Freebies

How to Get a Free Thanksgiving Turkey (2026)

By Laurie Blank Updated

Frozen turkeys in a grocery store freezer case

Updated November 3, 2026. Stores are still announcing their offers, so check back often.

For Thanksgiving 2026, you can get a free turkey from BJ's (spend $150 by Nov. 9), Giant Eagle (spend $350 with myPerks by Nov. 8), ShopRite (spend $400 on your Price Plus card by Nov. 26), or Ibotta (100% cash back on any brand of turkey through Nov. 26). Weis, Acme, Foodtown, Giant, WinCo, H-E-B, Hy-Vee and Albertsons have offered free turkeys in past years and usually announce their deals in November. If you need help with a holiday meal, local food banks, churches and community groups also give away turkeys.

Here's how each offer works and what you need to do to qualify.

Free Turkey Offers Confirmed for 2026

Store How to get a free turkey Dates
BJ's Wholesale Club Spend $150 in one transaction for a free Butterball (up to $25) Spend Oct. 31–Nov. 9; claim by Nov. 25
Giant Eagle Spend $350 with myPerks for a free frozen Giant Eagle turkey Earn Oct. 15–Nov. 8; redeem by Nov. 30
ShopRite Spend $400 on one Price Plus card for a free Bowl & Basket turkey (up to 21 lb) Oct. 25–Nov. 26
Ibotta Complete the Thanksgiving turkey bonus for 100% cash back on any brand Oct. 15–Nov. 26

Paying for your turkey instead? See the cheapest prices by store in our guide to the best turkey prices at the grocery store.

1. BJ's Wholesale Club

BJ's free turkey deal is back for 2026. Spend $150 or more in a single transaction, in the club, in the app or online, between October 31 and November 9. On November 14, a coupon for a free fresh or frozen Butterball turkey (worth up to $25) shows up in your BJ's account. Claim it by November 25, while supplies last. Organic turkeys are excluded.

The $150 is counted after discounts but before taxes and fees. You need a BJ's membership and an online member account to get the digital coupon.

BJ's has clubs in 21 states, mostly in the eastern U.S. If you're on the fence about a warehouse membership, it also comes with perks like discounted gas and free air for your tires.

2. Giant Eagle and Market District

Spend $350 on qualifying purchases with your myPerks card between October 15 and November 8 to earn a free frozen Giant Eagle turkey. Redeem it by November 30. If you don't need it, you can donate your turkey to a local Feeding America food bank instead.

Giant Eagle has stores in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland and Indiana.

3. ShopRite

Spend $400 on one Price Plus club card from October 25 through November 26 to earn a free Bowl & Basket frozen turkey (up to 21 pounds). You can also use your reward for money off a Butterball or Empire kosher turkey, or for other holiday items like a ham. The limit is one per family.

Your receipt shows how close you are to the $400 goal. The offer is good at ShopRite stores in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Delaware, but not Maryland.

4. Ibotta

Ibotta's Thanksgiving turkey offer works at almost any store. Complete your personalized Thanksgiving Turkey bonus in the app, then buy a turkey and upload your receipt to get 100% cash back on any brand, up to the cap shown in your app. The offer runs October 15 through November 26.

The bonus steps vary by user (for example, redeeming a few other offers first), so check the app early. Ibotta is free to join and is worth keeping for everyday grocery savings, too.

Free Turkey Offers Expected Back (Not Yet Announced)

These stores offered free turkeys in 2025 but haven't posted their 2026 details yet. Here are last year's terms so you know what to expect.

Store Last year's offer (2025)
Acme Markets Spend $300 with Acme for U
Albertsons / Safeway (select markets) Spend $100–$149.99 for a turkey up to 16 lb, or $150+ for up to 24 lb
Foodtown Spend $400 with your Club Card
Giant / Martin's Earn 400 Choice Rewards points
H-E-B Buy a select ham, get a Riverside turkey free
Hy-Vee Buy a Hormel Cure 81 ham, get a turkey free
Meijer Market (3 Michigan stores) Spend $75 with mPerks
Price Chopper / Market 32 Redeem 1,200 AdvantEdge points
Weis Markets Earn 400 Weis Rewards points
WinCo Foods Spend $125 in one purchase

5. Acme Markets

2026 offer not announced yet. Last year (2025): Shoppers who spent $300 with the Acme for U app through November 27 got a free Signature Select frozen turkey (10–22 lb) or turkey breast. Alcohol, tobacco, gift cards and prescriptions didn't count toward the total. Acme has stores in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

6. Albertsons and Safeway

2026 offer not announced yet. Last year (2025): Some Albertsons markets gave a free Honeysuckle White frozen turkey with a single purchase of $100–$149.99 (up to 16 lb) or $150 or more (16–24 lb), limit one per household. Offers vary by region, so check your local weekly ad.

7. Foodtown

2026 offer not announced yet. Last year (2025): Spending $400 with a Foodtown Club Card earned a certificate for a free turkey (10–20 lb), turkey breast, Stouffer's lasagna, Cook's ham or a $10 gift card, limit one per family. Foodtown has stores in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.

8. Giant and Martin's

2026 offer not announced yet. Last year (2025): Shoppers who earned 400 Choice Rewards points could trade them for a free turkey (up to 20 lb) from November 1 through Thanksgiving. Other choices included a ham or a plant-based roast. The limit is one per household.

9. H-E-B

2026 offer not announced yet. Last year (2025): Texas shoppers who bought an H-E-B spiral-sliced or boneless ham got a coupon for a free Riverside Grade A turkey (up to 12 lb).

10. Hy-Vee

2026 offer not announced yet. Last year (2025): Buying a Hormel Cure 81 boneless ham got you a free Honeysuckle White or Jennie-O frozen turkey (up to 12 lb) through the end of November.

11. Weis Markets

2026 offer not announced yet. Last year (2025): Shoppers earned 1 Weis Rewards point per $1 spent and could trade 400 points for a free frozen turkey, turkey breast, ham or Tofurky. At 200 points, you could get a discount on a turkey or ham instead. Weis has stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia and West Virginia.

12. WinCo Foods

2026 offer not announced yet. Last year (2025): WinCo gave a free Honeysuckle White, Northern Pride or Jennie-O turkey with a purchase of $125 or more (not counting the turkey) from November 19 to 29, one per family while supplies last. See our WinCo free turkey guide for details.

Free Turkeys From Community Groups

If you need help with a Thanksgiving meal, these are the best places to look. Many giveaways require you to register ahead of time, and they often run out, so reach out early in November.

13. Food Banks and Food Pantries

Most food banks run holiday distributions with turkeys or full meal boxes. Find yours with Feeding America's food bank locator, or call 211 to hear about holiday food programs near you. Some pantries ask for proof of address or income, so check before you go.

14. Churches and Religious Groups

Many local churches and other religious groups give away turkeys or host free Thanksgiving dinners, and you usually don't need to be a member. The Salvation Army and local missions also hand out holiday meal boxes in many cities.

15. Local Charities, Businesses and Officials

Lions Clubs, VFW posts, American Legion posts, local law firms, sports teams and elected officials often hold turkey giveaways in the week before Thanksgiving. Watch local news sites, community Facebook groups and Nextdoor for dates and sign-up links.

Tips for Getting Your Free Turkey

  • Know the deadlines. Most spend-based offers have an earning window and a separate redemption window. BJ's and Giant Eagle both close their earning windows in early November.
  • Use one rewards card. Spending usually has to be on a single card or account, so don't split purchases across family members.
  • Plan purchases you'd make anyway. Buy household items, gift cards (where they count) or holiday baking supplies during the window instead of spending extra just to qualify.
  • Pick up early. Free turkeys are often "while supplies last," and the biggest birds go first.
  • Leave time to thaw. Plan about one day in the refrigerator for every 4 to 5 pounds. Then see how to carve a turkey.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which stores are giving away free turkeys in 2026?

So far, BJ's, Giant Eagle and ShopRite have announced free turkey offers, and Ibotta has 100% cash back on a turkey at almost any store. Weis, Acme, Foodtown, Giant, WinCo, H-E-B, Hy-Vee and Albertsons usually announce their offers in November.

How do I get a free turkey from BJ's in 2026?

Spend $150 or more in one transaction at BJ's between October 31 and November 9. A coupon for a free Butterball turkey (up to $25) appears in your account on November 14, and you have until November 25 to claim it.

How much do you have to spend at ShopRite for a free turkey?

$400 on one Price Plus card between October 25 and November 26.

Can I get a free turkey without spending money?

Yes. Food banks, churches, the Salvation Army and local organizations give away free turkeys to families who need them. Call 211 or contact your local food bank to find giveaways near you.

Does Walmart give away free turkeys?

No. Walmart doesn't have a free turkey offer, but it has some of the lowest turkey prices, starting at $0.84 per pound for Shady Brook Farms in 2026. You can also use Ibotta's cash-back offer on a turkey from Walmart.

Sources

Raw turkey ready for roasting