Statutory Holidays in Canada 2026
Every stat holiday in 2026 with the date, provincial coverage, and whether it counts as paid time off.
| Holiday | Date | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thu, Jan 1, 2026 | All provinces + federal |
| Family Day | Mon, Feb 16, 2026 | AB, BC, NB, ON, SK (3rd Monday); Louis Riel Day (MB); Islander Day (PE); Heritage Day (NS) |
| Good Friday | Fri, Apr 3, 2026 | All provinces + federal |
| Easter Monday | Mon, Apr 6, 2026 | Not statutory under the Canada Labour Code or most provinces; in QC the employer gives Good Friday or Easter Monday; many federal public servants get it by collective agreement |
| Victoria Day | Mon, May 18, 2026 | All except NB, NL, NS, PE; called National Patriots' Day in QC |
| Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day | Wed, Jun 24, 2026 | Quebec only |
| Canada Day | Wed, Jul 1, 2026 | All provinces + federal |
| Civic Holiday | Mon, Aug 3, 2026 | Statutory in BC (BC Day), NB (New Brunswick Day), NT, NU and SK (Saskatchewan Day). Not a statutory holiday in AB (Heritage Day is optional), MB (Terry Fox Day), NS (Natal Day) or ON |
| Labour Day | Mon, Sep 7, 2026 | All provinces + federal |
| National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | Wed, Sep 30, 2026 | Federal + BC, MB, NT, NU, PE, YT (public + federally regulated) |
| Thanksgiving | Mon, Oct 12, 2026 | All except NB, NL, NS, PE |
| Remembrance Day | Wed, Nov 11, 2026 | Federal + AB, BC, NB, NL, NT, NU, PE, SK, YT. MB and NS have special rules for people who work that day but it isn't a general paid holiday; not a holiday in ON or QC |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25, 2026 | All provinces + federal |
| Boxing Day | Sat, Dec 26, 2026 | Federal + ON (statutory); observed elsewhere |
Source: federal Labour Program and provincial employment-standards acts. "Applies to" indicates which jurisdictions treat the day as a paid statutory holiday. Confirm with your provincial labour ministry — some employers exceed the statutory minimum.
Statutory holiday count by jurisdiction
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How Canadian statutory holidays work in 2026
- There is no single national list — each province has its own stat holidays.
- Federally regulated employees get 10 paid stat holidays; Ontario has 9; NS has 6.
- Boxing Day is only a stat in Ontario and federally regulated workplaces.
- Truth and Reconciliation Day (Sept 30) is federal + BC, MB, NT, NU, PE, YT.
- Holiday pay = average of a normal day's wages from the 4 weeks before the holiday.
Working the day itself
In Ontario, if you work a stat holiday you get holiday pay plus premium pay (1.5×) for hours worked — OR your regular rate plus a substitute day off (mutual agreement). Alberta requires 1.5× premium if worked. BC and Manitoba are similar. Nova Scotia's rules are looser — always check your provincial employment standards.
How this tool works
- The table lists each 2026 holiday with its date and the jurisdictions that observe it.
- "Federal" means the Canada Labour Code list for federally regulated employers — not every federal government office closure.
- Holiday pay rules (who qualifies and how much) are set by each jurisdiction; the guide below explains Ontario and federal rules as examples.
- If your workplace is unionised, your collective agreement may add holidays.
Worked example: Ontario public holiday pay
Ontario's formula: add up the regular wages earned and vacation pay payable in the four work weeks before the week with the holiday, then divide by 20.
- Ontario's own example: an employee earning $800 a week earns $3,200 in four weeks, so holiday pay is $3,200 ÷ 20 = $160.
- An employee paid $600 a week with 4% vacation pay accrued: ($2,400 + $96) ÷ 20 = $124.80.
- If you work on the holiday, you're generally entitled either to regular wages plus a substitute day off, or to holiday pay plus premium pay of 1.5 times your regular rate for the hours worked (if you agree in writing).
Other provinces use different formulas — check yours before calculating.
Tips for job seekers in Canada
- Federally regulated employees (banks, airlines, telecoms and similar) get 10 general holidays under the Canada Labour Code, including the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30. Working one usually pays at least 1.5 times the regular rate.
- "Civic Holiday" in early August goes by different names (BC Day, Heritage Day in Alberta, New Brunswick Day, Saskatchewan Day) and isn't a statutory holiday everywhere.
- Starting a new job? Some provinces require you to have worked a minimum period, or your scheduled shifts around the holiday, to qualify for holiday pay.
- Plan job-search follow-ups around long weekends; recruiters often reply more slowly then.
Keep going: related guides and data
Sources
- Ontario — ESA Policy and Interpretation Manual, Part X: Public holidays (checked October 17, 2026)
- Government of Canada — Annual vacations and general holidays (federally regulated employers) (checked October 17, 2026)
Last updated by the Jobeefy editorial team. Written and reviewed under our editorial policy; AI features are described in our AI content policy. This page is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice.
Frequently asked questions
How many statutory holidays are there in Canada in 2026?
It depends on your province. Federally regulated employees get 10 paid stat holidays. Ontario has 9; Alberta has 9; BC and Manitoba have 10 each. Quebec has 8 general plus Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day.
Is Boxing Day a stat holiday in Canada?
Boxing Day is only a statutory holiday in Ontario and for federally regulated employers. In BC, Alberta, Quebec and most other provinces it is not a paid stat holiday — though many employers give it anyway.
How is holiday pay calculated in Ontario?
Ontario stat holiday pay = (regular wages + vacation pay earned in the 4 weeks before the holiday) ÷ 20. If you work the holiday you get holiday pay plus premium pay (1.5×) OR your regular rate plus a substitute day off.
What are the paid holidays for federal employees?
Federally regulated employees (banks, telecoms, airlines, interprovincial trucking) get 10 paid statutory holidays: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Truth & Reconciliation, Thanksgiving, Remembrance Day, Christmas, Boxing Day.
What is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation?
September 30, established federally in 2021. It's a paid stat holiday for federally regulated employees and public employees in BC, MB, NT, NU, PE and Yukon. Private-sector employees in ON, QC and AB do not have it as a paid stat holiday unless their employer opts in.
Is Remembrance Day a stat in Ontario?
No — Remembrance Day is not a statutory holiday under the Ontario Employment Standards Act. It IS a stat for federal employees and in most other provinces (AB, BC, MB, NB, NL, NT, NS, NU, PE, SK, YT). Some Ontario employers observe it anyway.
Do I get paid time off for Easter Monday?
Only if you're a federally regulated employee, or work for a Quebec school board. Private-sector employees in most provinces don't get Easter Monday as a paid stat.
Is Easter Monday a statutory holiday in Canada?
Not under most provincial employment standards or the Canada Labour Code. Many federal public servants get it as a paid holiday through their collective agreements, and some employers give it voluntarily.
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