists Friday, December 24, 2027 as the observed holiday for federal workers. Private employers set their own schedules, so check yours.

How to use the holiday countdown planner

1. Pick your holiday. Thanksgiving (the fourth Thursday of November), Christmas or New Year's Eve. The planner opens on whichever comes next.
2. Say whether you're hosting. Hosts get menu, shopping and cooking tasks. Guests and travelers get booking, what-to-bring and travel tasks.
3. Work through this week first. Tasks are grouped by week, starting today. Anything whose date has already passed moves into this week with a "Catch up" tag.
4. Tick tasks off as you go. Checkmarks stay in this browser, so you can come back tomorrow and pick up where you left off.
5. Take it with you. Copy the checklist into your notes, copy a link for your partner, or print it for the fridge.

What the timeline is built on

Every task has a set number of days before the holiday, and the planner places it in the week it falls in, counted from today. Big decisions (where, who and how much) come first, because everything else depends on them. Shopping is split so pantry items come early and fresh food comes in the last few days. Food-safety timing follows USDA guidance: about 24 hours of fridge thawing for every 4 to 5 pounds of turkey, and leftovers in the fridge within 2 hours.

Want the details behind each step? Read how to plan Thanksgiving dinner, how to host Christmas dinner on a budget or family New Year's Eve at home. Prefer a single page? Use the Christmas planning checklist. Before the shopping weeks start, split your total with the holiday budget split calculator.

Questions, answered

When should I start planning for Christmas? About eight weeks ahead is comfortable: set the budget and the gift list first, then shop the big gifts, then the cards, decorating, wrapping and food. Starting later is fine too. Any task whose date has passed moves into this week with a "Catch up" tag, so you can see what's still open.

How far ahead should I plan Thanksgiving dinner? Hosts usually start about six weeks out with the guest list and the budget, plan the menu three weeks out, and shop in two rounds: pantry and frozen items about two weeks ahead, fresh food in the last few days. Turn on "I'm hosting" to see the host tasks.

How long does a turkey take to thaw? USDA guidance is about 24 hours in the refrigerator for every 4 to 5 pounds, so a 20-pound turkey needs 4 to 5 days. The planner puts "move it to the fridge" six days before Thanksgiving to leave a little room.

Can I plan as a guest instead of a host? Yes. Leave "I'm hosting" off and the planner swaps the host tasks for guest ones, such as booking travel, asking the host what to bring and making your dish.

Are my checkmarks saved? Your checkmarks are saved in this browser on this device, and nothing is sent to us. Use Copy link to reopen the same holiday and hosting choice somewhere else, or Copy checklist to paste the whole plan into your notes.

Does the planner know shipping deadlines? No. Carriers set new holiday shipping dates every year, so the planner reminds you to look up the USPS, UPS and FedEx deadlines about six weeks before Christmas and write them on your calendar.

How many days until Christmas? As of Wednesday, November 11, 2026, it is 44 days until Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, 2026. Choose Christmas in the free holiday countdown planner on this page and it shows the exact number of days from today, plus what to do each week.

How many Mondays till Christmas? As of Wednesday, November 11, 2026, there are 6 Mondays left before Christmas: November 16, 23 and 30 and December 7, 14 and 21. Mondays make a good weekly check-in day for the gift list, the budget and the shopping.

What day of the week is Christmas 2026? Friday. Christmas Day 2026 falls on Friday, December 25, so many families get a three-day weekend from December 25 to 27. It is also the federal holiday on OPM's 2026 schedule.

Is Christmas 2027 observed on a different day? Yes, for federal workers. Christmas 2027 is a Saturday, so OPM lists Friday, December 24, 2027 as the observed federal holiday. Private employers set their own holiday schedules.

How many days until Thanksgiving? As of Wednesday, November 11, 2026, it is 15 days until Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 26, 2026. Choose Thanksgiving in the free holiday countdown planner on this page for a count that updates every day, plus a week-by-week hosting or guest checklist.

How many days until New Year's Eve? As of Wednesday, November 11, 2026, it is 50 days until New Year's Eve, Thursday, December 31, 2026, and 51 days until New Year's Day, Friday, January 1, 2027. Choose New Year's Eve in the free holiday countdown planner on this page to see the live count and a party checklist.

Plan the whole season

Budget, gifts, meals and savings in one download

The Holiday Season Bundle covers Thanksgiving through New Year's: the Christmas planner for gifts, a meal planner for hosting, a sinking funds tracker for next year and three more tools.

• Christmas Budget & Gift Planner
• Meal Planner & Grocery List
• Sinking Funds Tracker, 100 Envelope Savings Challenge, Bill Tracker and Cleaning Schedule

Buy · $15.99See inside

Only need the gift planning? Get the Christmas Budget & Gift Planner, $4.99.

Only hosting Thanksgiving and Christmas? The Holiday Quick-Start Pack is $7: our two best holiday planners in one download, with the spreadsheet that does the gift math for you.

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