Thanksgiving 2026
Most offices close Thursday and Friday, so the generator starts with you out from Thursday, November 26 and back on Monday, November 30. Change the dates, pick a tone and copy.
Automatic reply: Re: Quick question before you go
You
to Sam Rivera · just now
Slack or Teams status
38/100 characters, Slack's limit. Set it to clear on Mon, Nov 30.
Subject line (Gmail)
Gmail's vacation responder asks for one. Outlook writes its own: “Automatic reply: …”.
Block your calendar
Out of office: Out for Thanksgiving
Thu, Nov 26 to Sun, Nov 29 · all day · shows as Out of office
Tell your team lead
Hi! Heads-up: I'll be out for Thanksgiving from Thursday, November 26 through Friday, November 27, and back on Monday, November 30. My out-of-office reply is on.
Open Settings (the gear at the top right), then Accounts › Automatic replies.
Turn on the Automatic replies toggle.
Check Send replies only during a time period. Start: Wed, Nov 25, 5:00 PM. End: Mon, Nov 30, 8:00 AM.
Optional: check Block my calendar for this period and Automatically decline new invitations for events that occur during this period.
Paste your message into the box.
Work account? Check Send replies outside your organization, then Send replies only to contacts, and paste the outside version.
Select Save.
You'll paste
Turning it on the evening before and off the morning you're back means it switches itself off. No forgetting.
For team leads
Auto-replies tell the people emailing you. Your team lead finds out who's out from the bounce-backs. Forgot puts everyone's time off, holidays and release dates on one calendar, so a clash shows up while there's still time to plan around it.
Free for 14 days, no card. Then $9 once, no subscription. Not your call? Send it to your team lead.
Thanksgiving
Hello, Thank you for your email. I'm out of the office for the Thanksgiving holiday from [start date] through [end date] and will return on [return date]. I will not have access to email during this time. If your matter is urgent, please contact [colleague's name] at [their email]. Otherwise, I'll respond to your message as soon as possible after I return. I wish you a happy Thanksgiving. Best regards, [Your name]
Thank you for your message. I'm out of the office from [start date] through [end date], returning on [return date]. I will not have access to email during this time. For anything urgent, please reach out to [colleague's name] at [their email]. I'll reply as soon as I can when I'm back. Kind regards, [Your name]
Hi there, Thanks for getting in touch. I'm out for Thanksgiving until [return date], and your email is waiting safely in my inbox for when I'm back. For anything urgent, please reach out to [colleague's name] at [their email]. Happy Thanksgiving! Thank you for your patience, [Your name]
Hi! I'm out for Thanksgiving, spending the long weekend with family (and a lot of leftovers). I'll be back on [return date] and will get back to you then. If it can't wait, [colleague's name] can help at [their email]. Happy Thanksgiving! [Your name]
Hi! Thanks for your note. I'm out for Thanksgiving and back on [return date]. I won't be checking email while I'm away. If it can't wait, [colleague's name] can help at [their email]. Happy Thanksgiving! Talk soon, [Your name]
Hello! I'm out for Thanksgiving right now, so your email will have to wait a little. I'll be back on [return date] and will get back to you then. If it can't wait, [colleague's name] can help at [their email]. Happy Thanksgiving! Thanks for your patience, [Your name]
Out for Thanksgiving, back [return date]. Urgent? Contact [colleague's name] at [their email]. Happy Thanksgiving! [Your name]
I'm out for Thanksgiving until [return date]. Urgent? Contact [colleague's name] at [their email]. [Your name]
Thanks for your email. I'm out of the office and will reply when I'm back on [return date]. Urgent? Contact [colleague's name] at [their email]. [Your name]
Thanks for your email! I'm out for Thanksgiving, in a food coma that should wear off by [return date]. If it can't wait, [colleague's name] skipped the second slice of pie and can help at [their email]. Happy Thanksgiving! [Your name]
Hello! I'm away for Thanksgiving, giving thanks somewhere far from my inbox. Today I'm thankful for family, for pie, and for your patience, in that order. I'll be back on [return date]. If it can't wait, [colleague's name] can help at [their email]. [Your name]
Hi, this is [Your name]'s inbox. [Your name] is out of the office until [return date] and left me in charge, which was a bold choice, because I'm an inbox. For anything urgent, [colleague's name] is an actual human and can help at [their email]. Yours in storage, The inbox
Set it Wednesday afternoon
Plenty of people leave early on Wednesday. A reply that starts at lunchtime catches the afternoon's email.
Friday counts too
Three in four employers give the day after Thanksgiving off. If yours does, your message should say you're back Monday.
Jokes inside, manners outside
A food-coma joke is great for colleagues. Outlook can send clients the professional version at the same time.
Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, 2026: always the fourth Thursday in November. Most people are back on Monday, November 30.
Not a federal one, but 75% of employers give it off, and several states close their offices. Check your company's holiday list.
That you're out for Thanksgiving, the day you're back, and who to contact if it can't wait. A "Happy Thanksgiving" at the end is a nice touch.