Fewer Americans May Host Thanksgiving as Inflation Reshapes Menus, Shrinks Guest Lists
Fewer Americans say they may host Thanksgiving this year as inflation continues to strain household budgets. Those considering hosting expect to spend more on the festivities than prospective hosts did a year ago.
Here’s what else we found.
- Fewer Americans say they might host Thanksgiving in 2026, but those considering hosting expect to spend more. Just over half (51%) of Americans say they might host this year, down from 59% last year and 56% in 2024. Potential hosts expect to spend an average of $427 on food, drinks and housewares, up from $414 in 2025 but slightly below the $431 reported in 2024.
- About a third of potential hosts say hosting is a financial strain. Nearly a third (32%) say hosting is a financial strain, while 78% have a budget, including 25% who say it’s strict. Meanwhile, among those planning to celebrate Thanksgiving, 53% say inflation is affecting their plans or budget, with 25% changing food choices, 22% using more coupons and 14% cutting back on guests.
- Most potential Thanksgiving hosts may need to borrow to pay for the festivities. Nearly two-thirds (62%) say they may need to borrow to host Thanksgiving, including 38% who plan to use credit cards to cover the costs and 18% who plan to use buy now, pay later (BNPL) loans. Among those planning to charge Thanksgiving hosting expenses, 89% say they’ll pay off their balances within three months, including 56% who expect to do so within a month.
- Come empty-handed, and next year’s invitation could be off the table. Potential hosts expect to welcome an average of 10 people for Thanksgiving. Six in 10 (60%) potential hosts anticipate guests will offer money or bring food or beverages to offset costs. A quarter (25%) would consider leaving a guest off next year’s list if they don’t contribute.
Fewer Americans might host Thanksgiving in 2026, but those considering it expect to spend more
Slightly more than half of Americans (51%) say they may host Thanksgiving in 2026. That’s down from 2025 (59%) and 2024 (56%). Parents of children younger than 18 (67%), six-figure earners (66%) and millennials ages 30 to 45 (58%) are among the most likely to say they might host Thanksgiving this year. Meanwhile, just 42% of baby boomers ages 62 to 80 say the same.
Though fewer people may host Thanksgiving this year, those considering hosting expect to spend more than potential hosts did in 2025. Potential hosts expect to spend an average of $427 on food, drinks and housewares. That’s up from $414 in 2025 (a 3% increase), though it’s slightly below the $431 reported in 2024.
The increase doesn’t necessarily mean hosts plan to splurge. Inflation may simply make it more expensive to host a Thanksgiving gathering similar to last year’s.
About a third of potential hosts say hosting is a financial strain
For most people who say they might host this Thanksgiving, the expense may be manageable. Our survey found that 56% of potential hosts don’t expect hosting to be a financial strain, but nearly 1 in 3 (32%) say it will be. (Another 12% aren’t sure.) Younger hosts are more likely to anticipate financial strain.
Budgeting remains a consideration. More than 3 in 4 (78%) potential hosts have a budget, including 25% who say it’s strict. The lower your income and the younger you are, the more likely you are to say you’re on a strict budget. Men and women are equally likely to have a budget, but men are more likely to say theirs is strict (28% versus 22%).
Meanwhile, among those who plan to celebrate Thanksgiving, 53% say inflation is affecting their plans or budget. A quarter (25%) say they’re changing their food choices because of inflation, while 22% say they’ll use more coupons and 14% plan to cut back on guests.
Younger Americans are more likely to say inflation will affect their Thanksgiving plans, with 66% of Gen Zers ages 18 to 29 reporting an impact. However, the share reporting an impact varies little by household income, with 52% of those earning less than $30,000 saying so, versus 53% of those earning $100,000 or more.
Most potential Thanksgiving hosts may need to borrow to pay for the festivities
Nearly two-thirds of potential Thanksgiving hosts (62%) say they may need to borrow to cover the costs of the gathering. The most commonly cited payment method is credit cards, which 38% of potential hosts expect to use. About 1 in 5 (18%) expect to use buy now, pay later (BNPL) loans.
Higher-income potential hosts are more likely to expect to borrow than their lower-income counterparts. Nearly half (49%) of potential hosts who earn $100,000 or more say they’ll likely use a credit card to pay for hosting, while 23% say they’ll use a buy now, pay later loan. Meanwhile, among those making less than $30,000, 17% say they’ll use a credit card and 12% expect to use BNPL.
Among those who plan to charge Thanksgiving expenses, 89% say they’ll pay off their balances within three months, including 56% who expect to do so within a month. Just 10% say it’ll take more than three months.
Come empty-handed, and next year’s invitation could be off the table
Potential hosts say they expect to welcome an average of 10 people for the festivities. Even if you’re not hosting Thanksgiving this year, you may still be expected to contribute.
Our survey found that 60% of potential hosts expect guests to offer money or bring food or drinks to help offset costs. Nearly 3 in 4 Gen Z potential hosts (72%) expect guests to contribute, as do 65% of potential hosts with kids younger than 18.
For some potential hosts, a guest’s failure to contribute could affect future invitations. A quarter of potential hosts (25%) say they’d consider leaving a guest off next year’s list if they don’t contribute, while another 8% aren’t sure.
Gen Z potential hosts (46%) and potential hosts with kids younger than 18 (30%) are among the most likely to consider leaving noncontributing guests off next year’s invitation list.
How to enjoy Thanksgiving without taking on debt
Thanksgiving should be about the people around the table, not how much you spend filling it. Still, hosting can get expensive fast, especially right before the rest of the holiday shopping season.
The good news: You don’t need to do everything yourself or put the meal on a credit card to make it memorable. A little planning, a few honest conversations and a willingness to keep things simple can go a long way.
- Set your budget before you plan the menu. Figure out what you can comfortably spend without taking on debt during the holidays, then let that number guide your decisions. That may mean a smaller gathering, fewer side dishes or skipping a few extras. That’s OK.
- Compare prices before you shop. Loyalty programs, digital coupons and holiday promotions can make a difference, particularly on big-ticket items like turkey. It may be worth making an extra stop if another store has a much better deal.
- Leverage credit card rewards. If you can pay the balance in full by the due date, a rewards card can give you a little something back. An extra 1% or 2% cash back may not seem like much, but it can add up, especially when you’re already spending more over the holidays.
- Give yourself permission to simplify. Nobody needs a dozen side dishes or elaborate decorations to have a great Thanksgiving. Focus on the traditions that matter most to you and your guests. People are likely to remember the time together far longer than they remember exactly what was on the table.
Methodology
LendingTree commissioned QuestionPro to conduct an online survey of 2,000 U.S. consumers from Oct. 2 to 9, 2026. The survey was administered using a nonprobability-based sample, and quotas were used to help ensure the sample reflected the overall population. Researchers reviewed all responses for quality control.
Generations were defined as the following age groups in 2026:
- Generation Z: 18 to 29
- Millennials: 30 to 45
- Generation X: 46 to 61
- Baby boomers: 62 to 80
Editor’s note: We updated the average amount potential Thanksgiving hosts expected to spend on food, drinks and housewares from our 2025 report. The revised calculation includes respondents who expected to spend nothing on housewares, consistent with the methodology used in our 2024 and 2026 reports.