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When are the 2026 Statutory Holidays in Canada?

Updated: Apr 1

In Canada, each province has its own list of statutory holidays (also known as "stat holidays") that are recognized and observed across the nation.


These holidays offer employees a break from their work, providing an opportunity for rest, reflection, or celebration.


For employers and candidates working across Food & Beverage Manufacturing, Packaging, Life Sciences, and industrial operations, holiday calendars are more than a scheduling detail. They can affect production planning, staffing coverage, payroll timing, interview scheduling, plant shutdowns, and shipping timelines.


Because Canadian holiday rules vary by province, it is important to review provincial requirements carefully rather than assume every location follows the same schedule. For manufacturers operating across multiple facilities, even one missed holiday difference can create disruptions in workforce planning.


Why 2026 Holiday Planning Matters:


If your business recruits, staffs, or operates in Canada, understanding public and statutory holidays can help you:


  • Plan shift coverage more effectively.

  • Schedule maintenance windows and plant downtime.

  • Avoid payroll and holiday-pay issues.

  • Coordinate interviews and onboarding.

  • Align staffing plans with local labour conditions.


This is especially important in industries with tight production schedules, including food processing, packaging operations, regulated manufacturing, and technical plant leadership.


Whether you're looking to maximize your vacation days, align your recruitment efforts with local holiday schedules, or just curious about the statutory holidays in each province, here's a breakdown of the key statutory holidays across Canada.



Three people in an office review a 2026 Canadian Holiday Schedule chart on the wall. One person points while others discuss.
Plant manager reviewing staffing schedule around Canadian public holidays in manufacturing facility


Stat Holidays in 2026:



Statutory Holidays in Canada. Canadian flag waving with Parliament Hill's clock tower in the background, set against a clear blue sky, evoking national pride.
Statutory Holidays in Canada. Canadian flag waving with Parliament Hill's clock tower in the background

1. Alberta


Alberta shares many stat holidays with other provinces, but it also has a few unique ones. The most important holidays in Alberta are:


  • New Year's Day — January 1

  • Alberta Family Day — February 16 (Third Monday in February)

  • Good Friday — April 3

  • Victoria Day — May 18  (Monday preceding May 25)

  • Canada Day — July 1

  • Heritage Day (First Monday in August)

  • Labour Day — September 7 (First Monday in September)

  • Thanksgiving Day — October 12 (Second Monday in October)

  • Remembrance Day — November 11

  • Christmas Day (December 25)

  • Boxing Day (December 26)


Note: Heritage Day is specific to Alberta, giving residents a chance to celebrate the province’s culture and history.


2. British Columbia


British Columbia shares several holidays with Alberta and other provinces, though it has a few distinctive days as well. These include:


  • New Year's Day — January 1

  • Family Day — February 16 (Third Monday in February)

  • Good Friday — April 3 (Friday before Easter Sunday)

  • Easter Monday (Day after Easter Sunday)

  • Victoria Day — May 18 (Monday preceding May 25)

  • Canada Day — July 1

  • B.C. Day — August 3 (First Monday in August)

  • Labour Day — September 7 (First Monday in September)

  • National Day for Truth and Reconciliation — September 30

  • Thanksgiving Day — October 12 (Second Monday in October)

  • Remembrance Day — November 11

  • Christmas Day — December 25

  • Boxing Day — December 26


Note: BC Day is a holiday unique to British Columbia, celebrating the province’s culture and history.



Man in a hard hat marks a schedule board with a Canadian flag magnet. Color-coded shifts and names are visible in a workshop setting.
Plant manager reviewing staffing schedule around Canadian public holidays in manufacturing facility

3. Statutory Holidays in Ontario


Ontario has many statutory holidays that are shared across Canada. Some notable holidays in Ontario include:


  • New Year's Day — January 1

  • Family Day — February 16 (Third Monday in February)

  • Good Friday — April 3 (Friday before Easter Sunday)

  • Victoria Day — May 18 (Monday preceding May 25)

  • Canada Day — July 1

  • Civic Holiday (First Monday in August)

  • Labour Day — September 7 (First Monday in September)

  • Thanksgiving Day — October 12 (Second Monday in October)

  • Remembrance Day — November 11

  • Christmas Day — December 25

  • Boxing Day — December 26


Note: Ontario also observes Civic Holiday on the first Monday of August, a day for local celebrations and community events.


4. Quebec


Quebec celebrates many statutory holidays, but it also has a few distinctive ones rooted in its French heritage. Quebec statutory holidays in 2026 include:


  • New Year's Day — January 1

  • Day After New Year’s Day  — January 2

  • Good Friday — April 3 (Friday before Easter Sunday)

  • Easter Monday (Day after Easter Sunday)

  • National Patriots' Day — May 18 

  • National Holiday (Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day) — June 24

  • Canada Day — July 1

  • Labour Day — September 7 (First Monday in September)

  • Thanksgiving Day — October 12 (Second Monday in October)

  • Remembrance Day — November 11

  • Christmas Day — December 25

  • Boxing Day — December 26


Note: National Patriots' Day is a uniquely Quebecois holiday that commemorates the 1837-1838 Patriote Rebellions. St. Jean Baptiste Day is also a major cultural celebration for the province.


5. Nova Scotia


Nova Scotia recognizes several key holidays that are shared with other provinces. Here are the most important ones in 2026.


  • New Year's Day — January 1

  • Family Day (Third Monday in February)

  • Good Friday — April 3 (Friday before Easter Sunday)

  • Easter Monday (Day after Easter Sunday)

  • Victoria Day — May 18 (Monday preceding May 25)

  • Canada Day — July 1

  • Natal Day (First Monday in August)

  • Labour Day — September 7 (First Monday in September)

  • Thanksgiving Day — October 12 (Second Monday in October)

  • Remembrance Day — November 11

  • Christmas Day — December 25

  • Boxing Day — December 26


Note: Natal Day is a provincial holiday celebrated in Halifax and other communities, commemorating the founding of Halifax.


6. Manitoba


Manitoba observes a mix of national and provincial holidays. Some of these include:


  • New Year's Day — January 1

  • Louis Riel Day — February 16 (Third Monday in February)

  • Good Friday — April 3 (Friday before Easter Sunday)

  • Victoria Day — May 18 (Monday preceding May 25)

  • Canada Day — July 1

  • Civic Holiday (First Monday in August)

  • Labour Day — September 7 (First Monday in September)

  • Thanksgiving Day — October 12 (Second Monday in October)

  • Remembrance Day — November 11

  • Christmas Day — December 25

  • Boxing Day — December 26


Note: Louis Riel Day is a Manitoba-specific holiday celebrating the Métis leader Louis Riel and the province’s unique history.



Hands holding a desk calendar, marking a date with a red pen. Colorful sticky notes show schedules. A laptop and notepad are in the background.
Recruiter planning candidate interviews around the Canadian provincial holiday calendar

7. Saskatchewan


Saskatchewan has a similar holiday lineup to Alberta and British Columbia but with some provincial distinctions:


  • New Year's Day — January 1

  • Family Day (Third Monday in February)

  • Good Friday — April 3 (Friday before Easter Sunday)

  • Victoria Day — May 18 (Monday preceding May 25)

  • Canada Day — July 1

  • Saskatchewan Day — August 3 (First Monday in August)

  • Labour Day — September 7 (First Monday in September)

  • Thanksgiving Day — October 12 (Second Monday in October)

  • Remembrance Day — November 11

  • Christmas Day — December 25

  • Boxing Day — December 26


Note: Saskatchewan Day is a provincial holiday dedicated to the history and heritage of Saskatchewan.


8. Newfoundland and Labrador


Newfoundland and Labrador has a unique set of statutory holidays that reflect its distinct history:


  • New Year's Day — January 1

  • St. Patrick's Day (March 17)

  • Good Friday — April 3 (Friday before Easter Sunday)

  • Easter Monday (Day after Easter Sunday)

  • St. George's Day (April 23)

  • National Memorial Day — July 1

  • Discovery Day — June 22

  • Regatta Day — First Wednesday in August

  • Labour Day — September 7 (First Monday in September)

  • Thanksgiving Day — October 12 (Second Monday in October)

  • Remembrance Day — November 11

  • Christmas Day — December 25

  • Boxing Day — December 26


Note: Newfoundland and Labrador have several holidays that are not observed in other provinces, including St. George’s Day, Discovery Day, and Regatta Day.


Conclusion


For employers in Food & Beverage Manufacturing, Packaging, Life Sciences, and industrial leadership, understanding provincial holiday differences is essential for smart workforce planning. Recruiting timelines, payroll processing, shift schedules, and plant operations should all be planned with province-specific calendars in mind.


At Top Quality Recruitment, we help employers and candidates navigate hiring decisions with real operational context in mind. If your organization is planning for 2026 hiring and staffing needs, we can help align your talent strategy with the realities of your market.

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