Thursdays in January 2026: the 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th
There are 5 Thursdays in January 2026, falling on January 1, January 8, January 15, January 22 and January 29. The month runs 31 days, opens on a Thursday and closes on a Saturday.
Every Thursday in January 2026
| # | Date | Day of year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | January 1, 2026 | 1 |
| 2 | January 8, 2026 | 8 |
| 3 | January 15, 2026 | 15 |
| 4 | January 22, 2026 | 22 |
| 5 | January 29, 2026 | 29 |
Why five and not four?
Four weeks account for exactly 28 days, so every month is guaranteed four of each weekday. January 2026 runs 31 days, which leaves 3 days beyond four whole weeks, falling on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Thursday is among them, which is why it appears a fifth time, on January 29.
Five Thursdays and the payroll question
A month with five Thursdays matters to anyone paid weekly or fortnightly on that day, because it produces an extra pay date inside the same calendar month. In 2026 that happens in January, April, July, October, December, so January 2026 is one of 5 months this year.
Thursdays in January across other years
The same month shifts forward a weekday each year, and two across a leap year, so the answer moves with it.
| Year | Thursdays | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| January 2024 | 4 | 4, 11, 18, 25 |
| January 2025 | 5 | 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 |
| January 2027 | 4 | 7, 14, 21, 28 |
| January 2028 | 4 | 6, 13, 20, 27 |
| January 2029 | 4 | 4, 11, 18, 25 |
| January 2030 | 5 | 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 |
Questions
- How many Thursdays are in January 2026?
- 5 Thursdays, on January 1, January 8, January 15, January 22 and January 29.
- What is the first Thursday in January 2026?
- January 1, 2026. The last is January 29.
- How many Thursdays are there in 2026 altogether?
- 53 Thursdays across the year. The 2026 breakdown lists them month by month.
- Does every month have four Thursdays?
- Every month has at least four, because four weeks fill 28 days. A fifth only appears when the spare days at the end of the month reach another Thursday.
Nearby months
Other weekdays in January 2026
All Thursdays in 2026 · What day is January 1 · Business day calculator