New Year's Day
1 Jan 2026New Year's Day (January 1, 2026) opens Canada's calendar with fireworks, community skates, and family brunches. Many cities host outdoor celebrations despite the cold, while friends exchange resolutions. It's a hopeful reset following the long December holiday season.
Louis Riel Day - MB
16 Feb 2026Family Day / Louis Riel Day / Heritage Day / Islander Day (February 16, 2026) is celebrated on the third Monday of February and focuses on quality time with loved ones. It is known as Louis Riel Day in Manitoba, Islander Day in Prince Edward Island, and Heritage Day in Nova Scotia. In BC, AB, SK, ON, and NB, it is simply Family Day. Skating rinks and museums often offer special programs for the long weekend.
Heritage Day - NS
16 Feb–3 Aug 2026Civic Holiday / Heritage Day / BC Day (August 3, 2026) is observed across much of Canada under different regional names: BC Day in British Columbia, Heritage Day in Alberta, Saskatchewan Day, Terry Fox Day in Manitoba, and Civic Holiday in Ontario. It is a peak summer weekend for festivals, parades, and lake trips.
St. Patrick's Day
16 Mar 2026St. Patrick's Day (NL) on March 16, 2026 is observed in Newfoundland and Labrador on the Monday nearest March 17. It celebrates the province's deep Irish heritage with music and community events. While the cultural feast is March 17, the official day off for government and many schools in NL is Monday, March 16.
Good Friday
3 Apr 2026Good Friday (April 3, 2026) is a nationwide public holiday marked by quiet reflection. In Quebec, employers may choose between Good Friday or Easter Monday as the paid statutory holiday, though federal employees and most offices observe the Friday. It marks the start of the Easter long weekend.
Easter Monday
6 Apr 2026Easter Monday (April 6, 2026) is a federal holiday and a statutory day in Quebec and the Territories. Many Canadians use this day to travel home after family gatherings or enjoy the first signs of spring. For those in provinces where it is not a statutory holiday, it remains a quiet day for federal services and banks.
St. George's Day
20 Apr 2026St. George's Day (NL) on April 20, 2026 is observed in Newfoundland and Labrador on the Monday closest to April 23. It reflects the province's English heritage and is a regional public holiday where government offices and many schools in the province close.
National Patriots' Day
18 May 2026Victoria Day / National Patriots' Day (May 18, 2026) marks the unofficial launch of the Canadian summer. Known for gardening and cottage openings, it features fireworks across most provinces. In Quebec, the day is known as National Patriots' Day (Journee nationale des patriotes), commemorating the 1837-38 rebellions.
National Aboriginal Day
21 Jun 2026National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21) celebrates the cultures and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples. In 2026, because June 21 falls on a Sunday, the public holiday in the Northwest Territories and Yukon is observed on Monday, June 22.
June Holiday
22 Jun–17 Aug 2026June Holiday (June 22, 2026) is observed in Newfoundland and Labrador on the Monday nearest June 24. Formerly known as Discovery Day in Newfoundland, it commemorates the arrival of European explorers to the island's shores and creates a midsummer long weekend for residents of the province.
Fête nationale du Québec
24 Jun 2026Fete nationale du Quebec (June 24, 2026), also known as St-Jean-Baptiste Day, is Quebec's national holiday and a vibrant celebration of Francophone culture. From Montreal's massive concerts to local neighborhood bonfires, the province is filled with music, parades, and blue-and-white flags.
Canada Day
1 Jul 2026Canada Day (July 1, 2026) falls on a Wednesday and marks Canada's birthday with citizenship ceremonies, live music, and flagship fireworks in Ottawa. Because it lands mid-week, many Canadians take a bridge day on either side to create an extra-long summer break.
Nunavut Day
9 Jul 2026Nunavut Day (July 9, 2026) is a statutory holiday in Nunavut commemorating the passing of the Nunavut Act. It is a day of territorial pride, marked by communal meals, traditional Inuit games, and cultural presentations across the territory.
Orangemen's Day
13 Jul 2026Orangemen's Day (NL) on July 13, 2026 is observed in Newfoundland and Labrador because July 12 falls on a Sunday. It marks the historic Battle of the Boyne with local parades and community gatherings in several towns.
Gold Cup Parade Day - PE
17 Aug 2026Gold Cup Parade Day (August, Prince Edward Island) opens the Gold Cup & Saucer Festival, the province’s biggest summer celebration. Parades, concerts, and fair events fill Charlottetown, and many local offices and schools close for the day.
Labour Day
7 Sep 2026Labour Day (September 7, 2026) honours the contributions of workers. As the final long weekend of the summer, it is often marked by family road trips and preparations for the new school year.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
30 Sep 2026National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30, 2026) is a federal holiday and a statutory day in BC, MB, PE, and the Territories. Canadians wear orange to honour residential school Survivors and reflect on the ongoing work of reconciliation through ceremonies and educational programs.
Thanksgiving
12 Oct 2026Thanksgiving (October 12, 2026) is a harvest-season celebration of gratitude. Families gather for dinners featuring turkey, stuffing, and seasonal favourites. In the Atlantic provinces, it is often a designated retail closing day rather than a statutory holiday for all workers.
Armistice Day
11 Nov 2026Remembrance Day / Armistice Day (November 11, 2026) is a solemn mid-week commemoration. At 11:00 a.m., Canadians observe a moment of silence to honour those who served. Red poppies and wreath-laying ceremonies are central symbols across the country.
Christmas Day
25 Dec 2026Christmas Day (December 25, 2026) brings festive lights and diverse cultural traditions to homes across Canada. Falling on a Friday in 2026, it serves as the start of a rare four-day holiday break for many workers.
Boxing Day
26 Dec 2026In-lieu day off on 28 Dec 2026.Boxing Day (December 26) extends the holiday season with visits to relatives, outdoor activities, and post-holiday sales. In 2026, because it falls on a Saturday, many federal and provincial schedules observe the in-lieu day on Monday, December 28.
