35 Best Worship Songs For Thanksgiving 2026
Thanksgiving falls on November 26 this year, which means most churches will lead their gratitude-focused set on Sunday, November 22. If you're a worship leader, that date is closer than it feels, and the songs you choose shape how your congregation enters the season. Thanksgiving Sunday is one of the few times a year when nearly everyone in the room is already thinking about gratitude. That's a gift. The right songs give people language for something they already feel but don't always know how to say.
Below are our picks for the best worship songs for Thanksgiving 2026: a mix of hymns your older members will sing from memory and newer songs that are connecting with congregations right now. For each one, we've included why it works, how to fit it into your set and a link to the song tutorial for each.
How To choose A Thanksgiving Set
An excellent Thanksgiving set is so much more than picking songs with "thanks" in the title. Here are a few things to look for
Gratitude rooted in God's character. The strongest Thanksgiving sons proclaim His faithfulness, kindness, goodness and provision.
A mix of old and new. We are often nostalgic around holidays so mixing modern songs with classics gives everyone in the room a chance to find their voice.
Room for honesty. Not everyone feels like they have something to be grateful for in the moment. Include at least one song that acknowledges hardship while still keep the focus on God.
The 35 Best Worship Songs for Thanksgiving 2026
We've grouped these songs by how they work in a service, from high-energy openers to reflective closers. Each title links to a full lesson, so your team can learn their parts before Thanksgiving Sunday.
Celebration Songs to Open Your Set
Start the morning with energy. These songs get people on their feet and singing from the first downbeat.
1. Thank God I'm Free – Elevation Rhythm
A joyful, high-energy celebration of freedom in Christ. It's a great opener for churches that want Thanksgiving Sunday to feel like a party.
2. I Thank God – Maverick City Music, UPPERROOM
A testimony song about being pulled out of a dark place, with a chorus built for a whole room to shout. Few songs fit Thanksgiving more directly.
3. What An Awesome God – Phil Wickham
An anthem of wonder at God's greatness. Its melody is easy to catch and has throws back to the classic Rich Mullins tune.
4. This Is Our God – Phil Wickham
A bold declaration of who God is. Gratitude grows out of knowing Him, and this song sets that foundation early in the set.
5. He Has Done Great Things – Chris Tomlin
A celebration of everything God has done, which is exactly what Thanksgiving is about. Classic Tomlin singability.
6. Reasons – The Belonging Co
A song that counts the reasons we have to praise. It invites the congregation to remember specific ways God has been good.
7. Reason To Praise – Bethel Music
An upbeat reminder that there's always a reason to worship. It works well as an opener or a mid-set lift.
8. All The People Said Amen – Matt Maher
A communal song about the church gathering together, perfect for a holiday Sunday when families and visitors fill the room.
9. Shout To The Lord – Darlene Zschech
A modern classic that nearly every generation in your church knows. It's a great bridge between your longtime members and newer attenders.
10. Forever – Chris Tomlin
Built on Psalm 136's call to give thanks because God's love endures forever. It's one of the most biblically grounded Thanksgiving songs you can choose.
11. We Praise You – Matt Redman
A simple, direct song of praise that's easy for a congregation to join and works well early in a set.
Songs of Gratitude and Testimony
These songs are the heart of a Thanksgiving set. They give people words to thank God for what He has done in their own lives.
12. God I'm Just Grateful – Elevation Worship
If you only add one new song this Thanksgiving, make it this one. It's a pure, simple expression of gratitude that congregations latch onto quickly.
13. Gratitude – Brandon Lake
A song about offering God everything we have, even when it feels like too little. It's one of the most-sung gratitude songs in churches right now.
14. My Testimony – Elevation Worship
A declaration of God's faithfulness in your own story. It's a natural fit if your service includes testimonies or a time of sharing.
15. I've Witnessed It – Passion
A song about having seen God's faithfulness firsthand. Its personal, eyewitness tone fits a season of looking back on the year.
16. Been So Good – Elevation Worship
A reflection on God's goodness through every season of life. It's a strong mid-set song as the room shifts from celebration to remembrance.
17. Goodness of God – Bethel Music
One of the most widely sung worship songs of the past decade, and a Thanksgiving staple. Your congregation likely already knows every word.
18. Jireh – Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music
A song about God as our provider and finding contentment in Him. It's a timely word at a holiday that can easily become about more.
19. 10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord) – Matt Redman
Drawn from Psalm 103, this modern hymn invites us to bless God and remember His benefits. It works in almost any spot in the set.
20. God Is So Good (You Are Worthy) – Pat Barrett
Simple enough for kids to sing alongside their parents, which makes it ideal for an intergenerational holiday service.
Gratitude Through Every Season
Not everyone walks into church on Thanksgiving Sunday feeling grateful. Some are grieving, some had a hard year, and some are missing someone at the table. These songs make room for honesty without giving up on praise.
21. Blessed Be Your Name – Matt Redman
Inspired by Job, this song chooses to bless God in seasons of plenty and seasons of loss. It's essential for a Thanksgiving set that acknowledges real life.
22. Great Is Thy Faithfulness (Beginning To End) – One Sonic Society
A modern arrangement of the beloved hymn. Older members will sing it from memory, and the fresh arrangement keeps it from feeling dated.
23. Resurrender – Hillsong Worship
A song of giving our lives back to God. Gratitude naturally leads to surrender, which makes this a strong response song after the message.
24. Homesick For Heaven – Phil Wickham
A song of longing for heaven that will resonate with anyone facing an empty chair this holiday season. Introduce it with care. It can be a deeply meaningful moment.
25. The Lord's Prayer – Matt Maher
Jesus' own prayer, including the request for daily bread, sung as worship. It's a quiet, grounding song for a reflective moment.
Gratitude for the Cross
The greatest reason for thanks is what Jesus has done. These songs point gratitude back to the gospel.
26. It Really Is Amazing Grace – Phil Wickham
A fresh celebration of grace that connects naturally with the classic hymn your congregation already loves.
27. Thank You Jesus For The Blood – Charity Gayle
A direct, heartfelt song of thanks for the cross. It's an excellent choice if your service includes communion.
28. Hallelujah For The Cross – Chris McClarney
A joyful song of praise for the cross. It pairs well with a communion moment or a gospel-centered message.
29. God So Loved – We The Kingdom
Built on John 3:16, this song carries a warm invitation. It's a great fit for holiday Sundays when guests who don't usually attend are in the room.
30. Is He Worthy? – Chris Tomlin
A call-and-response song drawn from Revelation 5. The question-and-answer format gets the whole congregation actively involved.
Worship Songs to Close Your Set
End with adoration. These songs move the room from thanking God for what He's done to worshiping Him for who He is.
31. Holy Forever – Chris Tomlin
A sweeping anthem about God's holiness being praised across every generation. It makes a powerful closer.
32. Ancient Gates – Brooke Ligertwood
Echoing Psalm 24, this song welcomes the King of Glory. It builds to a big finish that sends people out with expectation.
33. Great Are You Lord – All Sons And Daughters
A simple song that recognizes even our breath as a gift from God. It's the very foundation of gratitude, and it's easy for any team to lead well.
34. O Great Is Our God – The Sing Team
A hymn-like song of adoration that works beautifully as a closer, especially in churches that lean toward a more traditional sound.
35. Blessed Assurance – Elevation Worship
Fanny Crosby's classic hymn in a modern arrangement. It's a perfect final song for a service that blends generations.