Turkey Day takes place on the fourth Thursday of November. During the event, Franklin asks you to help cook four dishes: bring each dish’s regular ingredients for its event reward, then add the off-recipe ingredient to earn an extra reward. In 2026, the event falls on November 26.
When is Turkey Day, and what do you need to join?
Turkey Day is Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ Thanksgiving event. In 2026, it takes place on Thursday, November 26. Franklin is available from 9 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. in-game time, according to Nintendo Wire’s event guide.
- Your game must be version 1.6.0 or later, and Resident Services must have been upgraded to its permanent building, according to the same guide.
- Keep the Nintendo Switch’s date and time accurate, install current game data, and connect to the internet with a Nintendo Account linked to a user profile when the event is scheduled. Nintendo’s seasonal-event support guidance explains these access requirements; its event reminder notes that some events require an internet connection and the latest update data.
Franklin will tell you which recipe he needs as you work through the event. The regular recipes and rewards below are listed in Nintendo Wire’s Turkey Day guide; the reward sequence is also cross-checked against Nookipedia’s Turkey Day page.
What ingredients does Franklin need?
Three dishes have the same listed recipe in either hemisphere. Gratin changes by hemisphere, and the available recipe table does not establish a Southern Hemisphere Fish Meunière recipe, so that row is limited to the verified Northern Hemisphere ingredients.
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- Build your community from scratch on a deserted island brimming with possibility; Create your personal getaway and customize your character, home, decorations, and even the landscape itself
- Collect materials to construct everything from furniture to tools. Then, use what you create to give your island a personal touch
- Watch as the time of day and seasons match real life—even your hemisphere. Each day holds potential for surprises and discoveries
- Get to know the island residents, garden, fish, decorate, hunt for fossils, and more.
- Show off your paradise – play on the same system with a total of 4 people, or play together online or over local wireless for fun with up to 8 players
| Dish | Regular ingredients | Off-recipe ingredient | Regular reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clam Chowder | 3 Manila Clams | Scallop | Turkey Day Rug |
| Pumpkin Pie | 1 Orange Pumpkin and 1 pumpkin of another color: Green, White, or Yellow | The two remaining pumpkin colors | Turkey Day Wall |
| Gratin — Northern Hemisphere | 1 Mussel and 1 mushroom: Flat, Round, Skinny, or Oyster | Dungeness Crab | Turkey Day Flooring |
| Gratin — Southern Hemisphere | 1 Squid and 1 Sea Urchin | Dungeness Crab | Turkey Day Flooring |
| Fish Meunière — Northern Hemisphere | 1 Sea Bass and 1 Dab, Olive Flounder, or Red Snapper | Barred Knifejaw | Cornucopia |
The two pumpkin colors requested as extras are the colors not used in your regular pie. For example, if you use an Orange and a White Pumpkin, bring Green and Yellow Pumpkins as the off-recipe ingredients.
How do I get the extra Turkey Day rewards?
For each dish, first give Franklin the listed regular ingredients. After he accepts the dish and gives its regular reward, talk to him again and provide the off-recipe ingredient or ingredients. The regular rewards arrive in this order: Turkey Day Rug, Turkey Day Wall, Turkey Day Flooring, then Cornucopia. Completing the first three off-recipe upgrades gives random Turkey Day DIY furniture rewards; the fourth gives the Cozy Turkey Day DIY collection, containing recipes for the event furniture.
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- Share Your Paradise - Show off your island utopia to family and friends - or pack your bags and visit theirs.
- Get Building - Experience a robust new crafting system - collect materials to construct everything from furniture to tools!
- Create Your Perfect Getaway - Craft everything from tools to creature comforts as you create and customize your island community.
- Explore Your Island - Collect bugs, decorate your paradise throughout the day, or enjoy sunset on the beach while fishing in the ocean.
- Play Together - Up to eight players can reside on an island; four residents of the same island can play together simultaneously on a single system.
Where can I find ingredients if I am missing some?
Gather what you can before handing in a dish. Manila Clams can be dug up where water spurts from the sand; fish and sea creatures are caught through fishing or diving, and mushrooms and pumpkins are found or grown on the island. For a shortfall during the event, villagers cooking at home can trade ingredients after you complete their cooking requests, according to Nintendo Wire’s guide. Check Franklin’s request before deciding what to collect, since the ingredients vary by dish and, for Gratin, hemisphere.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What if I missed Turkey Day?
Nintendo Wire’s guide reports that some Turkey Day furniture and recipe collections can be purchased at Nook’s Cranny for a limited period around the event. Sales timing and availability can differ by item and game version, so check the shop in your game rather than relying on a single price or calendar window.
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- Take in-game photos of your designs and add them to your portfolio. Show them to other characters and you may get more requests to create vacation homes. Share the photos with other players using the in-game Showroom in the Happy Home Network app and they can tour your personally-designed resort islands or go tour theirs for some relaxation and inspiration.
- Purchase the Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Happy Home Paradise DLC from Nintendo eShop, or download and play it as part of an active Nintendo Switch Online plus Expansion Pack membership at no extra cost.
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