Unthanksgiving Day / National Day of Mourning 2026
Thursday 26 November 2026
The National Day of Mourning in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and the Indigenous Peoples Thanksgiving Sunrise Gathering on Alcatraz Island are both confirmed for Thursday 26 November 2026. They are distinct Indigenous-led observances, with different organisers, locations and participation arrangements.
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On this page
Dates and event details
Thursday 26 November 2026. Held dates set by the organiser each year.
| Date status | Date source-confirmed for 2026 |
|---|---|
| Date-check source | UAINE National Day of Mourning 2026 |
| Where | United States |
About Unthanksgiving Day / National Day of Mourning
The National Day of Mourning in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and the Indigenous Peoples Thanksgiving Sunrise Gathering on Alcatraz Island are both confirmed for Thursday 26 November 2026. They are distinct Indigenous-led observances, with different organisers, locations and participation arrangements.
National Day of Mourning: Plymouth
United American Indians of New England (UAINE) confirms its gathering at noon on Cole’s Hill, above Plymouth Rock. The annual observance began in 1970 and combines remembrance, Indigenous resilience and protest against continuing oppression.
UAINE welcomes non-Native supporters, while making clear that speakers are Indigenous and invited by the organisers. Read the current orientation before attending, including its requests about masks, conduct and accessibility. The programme is not a commercial festival or an open invitation to take the microphone.
Alcatraz sunrise gathering
The International Indian Treaty Council’s 2026 announcement confirms its separate gathering on Alcatraz, in Yelamu, Ohlone territory, San Francisco. Co-sponsored by Indigenous Justice, it honours Indigenous survival and resistance and commemorates the 1969 Alcatraz Occupation.
The announcement provides early-morning boat arrangements from Pier 33, a ticket link and broadcast information. Check those details directly before travelling. A ticket or invitation for one event does not provide access to the other.
Why the names need care
The term Unthanksgiving is used for Indigenous observances challenging familiar Thanksgiving narratives. It should not erase the organisers’ own names or imply that every Native person marks the holiday in the same way. This guide uses each organiser’s title so readers can find the correct information.
Both events take place on the US Thanksgiving holiday in 2026. Our earlier article’s reference to 23 November was incorrect. Their shared date does not make them one national programme.
Ways to take part respectfully
- Follow the hosts’ invitation. Read the current event instructions and check updates close to the day.
- Listen to Indigenous speakers. Make room for their accounts and priorities rather than substituting a prepared message of your own.
- Ask before recording. Attendance does not imply permission to film people, ceremonies or speeches.
- Use the official remote options. Both organisers publish ways to follow their events without travelling. Check the live links and local broadcast times.
For a classroom or workplace discussion, start with material the organisers have chosen to make public. Credit its source and distinguish learning about an observance from recreating a ceremony. Continue following Indigenous-led work beyond the holiday itself.
