Public Holidays in Canada in [2026]

Are you living in Canada or going on holiday there? Here’s a full guide to the public holidays you need to know in 2026, plus the next two years for easier planning.

Whether you live in Canada or are just visiting, it helps to note these dates in advance. Canada does not have one identical holiday calendar for the whole country. Federal holidays, CRA-recognized public holidays, and province or territory holidays overlap, but they are not exactly the same everywhere. The CRA’s holiday page explicitly notes that provinces and territories have their own unique holidays.

How many public holidays are there in Canada?

For federally regulated employees, the Canada Labour Code provides 10 general holidays: New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.

For tax and payment purposes, the CRA recognizes a broader public-holiday calendar that also includes dates such as Easter Monday, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day in Quebec, and Civic Holiday outside Quebec. The CRA’s 2026 list contains 13 public holidays for due-date purposes.

The most important public holidays in Canada

The most widely observed holidays across Canada are New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and in many places Remembrance Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Beyond that, each province and territory has its own extra dates, especially in February, June, August, and November.

Public Holidays in Canada in 2026

The table below shows the main Canada-wide and CRA-recognized public holidays for 2026. Because Canada is regional, this is the most practical national table to start with.

Important regional holidays in Canada in 2026

Canada’s regional calendar is where the biggest differences appear. Based on the provincial and territorial pattern reflected in your reference list and current common listings, these are some of the most important extra regional dates to watch in 2026.

What are the public holidays in Canada?

New Year’s Day

New Year’s Day on 1 January is one of Canada’s federal general holidays and also appears on the CRA holiday calendar.

Good Friday

Good Friday on 3 April 2026 is a federal general holiday and one of the most widely observed public holidays in Canada.

Easter Monday

Easter Monday is not one of the 10 federal general holidays, but the CRA recognizes it as a public holiday for due-date purposes, and some provinces and territories observe it.

Victoria Day

Victoria Day on 18 May 2026 is one of Canada’s federal general holidays and is observed in most regions, though Quebec uses National Patriots’ Day on the same date.

Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day

Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day on 24 June is recognized by the CRA as a Quebec-only public holiday.

Canada Day

Canada Day on 1 July 2026 is one of the main nationwide holidays and one of the federal general holidays.

Civic Holiday

Civic Holiday on 3 August 2026 is recognized by the CRA outside Quebec, but the exact name varies by province or territory, such as Heritage Day, Natal Day, or British Columbia Day.

Labour Day

Labour Day on 7 September 2026 is one of the federal general holidays and is observed across Canada.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

This holiday falls on 30 September each year. It honours First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Survivors, their families, and communities, and it was created in response to Call to Action 80 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day on 12 October 2026 is a federal general holiday and is widely observed, though not equally in every province.

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day on 11 November 2026 is one of the federal general holidays, but whether it is a statutory day off depends on the province or territory.

Christmas Day and Boxing Day

Christmas Day on 25 December 2026 is a federal general holiday. Boxing Day on 26 December 2026 is also a federal general holiday, but statutory treatment varies across provinces.

Public Holidays in Canada in 2027

The official federal lists for 2027 vary by source and purpose, but the currently published Canada holiday calendars already show these main nationwide dates. For Canada-wide planning, they are the key dates to watch.

Public Holidays in Canada in 2028

The same applies to 2028: the table below is the practical national view based on currently published Canada holiday calendars. It is useful for planning, while province-specific calendars may later add or label regional days differently.

Conclusion

Canada’s holiday calendar is easiest to understand when you separate federal holidays from provincial and territorial holidays. For 2026, the core dates are clear, but anyone planning work, travel, or paperwork should still check the province or territory involved, because February holidays, Civic Holiday names, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, and Remembrance Day all vary by region.

Last Updated on 04/05/2026