Quick answer: Panda Express holiday hours, Most Panda Express locations close on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. On Christmas Eve, stores usually open at their normal time and close early, often between 6 and 8 PM. Panda Express stays open on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day, though a handful of stores trim their evening hours. Easter runs open at some spots and closed at others, so a quick call saves you a wasted trip.
Here’s the fast version of the Panda Express Holiday Hours schedule for 2026. Mall and airport stores can differ, so treat these as typical times rather than a promise.
| Holiday | Date (2026) | Typical status | Typical hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving Day | Nov 27 | Closed | Most stores closed |
| Christmas Eve | Dec 24 | Open, reduced | 10:30 AM to 6–8 PM |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25 | Closed | Most stores closed |
| New Year’s Eve | Dec 31 | Open, reduced | Opens normal, closes early |
| New Year’s Day | Jan 1, 2026 | Open | Regular or lightly reduced |
Panda Express holiday hours in 2026
People check Panda Express Holiday Hours the same way every December: standing in the kitchen, craving orange chicken, wondering if the drive-thru is even open. Fair question. The answer swings a lot depending on the day and the type of store.
Panda Express runs about 2,500 locations across the country, and plenty of them sit inside malls, airports, and travel plazas. That matters. A store inside a mall follows the mall’s holiday schedule. An airport store might stay open when every suburban location has gone dark.
So the national pattern is a starting point, not a guarantee. Two holidays shut most stores down: Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Almost everything else stays open, sometimes with an earlier close.
Panda Express Christmas hours
Let’s split Christmas into two days, because they run very differently.
Christmas Eve (December 24) is a normal, busy day for most stores. They open at the usual morning time, around 10:30 AM, then close early. A lot of locations lock the doors somewhere between 6 and 8 PM so staff can get home. Mall stores tend to close first because the whole mall shuts early. If you want a plate on the 24th, go in the afternoon and don’t count on a late-night run.
Christmas Day (December 25) is the one to plan around. Most Panda Express restaurants close completely so employees get the day off. A rare airport or travel-corridor store might open with limited service, but that’s the exception. If someone asks whether Panda Express is open on Christmas, tell them no, unless their local store says otherwise.
That’s the short read on panda express christmas hours: open and early on the 24th, closed on the 25th. If you need Panda Express for a Christmas dinner shortcut, buy it on Christmas Eve and reheat it. Works better than you’d think.
Panda Express Thanksgiving hours
Thanksgiving is straightforward, and the answer disappoints a few people every year. Most Panda Express locations close on Thanksgiving Day. Staff spend the day with family, same as most sit-down chains.
A small number of high-traffic stores, mostly inside airports, may open for a few hours. Those are travelers-only spots, and even they cut their schedule. So the honest take on panda express thanksgiving hours is this: assume your local store is closed unless it posts otherwise.
If you’re stuck and hungry on Thanksgiving, airport food courts, gas station hot food, and a few national chains stay open. But your neighborhood Panda Express probably won’t be one of them.
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day hours
Panda Express usually opens on New Year’s Eve, December 31. Many stores close early to let staff ring in the year, so expect an earlier shutdown than a normal weeknight. Mall stores again follow the mall.
New Year’s Day, January 1, 2026, is back to business. Most stores open with regular or lightly reduced hours. Orange chicken to start the year is very much on the table.
Other holidays: Easter, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day
Outside of Thanksgiving and Christmas, Panda Express stays open on nearly every major holiday. Hours can shift a little, but the doors are usually open.
Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day: most stores run regular hours. Locations near parks, lakes, and travel routes get slammed in the afternoon, so lunch lines can be long. Independence Day traffic tends to build later in the day.
Easter Sunday: this one’s a toss-up. Some Panda Express stores stay open with normal or slightly shortened hours, and some close for the day. It depends on the location and local demand. Call ahead if Easter is your plan.
Here’s a second table covering the summer and spring holidays, so you can see the Panda Express Holiday Hours pattern at a glance.
| Holiday | Typical status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Easter Sunday | Varies | Open at many stores, closed at some |
| Memorial Day | Open | Usually regular hours |
| Fourth of July | Open | Busy afternoons, regular hours |
| Labor Day | Open | Usually regular hours |
| New Year’s Day | Open | Regular or lightly reduced |
Why hours change from one store to the next
You’ve probably noticed two nearby Panda Express stores keeping different hours on the same holiday. That’s normal, and there’s a reason for it.
A few things push the schedule around:
- Store type. Mall, airport, highway, and stand-alone stores each follow their own rules.
- Mall or shopping-center policy. If the building closes, the store closes.
- Staffing. A short-handed store may cut its evening.
- Travel demand. Airport and highway stores stay open longer when people are on the move.
Drive-thru hours can also run different from dine-in hours. In travel areas, the drive-thru often stays open later. On Christmas and Thanksgiving, though, most drive-thrus close early or stay dark like the rest of the store.
How to Check Panda Express Holiday Hours Near You
Don’t guess. Three minutes of checking beats a locked door and a hungry car ride home. Here’s how to confirm the panda express holiday hours for your exact store.
- Use the store locator. Go to the Panda Express website, type in your ZIP code or city, and open your local listing. Holiday notes show up there.
- Check Google. Search “Panda Express near me.” Google shows live open-or-closed status and posts holiday alerts right under the listing.
- Call the store. This is the fastest and most reliable way to confirm Christmas or Thanksgiving hours. A 30-second call settles it.
- Open a delivery app. DoorDash and Uber Eats show real-time availability. If the store’s grayed out, it’s closed.
My rule of thumb: for the big-closure holidays, call. For everything else, a quick Google check does the job.
Final thoughts
The Panda Express Holiday Hours picture is simpler than it looks once you strip it down. Two days off the calendar, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, and pretty much everything else stays open.
Christmas Eve gives you a short window before an early close. New Year’s Eve trims the evening. Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day roll on like a normal day. Easter is the wild card, so check first.
When the day actually matters, spend the minute to confirm your store. Hours move by location, and the store locator or a phone call will tell you the truth faster than any national schedule can.
Also Read: Arby’s Holiday Hours
FAQs
Is Panda Express open on Christmas?
No. Most Panda Express locations close on Christmas Day, December 25, 2026. A rare airport or travel store may open with limited service, so check your local store if you’re near one. Otherwise, assume it’s closed.
What are Panda Express Christmas Eve hours?
Most stores open at their normal morning time, around 10:30 AM, and close early on Christmas Eve. Closing usually lands between 6 and 8 PM. Mall locations tend to close first, so go in the afternoon.
Is Panda Express open on Thanksgiving?
No, most Panda Express locations close on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2026. A few airport stores may open briefly, but plan around a closure unless your store posts different hours.
Is Panda Express open on New Year’s Day?
Yes. Most stores open on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2026, with regular or lightly reduced hours. New Year’s Eve is also open, though many stores close early that night.
Does Panda Express open on Easter?
It depends on the location. Some Panda Express stores stay open on Easter Sunday with normal or shortened hours, and some close for the day. Call your local store to confirm before you go.
What are the regular Panda Express hours?
Most stores open around 10:30 AM and close between 9:30 and 10:00 PM. Sunday hours often run a little shorter. Mall and airport locations follow their building’s schedule, so times vary.
How do I check Panda Express holiday hours near me?
Use the store locator on the Panda Express website, search Google for live open-or-closed status, or call the store directly. Calling is the fastest way to confirm hours on major holidays.
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