Planning a holiday meal at Olive Garden? Knowing whether the restaurant is open can help you avoid an unnecessary trip, especially around Thanksgiving and Christmas. While Olive Garden operates on many holidays, its official holiday policy includes two major closure days and possible early closing times before those holidays.
Olive Garden Holiday Hours in 2026 depend on the occasion and restaurant location. Most importantly, the chain confirms closures on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day for its standard U.S. restaurants. Other holidays require checking local operating hours, particularly when planning a family gathering or evening meal.
This guide explains confirmed holiday closures, Christmas Eve hours, New Year’s schedules, holiday menu availability, and how to check your nearest Olive Garden before visiting.
Quick Answer
Olive Garden is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day in 2026 at its standard U.S. restaurants. The company also allows restaurants to close early on the day before Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve, depending on local management decisions. Hours for other holidays vary by location, and no single nationwide holiday opening and closing schedule is confirmed. Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, and international restaurants may follow different policies.
Olive Garden Holiday Hours 2026 at a Glance
Olive Garden’s official holiday policy identifies Thanksgiving and Christmas as closure days. For other holidays, restaurant-specific operating information is the most reliable way to confirm availability.
| Holiday | Date in 2026 | Hours or Status |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | January 1, Thursday | Check local hours |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | January 19, Monday | Check local hours |
| Valentine’s Day | February 14, Saturday | Check local hours |
| Presidents’ Day | February 16, Monday | Check local hours |
| Easter Sunday | April 5, Sunday | Check local hours |
| Memorial Day | May 25, Monday | Check local hours |
| Independence Day | July 4, Saturday | Check local hours |
| Labor Day | September 7, Monday | Check local hours |
| Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples’ Day | October 12, Monday | Check local hours |
| Halloween | October 31, Saturday | Check local hours |
| Veterans Day | November 11, Wednesday | Check local hours |
| Day Before Thanksgiving | November 25, Wednesday | May close early |
| Thanksgiving Day | November 26, Thursday | Closed under standard U.S. policy |
| Black Friday | November 27, Friday | Check local hours |
| Christmas Eve | December 24, Thursday | May close early |
| Christmas Day | December 25, Friday | Closed under standard U.S. policy |
| New Year’s Eve | December 31, Thursday | Check local hours |
Important: “Check local hours” does not mean a restaurant is confirmed open or closed. It means Olive Garden has not established a universal holiday schedule for that date in the official information reviewed.
The confirmed Thanksgiving and Christmas closures also carry geographic exceptions. Restaurants in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, and international markets may have different holiday schedules.
Is Olive Garden Open on Thanksgiving 2026?
No. Olive Garden will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, 2026, under its standard U.S. holiday policy.
The company explicitly identifies Thanksgiving as one of its annual closure days, allowing restaurant employees to spend time with family and friends.
If you are planning a Thanksgiving gathering, do not assume your nearest Olive Garden will offer regular dine-in service or same-day takeout.
Does Olive Garden Close Early Before Thanksgiving?
Olive Garden may close early on Wednesday, November 25, 2026, the day before Thanksgiving.
According to its official FAQ, management can decide to close earlier depending on business activity. The company does not publish a universal early closing time.
If you plan to visit that Wednesday evening, contact the restaurant directly to confirm when its kitchen and dining room will stop serving customers.
Can You Order Olive Garden for Thanksgiving?
Since standard U.S. restaurants are closed on Thanksgiving Day, same-day restaurant service should not be expected.
However, Olive Garden offers family-style meals and catering options through its regular ordering channels.
For Thanksgiving planning, check whether your chosen restaurant can fulfill a pickup or catering order before the holiday. Ordering deadlines and available pickup times must be confirmed with that location.
Is Olive Garden Open on Christmas Day 2026?
Olive Garden is closed on Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, 2026, under its standard U.S. operating policy.
Christmas Day is one of the two holidays specifically identified in the company’s official closure policy.
Customers should not expect ordinary dine-in service, takeout ordering, or restaurant-based meal pickup at standard U.S. locations that day.
The policy does not establish an identical schedule for restaurants in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, or international markets. Travelers and customers in those areas should verify the individual restaurant’s holiday status.
Olive Garden Christmas Eve Hours 2026
Olive Garden may operate on Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24, 2026, but an exact nationwide closing time is not confirmed.
The company allows local management to close early on Christmas Eve depending on business levels.
This means two restaurants could have different closing times even when their ordinary weekday schedules appear similar.
What Time Does Olive Garden Close on Christmas Eve?
There is no universally confirmed Christmas Eve cutoff.
A restaurant’s published regular Thursday schedule should not automatically be treated as its December 24 schedule.
Before planning a Christmas Eve dinner, confirm:
- Whether the restaurant will be open.
- Its scheduled holiday closing time.
- Whether dine-in and takeout ordering end at different times.
- Whether an advance pickup order can be accommodated.
Contacting the selected restaurant directly is particularly important because Olive Garden specifically delegates early closing decisions to local management.
Is Olive Garden Open on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day?
Olive Garden’s official holiday guidance does not establish a universal closure for New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day.
However, this does not guarantee identical hours at every restaurant.
New Year’s Eve 2026
New Year’s Eve falls on Thursday, December 31, 2026.
Customers planning dinner should check the restaurant’s scheduled December 31 hours rather than relying solely on its usual Thursday hours.
No standardized nationwide New Year’s Eve closing time has been confirmed in the official holiday policy reviewed.
New Year’s Day 2026
New Year’s Day fell on Thursday, January 1, 2026.
Olive Garden does not identify New Year’s Day as one of its two standard nationwide closure days, but individual restaurant hours still require verification.
For the upcoming New Year’s Day on January 1, 2027, check the selected restaurant’s updated schedule closer to the holiday.
Is Olive Garden Open on Easter Sunday?
Olive Garden does not list Easter Sunday among its two standard U.S. holiday closures.
Easter Sunday in 2026 fell on April 5.
For customers planning an Easter meal, the important distinction is between the company’s general holiday policy and the actual operating schedule of a selected restaurant.
A restaurant may display normal Sunday hours without providing a separate holiday-specific schedule. Customers should confirm Easter opening and closing times directly when planning their visit.
Olive Garden Hours on Other Major Holidays
Several federal holidays do not have a dedicated nationwide schedule in Olive Garden’s published holiday guidance.
Memorial Day
Memorial Day fell on Monday, May 25, 2026.
Olive Garden’s standard closure policy does not identify Memorial Day as a chainwide closing date.
However, exact Memorial Day hours need to be confirmed locally.
Independence Day
Independence Day fell on Saturday, July 4, 2026.
The company’s official closure statement does not include Independence Day. Customers should nevertheless confirm their restaurant’s July 4 schedule before making plans.
Labor Day
Labor Day fell on Monday, September 7, 2026.
Local restaurant operating hours determine the available dining period. No separate universal Labor Day timetable was confirmed.
Veterans Day
Veterans Day falls on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
Olive Garden does not identify Veterans Day as a standard nationwide closure.
Holiday hours and any promotional offerings should be checked separately. An open restaurant does not necessarily have a special holiday deal.
Black Friday
Black Friday falls on Friday, November 27, 2026, the day after Thanksgiving.
Olive Garden’s Thanksgiving closure does not establish a specific schedule for the following day.
Customers visiting after holiday shopping should verify that Friday’s operating hours directly.
Do Olive Garden Holiday Hours Vary by Location?
Yes. Olive Garden confirms that normal restaurant hours vary by location, and holiday schedules can also differ.
The most significant exception involves restaurants outside the company’s standard contiguous U.S. operating policy.
Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, and International Locations
Olive Garden’s official holiday FAQ specifically states that holiday hours in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, and international markets may differ by location.
Consequently, the standard Thanksgiving and Christmas closure statements should not be automatically applied to every restaurant in those markets.
Customers in these areas should consult their restaurant’s individual schedule.
Why Individual Restaurant Hours Matter
Restaurant pages provide more detailed operational information than a general chainwide statement.
A particular location may have separate displayed hours for dining, online ordering, and catering services.
Holiday adjustments can affect those services differently, so reviewing only the main dining-room opening hours may not fully answer a takeout or catering question.
Olive Garden Holiday Dining and Menu Availability
Olive Garden’s regular menu includes Italian-inspired entrées, appetizers, soups, salads, and other options. However, holiday menu availability should not be confused with holiday opening hours.
Does Olive Garden Serve Lunch on Holidays?
Olive Garden’s official FAQ states that its lunch service normally runs Monday through Friday until 3 p.m.
It also explains that the company’s practice is to serve its dinner menu throughout the day on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, with some regional variations.
That distinction is especially useful when visiting on a weekday holiday.
Even if a restaurant is open during an ordinary lunch period, its lunch-sized offerings may not follow the usual weekday arrangement.
Can You Order the Regular Menu on Holidays?
Menu availability depends on the restaurant and ordering channel.
Olive Garden’s published guidance supports the general practice of serving its dinner menu on holidays, but it does not establish that every individual menu item will be available at every location.
Check the current location-specific menu before planning an order around a particular dish.
Does Olive Garden Offer Holiday Specials?
Olive Garden maintains official information about current specials and promotions, but there is no basis for assuming a particular holiday discount or seasonal offer will be available nationwide.
Regular menu offerings, holiday operating hours, and limited-time promotions are separate matters.
For any advertised offer, confirm its dates, eligible locations, ordering requirements, and availability before relying on it.
Olive Garden Takeout, Catering, and Delivery During Holidays
Dine-in hours are not always identical to the hours displayed for other services.
Olive Garden’s official location pages can distinguish restaurant dining from online ordering, catering pickup, and catering delivery.
This matters when arranging a meal for a family gathering.
Holiday Takeout
Olive Garden offers To Go ordering, but a restaurant that is closed for a holiday should not be assumed to accept same-day pickup orders.
For Christmas Eve or the day before Thanksgiving, check the available pickup times in advance because restaurants may close early.
Holiday Catering
Olive Garden offers catering and family-style meals, making advance ordering an option worth investigating for gatherings.
Nevertheless, ordinary catering availability does not guarantee service on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day.
Check the location’s holiday schedule, ordering deadlines, and pickup availability before placing a large order.
Holiday Delivery
Delivery availability depends on the selected location and service.
A restaurant’s dining-room hours do not automatically confirm that delivery is available at the same time.
Review the actual delivery options offered for the requested date, particularly during holiday periods.
How to Check Olive Garden Holiday Hours Near You
The most dependable way to confirm Olive Garden holiday hours is to use the company’s location-specific information and then verify unusual schedules directly.
- Find your restaurant: Open Olive Garden’s official website and use its restaurant finder.
- Review location hours: Select your preferred restaurant and examine the displayed opening and closing times.
- Check the Olive Garden app: The official app supports finding nearby restaurants and checking their hours.
- Call the restaurant: Confirm the exact holiday schedule, particularly for Christmas Eve and the day before Thanksgiving.
- Cross-check Google Maps: Use its holiday-hours listing as supporting information rather than the sole authority.
For takeout or catering, remember to check the specific service hours rather than relying only on the restaurant’s main schedule.
Sources & Verification
This guide was reviewed on October 19, 2026, using Olive Garden’s official FAQ, company website, restaurant location information, and official mobile app information.
The company’s FAQ explicitly confirms its standard Thanksgiving and Christmas Day closures, geographic exceptions, and the possibility of early closing on the days preceding those holidays.
The official restaurant information also confirms that operating schedules vary by location and that lunch and dinner menu practices can differ on holidays.
Specific 2026 closing times for Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, and other locally scheduled holidays were not established as universal nationwide hours.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Olive Garden Open on Thanksgiving Day 2026?
No. Standard U.S. Olive Garden restaurants are closed on Thursday, November 26, 2026. Restaurants in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, and international markets may follow different schedules.
Is Olive Garden Open on Christmas Day 2026?
No. Olive Garden’s standard U.S. holiday policy confirms closure on Friday, December 25, 2026. Geographic exceptions may apply.
What Time Does Olive Garden Close on Christmas Eve?
There is no single nationwide Christmas Eve closing time. Individual management teams may decide to close early, so contact the selected restaurant for its December 24 schedule.
Does Olive Garden Close Early Before Thanksgiving?
It may. Olive Garden allows restaurants to close early the day before Thanksgiving based on local management decisions and business activity.
Is Olive Garden Open on New Year’s Day?
New Year’s Day is not listed among Olive Garden’s two standard nationwide closure days. However, individual restaurant operating hours should be confirmed.
Is Olive Garden Open on Easter Sunday?
Easter is not identified as a standard nationwide closure in Olive Garden’s official holiday policy. Confirm the selected restaurant’s Easter schedule before visiting.
Does Olive Garden Serve Lunch Specials on Holidays?
Olive Garden generally follows its dinner-menu practice throughout the day on holidays, with regional variations. Its normal weekday lunch service runs until 3 p.m., but customers should not assume that the usual lunch offerings apply on holidays.
Can You Order Olive Garden Takeout on Christmas Day?
Standard U.S. Olive Garden restaurants are closed on Christmas Day, so ordinary same-day takeout service should not be expected. Check local arrangements if you are in a market covered by the geographic exceptions.
Before You Go
The most important Olive Garden holiday hours information for 2026 is straightforward: Thanksgiving Day, November 26, and Christmas Day, December 25, are confirmed closure days under the chain’s standard U.S. policy.
Christmas Eve and the day before Thanksgiving may involve early closing, while other holiday schedules require location-specific confirmation.
For the most accurate information, check your chosen Olive Garden restaurant’s official hours and call directly when planning a holiday evening meal, takeout order, or family gathering.