Canada Public Holidays 2026: Federal and Provincial Dates
Canada has 12 federal statutory holidays in 2026, but the holidays that actually close your office depend on which province you’re in. Only a handful — New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, Labour Day, Christmas Day — are observed almost everywhere. The rest vary by province, which is why the Canadian holiday calendar is one of the most fragmented in the English-speaking world.
2026 has a notable feature: Christmas Day falls on a Friday, and Boxing Day on a Saturday, with the substitute holiday moving to Monday 28 December — giving most of the country a four-day break.
Canada federal statutory holidays 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Thursday | New Year’s Day | Nationwide |
| 3 April | Friday | Good Friday | Nationwide |
| 6 April | Monday | Easter Monday | Federal; not all provinces |
| 18 May | Monday | Victoria Day | Most provinces |
| 1 July | Wednesday | Canada Day | Nationwide |
| 3 August | Monday | Civic Holiday | Most provinces (not QC, not federally) |
| 7 September | Monday | Labour Day | Nationwide |
| 30 September | Wednesday | National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | Federal; several provinces |
| 12 October | Monday | Thanksgiving | Most provinces (not in the Atlantic provinces) |
| 11 November | Wednesday | Remembrance Day | Federal; most provinces |
| 25 December | Friday | Christmas Day | Nationwide |
| 26 December | Saturday | Boxing Day (observed Mon 28 Dec) | Ontario, and others |
Provincial differences that matter
- Family Day — the third Monday of February (16 February 2026) in Alberta, BC, Ontario, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick. Quebec and Manitoba don’t observe it.
- St Jean Baptiste Day — 24 June, Quebec’s national holiday, and the biggest celebration of the Quebec year.
- British Columbia Day and Heritage Day — the August civic holiday goes by a different name in nearly every province.
- Thanksgiving — second Monday of October. Note this is a month earlier than the US Thanksgiving, and it’s a genuine long weekend in most of the country.
Long weekends in 2026
- 3–6 April — Easter (Fri–Mon)
- 16–18 May — Victoria Day (Sat–Mon)
- 1–5 July — Canada Day falls on Wednesday, so taking 2–3 July off turns it into a five-day break
- 1–3 August — Civic Holiday (Sat–Mon, most provinces)
- 5–7 September — Labour Day (Sat–Mon)
- 10–12 October — Thanksgiving (Sat–Mon)
- 25–28 December — Christmas (Fri–Mon)
July 1 falls midweek in 2026, which is unusual and means Canada Day itself doesn’t create a long weekend — but it’s also the best-value window, because fewer people travel than in a Saturday–Monday year.
Frequently asked questions
How many statutory holidays does Canada have in 2026?
There are 12 federal statutory holidays in 2026. Provinces add or omit several, so the number you actually get off ranges from about 6 to 11 depending on where you work.
Is Boxing Day a statutory holiday in Canada?
Boxing Day is a statutory holiday in Ontario and a few other jurisdictions, but not federally and not in most provinces. In 2026 it falls on a Saturday and is observed on Monday 28 December where it applies.
When is Canadian Thanksgiving 2026?
Canadian Thanksgiving falls on Monday 12 October 2026 — about six weeks earlier than the US Thanksgiving.
Is Easter Monday a holiday in Canada?
Easter Monday is a federal statutory holiday but is not observed in most provinces. Good Friday, by contrast, is observed nearly everywhere.
Our sources
Dates verified against the federal statutory holiday schedule published by the Government of Canada, with provincial variations cross-checked against provincial employment standards. Last reviewed: 15 October 2026.