IHOP Holiday Hours
IHOP holiday hours follow one simple pattern: most locations stay open on major holidays — Christmas Day and Thanksgiving included — but each restaurant’s franchise owner sets the exact schedule. That single rule explains why one IHOP serves pancakes at 7 a.m. on December 25 while another opens late or closes early.
This guide covers IHOP’s official holiday policy, the complete 2026 holiday table, what to expect on Christmas and Thanksgiving, and the fastest way to confirm your local restaurant’s hours before you drive over.
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The Franchise Rule Behind IHOP Holiday Hours
IHOP’s own FAQ states that 99 percent of its restaurants are owned by independent franchisees, who are best placed to judge the right hours for their location. IHOP only sets minimum operating hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 7 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday.
Within that framework, IHOP confirms that most locations remain open on major holidays — explicitly including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. The full menu stays available at open locations, and on regular days the same minimum schedule applies — see our guide to IHOP breakfast hours for the non-holiday picture.
IHOP Holiday Hours 2026: Every Major Holiday
| Holiday | 2026 Date | Open? | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thu, Jan 1 | Open | Regular hours at most locations |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Mon, Jan 19 | Open | Regular hours |
| Presidents’ Day | Mon, Feb 16 | Open | Regular hours |
| Easter Sunday | Sun, Apr 5 | Open | Regular Sunday hours; busy brunch |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25 | Open | Regular hours |
| Independence Day | Sat, Jul 4 | Open | Regular hours |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7 | Open | Regular hours |
| Columbus Day | Mon, Oct 12 | Open | Regular hours |
| Veterans Day | Wed, Nov 11 | Open | Regular hours |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 26 | Open | Morning rush; some close earlier |
| Christmas Eve | Thu, Dec 24 | Open | Some locations close early |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25 | Open | Adjusted hours common |
| New Year’s Eve | Thu, Dec 31 | Open | Regular or extended hours |
IHOP Christmas Hours: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Christmas Day 2026 falls on a Friday, and many IHOP locations open for it — making IHOP one of the few sit-down breakfast options on December 25. Hours are frequently adjusted, so a location that normally closes at midnight may end the day much earlier.
- Christmas Eve (Thu, Dec 24): most restaurants run close to a normal Thursday schedule, though some close earlier in the evening.
- Christmas Day (Fri, Dec 25): most locations open, often with reduced hours built around the breakfast crowd.
- The morning rush: Christmas-morning pancakes are a family tradition, so expect the longest waits between roughly 8 a.m. and noon.
- The full menu: pancakes, omelettes, and combos are served all day at open locations — holiday hours change the clock, not the menu.
IHOP Thanksgiving Hours: Open on November 26
Most IHOP locations open on Thanksgiving Day — Thursday, November 26, 2026 — serving breakfast while home kitchens are occupied with turkey. IHOP names Thanksgiving among the major holidays its restaurants stay open for.
The pattern looks like this: breakfast service runs through a heavy late-morning rush, and some restaurants close earlier than the usual Thursday 10 p.m. Urban locations tend to keep hours closest to normal; smaller markets are the ones most likely to shorten the day. If cooking takes longer than planned, IHOP ‘N GO takeout from an open location is the standard backup.
Confirm Your Local IHOP’s Holiday Hours in 2 Minutes
- Use the official Location Finder: search your city or ZIP at the IHOP restaurant locator — each listing shows that specific restaurant’s hours. Our IHOP locations guide walks through finding your nearest restaurant.
- Call the restaurant: franchise-set hours mean the staff answering the phone give the definitive schedule, including any early closing.
- Recheck close to the day: holiday schedules sometimes change in the final week, so a quick second look beats a wasted drive.
IHOP Holiday Hours FAQs
Is IHOP open on Christmas Day?
Most IHOP locations open on Christmas Day (Friday, December 25, 2026), frequently with adjusted hours. Because franchise owners set the schedule, a minority of restaurants close or shorten the day — confirming your location first avoids a wasted trip.
What are IHOP’s Christmas hours?
IHOP Christmas hours are set by each franchise owner rather than one national schedule. Many restaurants run reduced hours on December 25, opening in the morning for the breakfast crowd and closing earlier than the usual 10 p.m. or midnight.
Is IHOP open on Thanksgiving?
Most IHOP locations open on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 26, 2026), serving breakfast through the morning rush. Some restaurants close earlier than a normal Thursday, so checking the Location Finder or calling ahead is worth the minute it takes.
Is IHOP open on Memorial Day?
Memorial Day (Monday, May 25, 2026) falls under IHOP’s general policy that most locations remain open on major holidays, typically with regular Monday hours. Your local franchisee’s schedule still applies, as it does on every holiday.
Is IHOP open on Labor Day?
Most IHOP locations open on Labor Day (Monday, September 7, 2026) and follow their regular Monday schedule — 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at minimum. A quick check close to the day confirms the plan if you are timing a visit.
What time does IHOP close on holidays?
Closing time on holidays depends on the franchise owner. IHOP’s stated minimum hours are 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight Friday and Saturday, and most holiday schedules stay close to those times — Thanksgiving and Christmas Day are the days most likely to close earlier.
