Olive Garden Holiday Hours 2026: Open & Closed Holidays

Planning a holiday meal at Olive Garden requires a little extra checking because holiday schedules are not identical for every date or every restaurant. Olive Garden has a clear company policy for its two major holiday closures: Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. For other holidays, restaurant operating hours can vary by location.

There is another important detail around the year-end holidays. Restaurants may close early on the day before Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve, with the exact closing time determined locally. That makes checking your specific Olive Garden especially important before a holiday visit.

Quick Answer

Olive Garden restaurants in the U.S. are closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. For other holidays, Olive Garden does not publish one universal nationwide opening-and-closing schedule, so hours should be checked by location.

On the day before Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, some restaurants may close early. Olive Garden says those decisions are left to local management based on business conditions. Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, and international locations can follow different holiday schedules.

Olive Garden Holiday Hours 2026 at a Glance

The strongest company-wide information applies to Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the possibility of early closing immediately before those holidays. For other dates, verify your restaurant rather than assuming a national schedule.

Is Olive Garden Open on Holidays?

Olive Garden operates on many holidays, but there is no single published company-wide timetable assigning exact opening and closing times to every holiday.

The two clearly confirmed U.S. closures are:

• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day

Olive Garden explains that restaurants close on these dates so team members can spend time with family and friends.

For holidays when a restaurant is operating, the exact schedule shown for the selected location should be treated as the most useful information.

Is Olive Garden Open on Thanksgiving 2026?

No. Olive Garden is closed on Thanksgiving Day, which falls on Thursday, November 26, 2026.

This is one of Olive Garden’s clearly stated holiday closures.

Customers planning a Thanksgiving gathering should not expect regular dine-in service on Thanksgiving Day at U.S. Olive Garden restaurants covered by the company’s standard holiday policy.

What About the Day Before Thanksgiving?

Wednesday, November 25, 2026, requires more attention.

Olive Garden states that restaurants may close early on the day before Thanksgiving, depending on business levels. The closing decision is left to the restaurant’s management team.

There is therefore no reliable single closing time that should be applied to every Olive Garden.

If you plan to eat dinner or pick up an order on November 25, check the selected restaurant’s schedule or call the restaurant directly.

Is Olive Garden Open on Christmas Day 2026?

No. Olive Garden is closed on Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, 2026.

Christmas is the second major holiday for which Olive Garden explicitly confirms restaurant closures under its standard U.S. holiday policy.

If you are arranging a Christmas meal, do not rely on regular Friday operating hours. Christmas Day overrides the normal weekly schedule.

Olive Garden Christmas Eve Hours 2026

Olive Garden’s Christmas Eve schedule is different from its Christmas Day policy.

The company states that restaurants may close early on Christmas Eve, depending on business levels, and management determines the scheduled closing time.

That means there is no single verified Christmas Eve closing time that applies to every Olive Garden restaurant.

For Thursday, December 24, 2026, check your specific restaurant before making evening plans.

Is Olive Garden Open on New Year’s Day 2026?

Olive Garden does not identify New Year’s Day as one of its two standard company-wide closure days. However, the company’s official holiday information does not provide one universal New Year’s Day opening-and-closing time for every restaurant.

Check the official location information for the restaurant you intend to visit before leaving home.

This is particularly useful because ordinary restaurant operating hours already differ between locations.

Is Olive Garden Open on Easter 2026?

Easter Sunday falls on April 5, 2026.

Olive Garden’s official FAQ identifies Thanksgiving and Christmas as its standard closure days rather than Easter, but it does not provide a single nationwide Easter timetable.

Therefore, the safest answer is to check your selected restaurant’s Easter schedule rather than relying on a generic opening or closing time.

Olive Garden also states that its practice is to serve the dinner menu all day on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, with some regional variations.

Is Olive Garden Open on Memorial Day 2026?

Memorial Day falls on Monday, May 25, 2026.

It is not listed by Olive Garden among its standard Thanksgiving and Christmas closures. However, exact Memorial Day operating hours are location-specific rather than established by one universal company timetable in the official holiday information reviewed for this guide.

Confirm the hours shown for your chosen restaurant before visiting.

Is Olive Garden Open on July 4th 2026?

Olive Garden was reported open for Independence Day on Saturday, July 4, 2026, with normal restaurant hours referenced for the holiday.

Even so, regular operating schedules can differ between individual Olive Garden restaurants. Checking the selected location remains the safest option, especially for an evening visit.

Is Olive Garden Open on Labor Day 2026?

Labor Day falls on Monday, September 7, 2026.

Olive Garden does not list Labor Day among its standard company-wide closure days. Exact holiday hours, however, should be confirmed with the individual restaurant.

This distinction matters because being open on a holiday does not automatically mean every location follows identical hours.

Is Olive Garden Open on Veterans Day 2026?

Veterans Day is Wednesday, November 11, 2026.

It is not identified by Olive Garden as one of the chain’s standard Thanksgiving or Christmas closure days. The exact opening and closing schedule should still be checked for the location you intend to visit.

Olive Garden Black Friday Hours 2026

Black Friday falls on Friday, November 27, 2026, immediately after Olive Garden’s Thanksgiving closure.

The company does not publish one nationwide Black Friday opening-and-closing time in the official holiday information reviewed for this guide.

Because Friday operating hours vary between restaurants, use the schedule for your specific Olive Garden rather than assuming a standard national timetable.

Olive Garden New Year’s Eve Hours 2026

New Year’s Eve falls on Thursday, December 31, 2026.

It is not one of Olive Garden’s two stated company-wide closure days, but an exact nationwide New Year’s Eve schedule is not provided in Olive Garden’s official holiday FAQ.

Check your restaurant’s current hours if you are planning a December 31 dinner, particularly later in the evening.

Do Olive Garden Holiday Hours Vary by Location?

Yes. Olive Garden explicitly states that hours of operation may vary by location.

This is important even outside the holiday season. For example, current official location pages reviewed for this guide showed different closing times at different restaurants, demonstrating why one nationwide daily timetable should not be assumed.

Holiday differences deserve even more attention.

Olive Garden specifically notes that holiday hours in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, and international markets may vary by location. Customers in these areas should not automatically apply the standard U.S. holiday information to their restaurant.

Does Olive Garden Close Early Before Thanksgiving and Christmas?

It can.

Olive Garden says restaurants may close early on:

• The day before Thanksgiving
• Christmas Eve

The decision depends on the amount of business that day and is left to the management team.

Consequently, an exact nationwide closing time such as 8:00 p.m. should not be assumed for every restaurant.

Calling your selected Olive Garden directly is particularly useful when planning dinner close to closing time on either of these dates.

What Menu Does Olive Garden Serve on Holidays?

Olive Garden states that its general practice is to serve its dinner menu all day on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, although regional variations can occur.

This is worth knowing if you normally visit Olive Garden for weekday lunch offerings.

The company’s standard lunch schedule runs Monday through Friday until 3 p.m., while Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays generally use the dinner menu throughout the day.

A holiday opening does not therefore guarantee that weekday lunch offerings will be available.

Holiday Dine-In, To Go, and Delivery Availability

Do not assume that every ordering method has exactly the same hours as the dining room.

Individual Olive Garden location pages can display separate schedules for services such as:

• Restaurant dining
• Online ordering
• Catering pickup
• Catering delivery
• Waitlist availability

For example, official location pages reviewed in 2026 showed online-ordering cutoff times occurring before the restaurant’s posted closing time at some locations.

If you need To Go, delivery, or catering service during a holiday period, check that service specifically rather than looking only at the restaurant’s general closing time.

How to Check Olive Garden Holiday Hours Near You

The most reliable approach is to check the exact restaurant you plan to visit.

Start with Olive Garden’s official location finder and select your restaurant. Review the current hours shown on its location page. You can also use the Olive Garden app, which allows customers to find nearby restaurants and check operating hours.

For Thanksgiving Eve, Christmas Eve, or another date when a schedule may change, calling the restaurant directly provides an additional confirmation.

Google Maps can be useful as a secondary reference, but the restaurant’s own current information should take priority.

Remember that restaurant operating hours and menu-service hours are not necessarily the same thing.

Check Holiday Hours in the Olive Garden App

The Olive Garden mobile app includes restaurant-finding functionality and lets customers check when a selected Olive Garden is open.

It can also be useful for:

• Finding a nearby Olive Garden
• Saving a preferred restaurant
• Checking restaurant hours
• Joining the waitlist where available
• Placing eligible To Go orders

During a holiday period, select the actual restaurant you intend to use rather than relying on general chain hours.

Olive Garden Holiday Menu Availability

Olive Garden’s official information supports an important distinction between regular weekday lunch service and holiday dining.

Lunch is normally served Monday through Friday until 3 p.m., subject to regional variation. On holidays, Olive Garden’s stated practice is to serve the dinner menu all day.

That means customers should not assume that a weekday lunch promotion, lunch-sized offering, or ordinary weekday meal period automatically applies simply because a holiday falls on Monday through Friday.

Current menu availability should be checked for the selected restaurant.

Holiday Hours Outside the Continental U.S.

Customers outside Olive Garden’s standard U.S. market need to be particularly careful with holiday schedules.

Olive Garden specifically notes that holiday hours can vary for restaurants in:

• Hawaii
• Puerto Rico
• Guam
• International markets

These restaurants should be checked individually. A Thanksgiving or Christmas schedule published for standard U.S. restaurants should not automatically be applied to a location in another market.

Sources & Verification

This guide was checked against Olive Garden’s current official FAQ, official restaurant location information, official mobile-app information, and the company’s current employment information confirming its Thanksgiving and Christmas closures.

The strongest company-wide holiday policy is clear: Olive Garden closes on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, while the day before Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve may involve early closing at management’s discretion.

Exact operating hours for other holidays should be verified at the individual restaurant.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Olive Garden open on Thanksgiving 2026?

No. Olive Garden states that its restaurants are closed on Thanksgiving Day. In 2026, Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26.

Is Olive Garden open on Christmas Day 2026?

No. Olive Garden restaurants are closed on Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, 2026, under the company’s standard U.S. holiday policy.

Is Olive Garden open on Christmas Eve 2026?

Christmas Eve is not listed as a standard full-day closure, but Olive Garden says restaurants may close early. Contact your selected restaurant for its December 24 closing time.

What time does Olive Garden close the day before Thanksgiving?

There is no universal closing time. Olive Garden says management may decide to close early depending on business levels, so contact the restaurant directly.

Does Olive Garden serve lunch on holidays?

Olive Garden says its practice is to serve the dinner menu all day on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Regional variations can apply.

Are all Olive Garden holiday hours the same?

No. Restaurant operating hours vary by location, and Olive Garden specifically notes possible differences for Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, and international restaurants.

How can I find Olive Garden holiday hours near me?

Select your restaurant through Olive Garden’s official location information or mobile app and review its current hours. For Thanksgiving Eve or Christmas Eve, calling the restaurant directly is particularly useful.

Does Olive Garden close early on Christmas Eve?

Some locations may. Olive Garden leaves the decision to local management based on business levels, so there is no single nationwide Christmas Eve closing time.

Before You Go

The two dates to remember are straightforward: Olive Garden is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day under its standard U.S. holiday policy.

For Christmas Eve and the day before Thanksgiving, an Olive Garden restaurant may close early. Other holiday schedules and normal operating hours can differ by location, so check your selected restaurant’s current information before making the trip. This approach is especially important for Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, and international locations, where holiday schedules may differ.