Canada's 2026 Statutory Holidays Calendar And All The Long Weekends!

Last Updated On 14 February 2026, 9:05 AM EST (Toronto Time)

2026 Statutory Holidays: Canadians plan vacations, weddings, school breaks, and family visits around one simple question: when are the stat holidays and long weekends this year?

In 2026, the calendar is especially useful for planning because several of the biggest holidays land in patterns that can create easy three-day weekends (and, in some workplaces, a rare four-day Christmas stretch).

The catch is that “statutory holiday” does not mean the same thing everywhere in Canada.

Some holidays are guaranteed in every province and territory, while others depend on where you live and whether you work in a federally regulated or provincially regulated workplace.

This guide gives you a practical, Canada-wide planning view first, then breaks down statutory holidays by province and territory with exact 2026 dates and where each long weekend actually applies.

What counts as a statutory holiday in Canada

A “stat holiday” is a paid holiday created by legislation. In Canada, that legislation can be federal (for federally regulated industries like banks, interprovincial transportation, and telecommunications) or provincial/territorial (for most other workplaces).

Federal vs provincial rules: why people argue about the same holiday

If you work for a federally regulated employer, the Canada Labour Code provides 10 general holidays with pay, including National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Boxing Day.

If you work for a provincially regulated employer, your province or territory’s employment standards list the paid statutory holidays, and that list can be shorter or longer than the federal list.

That is why someone in one province may automatically get September 30 off, while someone else may not, even if both live in Canada.

“Public holiday” and “observed holiday” are not the same thing

Two related terms create confusion:

Public holiday: often used for government offices, schools, or banking calendars, which may include holidays that are not paid statutory holidays for all workers.
Observed holiday: the weekday your employer gives you off when a holiday falls on a weekend, which can vary by collective agreement, employer policy, or labour rules.

This guide focuses on statutory holidays (the paid holiday rules) and then flags widely observed days that commonly create long weekends in practice.

The 5 paid holidays that exist everywhere in Canada

If you only want the “safe” list that applies in every province and territory, there are 5 paid holidays that are recognized across all jurisdictions in Canada:

New Year’s Day
Good Friday
Canada Day
Labour Day
Christmas Day

These 5 holidays are the closest thing Canada has to true nationwide statutory holidays, even though additional holidays differ by jurisdiction.

Canada-wide holiday calendar for 2026 you can plan around

These dates are the backbone of most Canadian holiday planning for 2026:

New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1, 2026
Family Day cluster (varies by province): Monday, February 16, 2026
Good Friday: Friday, April 3, 2026
Victoria Day / National Patriots’ Day (Quebec): Monday, May 18, 2026
Canada Day: Wednesday, July 1, 2026
First Monday in August (varies by province): Monday, August 3, 2026
Labour Day: Monday, September 7, 2026
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: Wednesday, September 30, 2026 (not statutory everywhere)
Thanksgiving: Monday, October 12, 2026
Remembrance Day: Wednesday, November 11, 2026 (not statutory everywhere)
Christmas Day: Friday, December 25, 2026
Boxing Day: Saturday, December 26, 2026 (statutory in some jurisdictions and federally regulated workplaces)

Important planning note: the CRA’s “public holiday” list includes some days that are not statutory for all workers (for example, Easter Monday appears on CRA lists for filing deadlines).

Treat those as “commonly observed” rather than guaranteed paid days off unless your jurisdiction or employer confirms it.

All the Canada long weekends 2026

Below is the long weekend planner most Canadians actually use: weekends created by Monday holidays, Friday holidays, and common “in lieu” rules.

February 2026: the Family Day long weekend, but the name changes by province

For many Canadians, the third Monday in February is the first true long weekend of the year:

Monday, February 16, 2026

Depending on where you live, it is commonly called:

Family Day (Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick)
Louis Riel Day (Manitoba)
Nova Scotia Heritage Day (Nova Scotia)
Islander Day (Prince Edward Island)

Practical takeaway: February 16 is a long weekend day for most Canadians, but it is not a single nationwide statutory holiday with the same name.

April 2026: a classic three-day Easter weekend that is widely consistent

Good Friday: Friday, April 3, 2026

Good Friday creates a three-day weekend for most Canadians (Friday to Sunday), and it is one of the 5 paid holidays recognized in every jurisdiction.

What about Easter Monday (Monday, April 6, 2026)?

Easter Monday is widely observed in some workplaces, appears on some government/administrative calendars, and is an optional holiday in certain jurisdictions (for example, it is listed as an optional holiday in Alberta).
It is not one of the 10 federal general holidays under the Canada Labour Code.

May 2026: Victoria Day is a guaranteed long weekend in many places

Victoria Day: Monday, May 18, 2026

In Quebec, that same date is National Patriots’ Day (the Monday before May 25).

This is one of the easiest long weekends to plan around because it lands on a Monday and is widely treated as statutory across much of Canada.

June 2026: Quebec’s June 24 holiday is midweek, not a long weekend by default

Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day / National Holiday of Quebec: Wednesday, June 24, 2026

It is a major statutory holiday in Quebec, but in 2026 it lands midweek, so it does not create an automatic long weekend unless you add vacation days.

July 2026: Canada Day is midweek, but it can become a five-day break with 2 vacation days

Canada Day: Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Easy extension plays:

Take Thursday and Friday off (July 2 and July 3) and you can create a five-day break (Wednesday through Sunday) using 2 vacation days.

August 2026: the first Monday in August is a long weekend, but not everywhere

Monday, August 3, 2026

This day is a statutory holiday in some provinces under different names:

B.C. Day in British Columbia
Saskatchewan Day in Saskatchewan
New Brunswick Day in New Brunswick

In Alberta, Heritage Day (first Monday in August) is commonly observed but is not one of Alberta’s 9 required general holidays; Alberta lists it as an optional general holiday that employers may choose to recognize.

In many Ontario workplaces, the first Monday in August is widely observed (often called Civic Holiday), but it is not one of Ontario’s statutory public holidays under provincial rules, so entitlement depends on employer policy or a collective agreement.

September 2026: Labour Day is a nationwide long weekend

Labour Day: Monday, September 7, 2026

This is one of the 5 paid holidays in every jurisdiction, and it creates a universal three-day weekend for most workers.

September 2026: Truth and Reconciliation Day is midweek and not statutory everywhere

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: Wednesday, September 30, 2026

It is a federal general holiday for federally regulated employees.

It is also statutory in several provinces and territories, including British Columbia and Yukon, and it is explicitly treated as a general holiday in Manitoba (often listed as Orange Shirt Day in Manitoba resources).

Planning move:

If your workplace recognizes September 30, taking Thursday and Friday off can create a five-day break.

October 2026: Thanksgiving is a clean Monday long weekend

Thanksgiving: Monday, October 12, 2026

Many provinces treat Thanksgiving as statutory, and it is also a federal general holiday.

November 2026: Remembrance Day is midweek and entitlement varies

Remembrance Day: Wednesday, November 11, 2026

It is a federal general holiday.

But it is not treated as a statutory holiday in every province. For example:

Manitoba’s general holiday list does not include Remembrance Day.
Quebec’s statutory holiday list does not include Remembrance Day.
Nova Scotia treats Remembrance Day under a separate law and does not include it in the standard “6 holidays with pay” list.
Ontario’s provincial public holiday list (as stated in Ontario government materials) does not include Remembrance Day as a required public holiday.

Planning move:

If your workplace observes it, taking Thursday and Friday off can create a five-day break.

December 2026: Christmas Day is a Friday, and Boxing Day can create a four-day weekend in some workplaces

Christmas Day: Friday, December 25, 2026 (paid everywhere)
Boxing Day: Saturday, December 26, 2026 (federal and some jurisdictions)

If you are in a federally regulated workplace, Boxing Day is one of the 10 general holidays, and when it falls on a non-working day (like Saturday for many employees), the Canada Labour Code framework provides for a substituted paid day immediately before or after the holiday.

That often means Monday, December 28 becomes the “in lieu” Boxing Day day off for Monday-to-Friday schedules, creating a four-day stretch from Friday to Monday.

Statutory holidays by province and territory in 2026

This section is the “exact dates” reference. For each jurisdiction, the list below reflects statutory holidays under that jurisdiction’s employment standards (or, for territories, their general holiday framework), with notes where a holiday is optional or commonly observed instead of required.

Federally regulated workplaces (Canada Labour Code)

If you work for a federally regulated employer, these are the 10 general holidays with pay:

Thursday, January 1, 2026: New Year’s Day
Friday, April 3, 2026: Good Friday
Monday, May 18, 2026: Victoria Day
Wednesday, July 1, 2026: Canada Day
Monday, September 7, 2026: Labour Day
Wednesday, September 30, 2026: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Monday, October 12, 2026: Thanksgiving Day
Wednesday, November 11, 2026: Remembrance Day
Friday, December 25, 2026: Christmas Day
Saturday, December 26, 2026: Boxing Day (with substitution rules when it falls on a non-working day)

Alberta

Alberta has 9 required general holidays in 2026:

Thursday, January 1: New Year’s Day
Monday, February 16: Alberta Family Day
Friday, April 3: Good Friday
Monday, May 18: Victoria Day
Wednesday, July 1: Canada Day
Monday, September 7: Labour Day
Monday, October 12: Thanksgiving Day
Wednesday, November 11: Remembrance Day
Friday, December 25: Christmas Day

Alberta also lists commonly recognized optional general holidays (employers may choose to recognize them), including:

Monday, April 6: Easter Monday
Monday, August 3: Heritage Day
Wednesday, September 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Saturday, December 26: Boxing Day

British Columbia

B.C.’s 2026 statutory holidays include:

Thursday, January 1: New Year’s Day
Monday, February 16: Family Day
Friday, April 3: Good Friday
Monday, May 18: Victoria Day
Wednesday, July 1: Canada Day
Monday, August 3: B.C. Day
Monday, September 7: Labour Day
Wednesday, September 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Monday, October 12: Thanksgiving Day
Wednesday, November 11: Remembrance Day
Friday, December 25: Christmas Day

Manitoba

Manitoba’s general holidays (stat holidays) for 2026 are:

Thursday, January 1: New Year’s Day
Monday, February 16: Louis Riel Day
Friday, April 3: Good Friday
Monday, May 18: Victoria Day
Wednesday, July 1: Canada Day
Monday, September 7: Labour Day
Wednesday, September 30: Orange Shirt Day (National Day for Truth and Reconciliation)
Monday, October 12: Thanksgiving Day
Friday, December 25: Christmas Day

New Brunswick

New Brunswick’s employment standards list 8 paid public holidays:

Thursday, January 1: New Year’s Day
Monday, February 16: Family Day
Friday, April 3: Good Friday
Wednesday, July 1: Canada Day
Monday, August 3: New Brunswick Day
Monday, September 7: Labour Day
Wednesday, November 11: Remembrance Day
Friday, December 25: Christmas Day

Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador’s labour standards framework includes these paid public holidays:

Thursday, January 1: New Year’s Day
Friday, April 3: Good Friday
Wednesday, July 1: Memorial Day (Canada Day)
Monday, September 7: Labour Day
Wednesday, November 11: Remembrance Day
Friday, December 25: Christmas Day

Newfoundland and Labrador also has additional designated paid holidays in some sectors (especially government and certain collective agreements), so it is common to see more than this baseline list depending on your employer.

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia’s Labour Standards Code gives qualifying employees 6 holidays with pay:

Thursday, January 1: New Year’s Day
Monday, February 16: Nova Scotia Heritage Day
Friday, April 3: Good Friday
Wednesday, July 1: Canada Day
Monday, September 7: Labour Day
Friday, December 25: Christmas Day

Nova Scotia notes Remembrance Day is handled under separate legislation rather than in the core “6 holidays with pay” list, so entitlement can differ based on the applicable rules for your workplace.

Ontario

Ontario’s public holiday entitlement list includes 9 public holidays (as described in Ontario government materials), and the standard 2026 dates are:

Thursday, January 1: New Year’s Day
Monday, February 16: Family Day
Friday, April 3: Good Friday
Monday, May 18: Victoria Day
Wednesday, July 1: Canada Day
Monday, September 7: Labour Day
Monday, October 12: Thanksgiving Day
Friday, December 25: Christmas Day
Saturday, December 26: Boxing Day

Ontario planning note: the first Monday in August (often called Civic Holiday) is widely observed, but it is not part of Ontario’s required public holiday list under employment standards, so it depends on your employer or collective agreement.

Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island’s Employment Standards Act provides 8 holidays with pay:

Thursday, January 1: New Year’s Day
Monday, February 16: Islander Day
Friday, April 3: Good Friday
Wednesday, July 1: Canada Day
Monday, September 7: Labour Day
Wednesday, September 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Wednesday, November 11: Remembrance Day
Friday, December 25: Christmas Day

Quebec

Quebec’s paid statutory holiday list includes:

Thursday, January 1: New Year’s Day
Friday, April 3 or Monday, April 6: Good Friday or Easter Monday (employer’s choice)
Monday, May 18: National Patriots’ Day (the Monday preceding May 25)
Wednesday, June 24: National Holiday (Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day)
Wednesday, July 1: Canada Day (with a special rule if July 1 falls on Sunday)
Monday, September 7: Labour Day
Monday, October 12: Thanksgiving (second Monday in October)
Friday, December 25: Christmas Day

Quebec has special provisions for the National Holiday (June 24) depending on how it falls in the calendar, but in 2026 it lands on a Wednesday, so the typical “Sunday shift” issue is not the main planning factor.

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan’s official public holiday list for 2026 is:

Thursday, January 1: New Year’s Day
Monday, February 16: Family Day
Friday, April 3: Good Friday
Monday, May 18: Victoria Day
Wednesday, July 1: Canada Day
Monday, August 3: Saskatchewan Day
Monday, September 7: Labour Day
Monday, October 12: Thanksgiving Day
Wednesday, November 11: Remembrance Day
Friday, December 25: Christmas Day

Northwest Territories

The Government of the Northwest Territories lists statutory holidays that include Easter Monday and Boxing Day (in addition to the typical national set).

Using the 2026 calendar dates for those holidays, the practical 2026 list is:

Thursday, January 1: New Year’s Day
Friday, April 3: Good Friday
Monday, April 6: Easter Monday
Monday, May 18: Victoria Day
Sunday, June 21: National Indigenous Peoples Day
Wednesday, July 1: Canada Day
Monday, August 3: First Monday in August holiday
Monday, September 7: Labour Day
Wednesday, September 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Monday, October 12: Thanksgiving Day
Wednesday, November 11: Remembrance Day
Friday, December 25: Christmas Day
Saturday, December 26: Boxing Day (often observed in lieu for Monday-to-Friday schedules)

Nunavut

Nunavut’s Labour Standards Compliance Office lists these general holidays under the Labour Standards Act, including Nunavut Day and the first Monday in August.

For planning purposes, the 2026 dates are:

Thursday, January 1: New Year’s Day
Friday, April 3: Good Friday
Monday, May 18: Victoria Day
Wednesday, July 1: Canada Day
Thursday, July 9: Nunavut Day (designated as a general holiday on July 9)
Monday, August 3: First Monday in August holiday
Monday, September 7: Labour Day
Monday, October 12: Thanksgiving Day
Wednesday, November 11: Remembrance Day
Friday, December 25: Christmas Day

Nunavut planning note: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30) is not listed in Nunavut’s general holiday list under its labour standards framework, so do not assume it is a statutory day off in Nunavut unless your employer provides it.

Yukon

Yukon publishes a clear statutory holiday list with dates for 2026, including National Indigenous Peoples Day and Discovery Day:

Thursday, January 1: New Year’s Day
Friday, April 3: Good Friday
Monday, May 18: Victoria Day
Sunday, June 21: National Indigenous Peoples Day
Wednesday, July 1: Canada Day
Monday, August 17: Discovery Day
Monday, September 7: Labour Day
Wednesday, September 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Monday, October 12: Thanksgiving Day
Wednesday, November 11: Remembrance Day
Friday, December 25: Christmas Day

Statutory holidays in Canada are simple on the surface, but the details that matter for real planning are provincial and territorial differences, “optional” holidays, and weekend substitution rules.

If you only want the safest universal planning anchors, start with the 5 holidays that are paid in every jurisdiction: New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, Labour Day, and Christmas Day. Then layer in your province or territory’s additional statutory holidays to map out your true long weekend calendar.

For 2026 specifically, the best planning opportunities come from the Monday holidays in February, May, August (in many places), September, and October, plus the Friday Christmas Day setup that can turn into a four-day break for workers whose rules or contracts provide an in-lieu Boxing Day day off.

Frequently asked questions for 2026

Is Family Day a statutory holiday in Ontario?

Yes, Family Day is a statutory (public) holiday in Ontario. It is observed on the third Monday in February, and most provincially regulated employees are entitled to the day off with public holiday pay, provided they meet eligibility requirements (e.g., worked the required hours before/after the holiday).

Is the first Monday in August a statutory holiday everywhere?

No,, it is statutory in some provinces (for example, B.C. and Saskatchewan and New Brunswick), optional in Alberta, and commonly observed but not required in Ontario.

If a holiday falls on a weekend, do you automatically get Monday off?

Not automatically. Many workplaces provide an “in lieu” day, but the exact rule depends on your jurisdiction, whether you are federally regulated, and your employment contract or collective agreement. The Canada Labour Code explicitly addresses substitutions for certain general holidays when they fall on non-working days.

Gagandeep Kaur Sekhon

Gagandeep Kaur Sekhon moved to Canada in 2010 on a study visa. She navigated through the ups and downs of her student life and gained her permanent residency in 2015. Today, she is a proud Canadian citizen residing in Calgary, Alberta. She is mother of 2 beautiful daughters and making her difference through writing and guidance at INC – Immigration News Canada.