Statutory holidays in Canada are not the same in every province. While New Year’s Day, Good Friday and Christmas apply everywhere, holidays like Family Day, Victoria Day and Thanksgiving depend on where you work. Below are the exact 2026 dates for every statutory holiday and which provinces observe them. If you work on a stat holiday or want to know how holiday pay shows up on your cheque, see our statutory holiday pay guide. To estimate exactly what you’re owed, try our statutory holiday pay calculator.
2026 Statutory Holiday Dates by Province
| Holiday | 2026 Date | Observed In |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thursday, January 1 | All provinces and territories |
| Family Day / Louis Riel Day (MB) / Islander Day (PEI) / Heritage Day (NS) | Monday, February 16 | AB, BC, MB, NB, NS, ON, PEI, SK |
| Good Friday | Friday, April 3 | All provinces and territories |
| Easter Monday | Monday, April 6 | Quebec (employer may substitute for Good Friday); federal |
| Victoria Day / National Patriots’ Day (QC) | Monday, May 18 | AB, BC, MB, NT, NU, ON, QC, SK, YT; federal |
| National Indigenous Peoples Day | Sunday, June 21 | NT, YT |
| Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day | Wednesday, June 24 | Quebec |
| Canada Day | Wednesday, July 1 | All provinces and territories |
| Nunavut Day | Thursday, July 9 | Nunavut |
| Civic Holiday (BC Day, Heritage Day, NB Day, SK Day) | Monday, August 3 | BC, NB, NT, NU, SK (optional in some provinces) |
| Labour Day | Monday, September 7 | All provinces and territories |
| National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | Wednesday, September 30 | Federal, BC, MB, NT, NU, PEI, YT |
| Thanksgiving | Monday, October 12 | AB, BC, MB, NT, NU, ON, QC, SK, YT; federal |
| Remembrance Day | Wednesday, November 11 | AB, BC, NB, NL, NT, NU, PEI, SK, YT; federal |
| Christmas Day | Friday, December 25 | All provinces and territories |
| Boxing Day | Saturday, December 26 | Ontario; federal |
Provincial Differences Worth Knowing
Quebec does not observe Victoria Day; it celebrates National Patriots’ Day (Fete des Patriotes) on the same Monday. Quebec’s employer can also choose Easter Monday instead of Good Friday. The Atlantic provinces each put their own stamp on the third Monday in February: Islander Day in PEI, Heritage Day in Nova Scotia, while New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador do not observe it at all. Thanksgiving is not a statutory holiday in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI or Newfoundland and Labrador. If you are unsure about your province, check our Ontario, BC or Quebec paycheck pages for province-specific context.
When a Holiday Falls on a Weekend
In 2026, National Indigenous Peoples Day falls on a Sunday (June 21) and Boxing Day on a Saturday (December 26). In most jurisdictions, when a statutory holiday lands on a weekend, eligible employees get a substitute day off, usually the next working day, or holiday pay in lieu. The exact rule varies by province, so confirm with your provincial employment standards.
How Stat Holidays Affect Your Pay
Eligible employees generally receive their regular daily wage for a statutory holiday without working. If you work the holiday, you are typically entitled to premium pay, commonly 1.5 times your regular rate, on top of holiday pay, though the formula differs by province. Most provinces also require you to have worked a minimum period and to work your scheduled shifts before and after the holiday to qualify. Run your numbers through our free paycheck calculator to see how holiday pay changes your take-home for that period.
How Statutory Holiday Pay Is Calculated
The formula depends on your province, but the idea is the same everywhere: holiday pay reflects what you normally earn. In Ontario, most employees receive their regular wages from the four work weeks before the holiday, divided by 20. In British Columbia, it is total wages in the 30 calendar days before the holiday divided by the number of days worked in that period. Other provinces use their own versions of the same averaging concept.
Two details trip people up. First, overtime and bonuses are usually excluded from the calculation, so holiday pay is based on regular wages. Second, you generally need to have worked your scheduled shifts immediately before and after the holiday to qualify, with exceptions for illness and authorized leave. Our statutory holiday pay guide walks through the full calculation with examples.
Working on a Statutory Holiday
If your employer needs you on the holiday itself, most provinces give you a choice: premium pay plus a substitute day off, or premium pay for the hours worked with your regular holiday pay on top. Premium pay is typically 1.5 times your regular wage. The exact options and the deadline for taking the substitute day vary by province, so check your local employment standards if the holiday falls on a scheduled workday.
Substitute and Make-Up Holidays
When a statutory holiday lands on a weekend or a day you would not work anyway, many provinces allow a substitute holiday on a nearby workday. The substitute day carries the same rights as the original: qualifying employees get the day off with holiday pay, or premium pay if they work it. Employers and employees can also agree in writing to move the observance, which is common in workplaces that operate seven days a week.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many statutory holidays are there in Canada in 2026?
It depends on your province. Most employees get between 9 and 12 statutory holidays per year. Federally regulated workers get 12.
Is Thanksgiving a statutory holiday in Ontario?
Yes. Thanksgiving (Monday, October 12, 2026) is a statutory holiday in Ontario, as well as in Alberta, BC, Manitoba, Quebec, Saskatchewan and the territories. It is not a stat holiday in the Atlantic provinces.
Is Boxing Day a statutory holiday in Canada?
Only in Ontario and for federally regulated workplaces. In other provinces it is not a statutory holiday, though many employers give it off.
Do I get paid for statutory holidays in Canada?
Eligible employees receive statutory holiday pay, usually their regular daily wage, without working. Eligibility rules vary by province and often include minimum employment periods.
What happens if I work on a statutory holiday?
You are generally entitled to premium pay, commonly 1.5 times your regular hourly rate, plus statutory holiday pay. The exact formula is set by your province’s employment standards.
How is holiday pay calculated in Ontario?
Divide your regular wages from the four work weeks before the holiday by 20. Overtime and bonuses are generally excluded from the calculation.
Do I get holiday pay if the holiday falls on my day off?
In most provinces you still qualify for holiday pay, and your employer may designate a substitute day off. If you work the substitute day, premium pay rules apply.
Last updated: October 14, 2026 • Author: Paycheck Calculator Team