Public holidays in Canada in 2026

Travelers and expats in Canada may also need to account for holiday periods when planning their budgets. These times can involve additional travel, seasonal gift purchases, or spending on local festivals and events.

An overview of Canadian public holidays

Canada does not have a single, uniform set of public holidays that applies to everyone. Instead, public holidays are governed by a mix of federal, provincial, and territorial rules, which determine who is entitled to time off and when.

There are five nationwide annual public holidays, plus around seven additional holiday dates for federal employees. Outside of federally regulated sectors, holiday entitlements depend largely on provincial or territorial legislation.

In addition, Canada’s 13 provinces and territories each recognize their own public holidays. These vary by location, and not all are considered statutory (legally mandated paid days off). In many cases, private businesses may choose whether to close or remain open on these dates, depending on local laws and company policy.

Because public holiday rules are mostly set at the provincial and territorial level, it’s important to check official holiday calendars for your specific location. You should also confirm with your employer which holidays you are entitled to and whether they are paid.

When a public holiday falls on a weekend, it is often observed on a nearby weekday, although this depends on local regulations and employment contracts. Depending on your role, you may receive paid time off, premium pay for working on the holiday, or a substitute day off.

Temporary and casual workers typically have fewer public holiday entitlements than permanent employees.

Beyond statutory holidays, Canada also recognizes several culturally significant days that may be worth noting in your diary.

When are the public holidays in Canada in 2026? 🇨🇦

Here are the dates for federal public holidays in 2026:

📅 Date	Weekday	Holiday
January 1	Thursday	New Year’s Day
April 3	Friday	Good Friday
April 6	Monday	Easter Monday
May 18	Monday	Victoria Day
July 1	Wednesday	Canada Day
August 3	Monday	Civic Holiday (excluding Quebec)
September 7	Monday	Labour Day
September 30	Wednesday	National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
October 12	Monday	Thanksgiving Day
November 11	Wednesday	Remembrance Day
December 25	Friday	Christmas Day
December 26	Saturday	Boxing Day

Local holidays in 2026

In addition to federal public holidays, many of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories each observe their own local holiday dates. These vary across the country. Some apply to multiple local areas, while others are specific to a single province or territory.

Observance and entitlement to time off can differ widely depending on local labour laws and individual employers, so it’s important to check the rules that apply in your province or territory.

Below are some of the main provincial and territorial public holidays in Canada for 2026:

📅 Date	Weekday	Holiday	Where celebrated
February 16	Monday	Family Day	Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island
March 17	Tuesday	Saint Patrick’s Day	Newfoundland and Labrador
April 23	Thursday	Saint George’s Day	Newfoundland and Labrador
June 21	Sunday	National Indigenous Peoples Day	Northern Territories
June 24	Wednesday	Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day	Quebec

Other important dates in 2026

Like other countries, Canada has various important dates or occasions that are celebrated annually, even though they are not public holidays. Here is a list of some of the key dates to note down for 2026:

📅 Day	Weekday	Occasion
February 15	Sunday	National Flag of Canada Day
April 22	Wednesday	Earth Day
May 10	Sunday	Mother’s Day
May 22	Friday	Immigrants Day
June 21	Sunday	Father’s Day
October 31	Saturday	Halloween
December 6	Sunday	National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

Whether you’re taking time off or working during a holiday, planning ahead financially can help. If you manage money across borders, opening a Wise account can help you save time and money.

Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate with no hidden costs. You can send, receive, and hold money in multiple currencies, making cross-border financial planning much easier.

When are the Canadian public holidays in 2027?

📅 Date	Weekday	Holiday
January 1	Friday	New Year’s Day
March 26	Friday	Good Friday
March 29	Monday	Easter Monday
May 24	Monday	Victoria Day
July 1	Thursday	Canada Day
August 2	Monday	Civic Holiday (excluding Quebec)
September 6	Monday	Labor Day
September 30	Thursday	National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
October 11	Monday	Thanksgiving Day
November 11	Thursday	Remembrance Day
December 25	Saturday	Christmas Day
December 26	Sunday	Boxing Day

Local holidays in 2027

📅 Date	Weekday	Holiday	Where celebrated
February 15	Monday	Family Day	Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island
March 17	Wednesday	Saint Patrick’s Day	Newfoundland and Labrador
April 23	Friday	Saint George’s Day	Newfoundland and Labrador
June 21	Monday	National Indigenous Peoples Day	Northern Territories
June 24	Thursday	Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day	Quebec

Other important dates in 2027

📅 Day	Weekday	Occasion
February 15	Monday	National Flag of Canada Day
April 22	Thursday	Earth Day
May 9	Sunday	Mother’s Day
May 22	Saturday	Immigrants Day
June 20	Sunday	Father’s Day
October 31	Sunday	Halloween
December 6	Monday	National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

When were the public holidays in Canada in 2025?

📅 Date	Weekday	Holiday
January 1	Wednesday	New Year’s Day
April 18	Friday	Good Friday
April 21	Monday	Easter Monday
May 19	Monday	Victoria Day
July 1	Tuesday	Canada Day
August 4	Monday	Civic Holiday (excluding Quebec)
September 1	Monday	Labour Day
September 30	Tuesday	National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
October 13	Monday	Thanksgiving Day
November 11	Tuesday	Remembrance Day
December 25	Thursday	Christmas Day
December 26	Friday	Boxing Day

Local holidays in 2025

📅 Date	Weekday	Holiday	Where celebrated
February 17	Monday	Family Day	Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island
March 17	Monday	Saint Patrick’s Day	Newfoundland and Labrador
April 23	Wednesday	Saint George’s Day	Newfoundland and Labrador
June 21	Saturday	National Indigenous Peoples Day	Northern Territories
June 24	Tuesday	Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day	Quebec

Other important dates in 2025

📅 Day	Weekday	Occasion
February 15	Saturday	National Flag of Canada Day
April 22	Tuesday	Earth Day
May 11	Sunday	Mother’s Day
May 22	Thursday	Immigrants Day
June 15	Sunday	Father’s Day
October 31	Friday	Halloween
December 6	Saturday	National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

When are the school holidays in Canada?

School holidays in Canada are different in each province and territory. Most follow a similar pattern during the school year, which typically starts in early September and ends in late June.

Canadian schools may have holidays on either federal or local public holidays, for example Victoria Day or Labour Day. Typically, they will have longer holidays (one week or more) at the following times:

• Fall Break – around a week in October or November (only in some provinces)
• Winter/Christmas Break – two weeks in December/January
• March Break – one week in February or March
• Summer Break – 8–10 weeks at the end of the school year, starting around the end of June.

To check the exact school holiday dates for your area, you should visit the website of your child’s school or your provincial/territorial Ministry of Education.