Canada Holidays 2026: Federal & Provincial Dates, Plus How to Show Holiday Hours

Planning staffing and customer communications around statutory holidays pays off — literally. Below you’ll find a Canada‑wide holiday calendar for 2026: federal holidays first, then provincial/territorial dates and notable regional days. At the end, there’s a quick guide to showing holiday hours on Canada Online so customers always know if you’re open.

Note on sources & calculation

Where provinces publish 2026 holiday calendars (e.g., BC, SK, NS), we cite them directly. If a page publishes rules (e.g., “third Monday in February”), we compute the 2026 dates from those rules and cite the official rule page.

• Government of Nova Scotia – Holiday & Retail Closing Day Chart
• Government of Canada – Federal Labour Standards: General Holidays
• Government of British Columbia – Statutory holidays

Federal (Nationwide) Statutory Holidays — 2026

These apply to federally regulated workplaces across Canada.

Provincial & Territorial Holidays — 2026

The first Monday in August is a civic/provincial holiday in many jurisdictions but not a federal holiday. Names vary (e.g., BC Day, Saskatchewan Day, “Civic Holiday”). Dates below reflect each jurisdiction’s official 2026 calendar or rule.

British Columbia (BC)

• Family Day — Mon, Feb 16
• Good Friday — Fri, Apr 3
• Victoria Day — Mon, May 18
• Canada Day — Wed, Jul 1
• BC Day — Mon, Aug 3
• Labour Day — Mon, Sep 7
• National Day for Truth and Reconciliation — Wed, Sep 30
• Thanksgiving Day — Mon, Oct 12
• Remembrance Day — Wed, Nov 11
• Christmas Day — Fri, Dec 25

Source: Government of British Columbia – Statutory holidays. Note: Boxing Day and Easter Monday are not statutory holidays in BC.

Alberta (AB)

• Family Day — Mon, Feb 16 (third Monday in February)
• Good Friday — Fri, Apr 3
• Victoria Day — Mon, May 18
• Canada Day — Wed, Jul 1
• Labour Day — Mon, Sep 7
• Thanksgiving Day — Mon, Oct 12
• Remembrance Day — Wed, Nov 11
• Christmas Day — Fri, Dec 25

Source: Government of Alberta – General holidays.

Saskatchewan (SK)

• Family Day — Mon, Feb 16
• Good Friday — Fri, Apr 3
• Victoria Day — Mon, May 18
• Canada Day — Wed, Jul 1
• Saskatchewan Day — Mon, Aug 3
• Labour Day — Mon, Sep 7
• Thanksgiving Day — Mon, Oct 12
• Remembrance Day — Wed, Nov 11
• Christmas Day — Fri, Dec 25

Source: Government of Saskatchewan – List of Saskatchewan Public Holidays.

Manitoba (MB)

• Louis Riel Day — Mon, Feb 16 (third Monday in February)
• Good Friday — Fri, Apr 3
• Victoria Day — Mon, May 18
• Canada Day — Wed, Jul 1
• Labour Day — Mon, Sep 7
• Thanksgiving Day — Mon, Oct 12
• Christmas Day — Fri, Dec 25

Source: Government of Manitoba – General Holidays (Employment Standards).

Ontario (ON)

Ontario has nine public holidays under the ESA: New Year’s Day, Family Day (third Monday in February), Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and (for retail rules) see Remembrance Day/Retail closing guidance. Family Day 2026 falls on Mon, Feb 16.

Sources: Ontario ESA guide – Public holidays; Ontario – Retail business holidays.

Quebec (QC)

• Journée nationale des patriotes — Mon, May 18 (Monday before May 25)
• Fête nationale (Saint‑Jean‑Baptiste Day) — Wed, Jun 24

Other legal holidays follow provincial rules (e.g., Labour Day, Thanksgiving, etc.).

Sources: Gouvernement du Québec – Public holidays; Retail opening hours on holidays.

Nova Scotia (NS)

• Heritage Day — Mon, Feb 16 (third Monday in February; 2026 honouree: J. William Comeau)
• Good Friday — Fri, Apr 3
• Canada Day — Wed, Jul 1
• Labour Day — Mon, Sep 7
• Thanksgiving Day — Mon, Oct 12
• Christmas Day — Fri, Dec 25
• Boxing Day — Sat, Dec 26 (retail closing rules apply)

Sources: NS Labour – Holiday & Retail Closing Day Chart; NS Heritage Day.

New Brunswick (NB)

• Family Day — Mon, Feb 16 (third Monday in February)
• New Brunswick Day — Mon, Aug 3

Plus the standard list (New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, Labour Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day).

Source: Government of New Brunswick – Paid public holidays.

Prince Edward Island (PE)

• Islander Day — Mon, Feb 16 (third Monday in February)
• National Day for Truth and Reconciliation — Wed, Sep 30

Other paid holidays per PEI Employment Standards.

Source: Government of Prince Edward Island – Paid Holidays.

Newfoundland & Labrador (NL)

NL observes a distinct set of paid public holidays (e.g., Memorial Day, Orangemen’s Day) and some are observed on the nearest Monday depending on the year and department. Always confirm the proclamation/observance for your workplace.

Sources: Government of NL – Labour Standards; Treasury Board Secretariat – Paid Leave policy.

Yukon (YT)

• National Indigenous Peoples Day — Sun, Jun 21 (territorial stat)
• Discovery Day — Mon, Aug 17 (third Monday in August in 2026)

Source: Government of Yukon – Statutory holidays.

Northwest Territories (NWT)

• National Indigenous Peoples Day — Sun, Jun 21 (statutory/public holiday by statute)
• National Day for Truth and Reconciliation — Wed, Sep 30

Plus the standard list (New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, First Monday in August, Labour Day, Thanksgiving, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day).

Sources: GNWT – Employment Standards; News release (2022) adding NDTR as a statutory holiday; NWT statute for June 21.

Nunavut (NU)

• Nunavut Day — Thu, Jul 9 (territorial general holiday)

Plus standard list (New Year’s Day, Good Friday, First Monday in August, Labour Day, Thanksgiving, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day, etc., depending on employment class/agreements).

Source: Government of Nunavut – Nunavut Day designation.

What’s Open/Closed: Quick Guidance

• Federal holidays: Most banks and federal offices closed; private businesses set their own policy unless governed by provincial retail rules.
• Provincial holidays: Retail closing rules vary by province (e.g., Ontario retail rules differ from ESA public holiday pay). Check your province’s employment standards or retail‑closing pages.
• Regional/civic holidays (first Monday in August): Commonly observed, but not federal; public holiday pay rules vary. See your province’s employment standards page.

FAQ

Is the first Monday in August a federal holiday?
No. It’s a provincial/territorial holiday with different names (e.g., BC Day, Saskatchewan Day).

Is Easter Monday a statutory holiday in all provinces?
No. It’s recognized in federal/public service contexts; many provinces don’t treat it as a statutory holiday for most employees.

Does NWT treat June 21 as a statutory holiday?
Yes — National Indigenous Peoples Day is a statutory/public holiday in the NWT by law.

When is Yukon’s Discovery Day in 2026?
Monday, August 17, 2026 (third Monday in August).

Is Nunavut Day an official holiday?
Yes — July 9 is a territorial general holiday in Nunavut.