Ontario has 9 statutory holidays in 2026 for most workers covered by the Employment Standards Act (ESA).
Below is the full list of dates, the 2026 long weekends, and the common days people mistake for stat holidays.
Quick answer:
- Total Ontario stat holidays (2026): 9
- Most useful long weekends: Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas
- Not usually stat holidays: Civic Holiday, Easter Monday, Remembrance Day
- Boxing Day 2026: Saturday (Dec 26) — often observed on Monday
Ontario Stat Holidays 2026
| Ontario “stat holiday” | 2026 date | Day of week | Long weekend? |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Jan 1, 2026 | Thu | No |
| Family Day | Feb 16, 2026 | Mon | Yes |
| Good Friday | Apr 3, 2026 | Fri | Yes |
| Victoria Day | May 18, 2026 | Mon | Yes |
| Canada Day | Jul 1, 2026 | Wed | No |
| Labour Day | Sep 7, 2026 | Mon | Yes |
| Thanksgiving Day | Oct 12, 2026 | Mon | Yes |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25, 2026 | Fri | Yes |
| Boxing Day | Dec 26, 2026 | Sat | Often “observed” Monday for Mon–Fri workers |
Ontario long weekends in 2026
These are the key long weekends most people plan around:
- Christmas: Dec 25–27 (Fri–Sun)
- Family Day: Feb 14–16 (Sat–Mon)
- Good Friday: Apr 3–5 (Fri–Sun)
- Victoria Day: May 16–18 (Sat–Mon)
- Labour Day: Sep 5–7 (Sat–Mon)
- Thanksgiving: Oct 10–12 (Sat–Mon)
Which days are NOT Ontario stat holidays?
Many people confuse “days off” with official ESA holidays.
| Type | Examples | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario stat holidays | Family Day, Good Friday, Christmas | Usually includes public holiday pay |
| Common days off (not ESA stat holidays) | Civic Holiday, Easter Monday, Remembrance Day | Often given off, but not required by ESA |
| Federal holidays | Truth and Reconciliation Day (Sept 30) | Applies mainly to federal jobs |
How public holiday pay works in Ontario
Most employees covered by the ESA are entitled to public holiday pay for the 9 holidays.
The basic holiday pay formula
A widely used Ontario approach is:
- Add up regular wages earned in the 4 work weeks before the week of the public holiday
- Add any vacation pay payable during that same 4-week window
- Divide by 20
That result is your public holiday pay amount.
Example
Say you earned:
- Regular wages in the prior 4 work weeks: $2,000
- Vacation pay payable in that window: $80
Holiday pay estimate:So your public holiday pay would be about $104 for that holiday.
Two practical tips:
- “Regular wages” generally means your base pay (not overtime premiums).
- If your schedule is irregular (part-time, casual, rotating shifts), your holiday pay can look “weird” compared to an 8-hour day — because it’s based on prior earnings.
Holiday pay calculations often confuse people because they don’t match an 8-hour shift—our Ontario vacation pay calculator can help you estimate pay on weeks with a public holiday.
If you work on a stat holiday
Common outcomes:
- Public holiday pay + premium pay (often 1.5×)
OR - Regular pay + substitute day off with holiday pay
This depends on your job and agreements.
Read: If you want a quick estimate of what your take-home pay could look like around a stat week, run the numbers in our Ontario paycheque calculator.
The “last and first” rule
To qualify for holiday pay, you usually must:
- Work your last scheduled shift before the holiday
- Work your first scheduled shift after the holiday
Unless you have a valid reason (like illness).
This is one of the most common reasons people miss stat pay.
Read: If you’re new to Ontario and starting a job, set up direct deposit early—see how to open a bank account in Ontario
2026 planning tips (students + hourly workers)
- Most useful long weekends: Family Day (Feb 16), Victoria Day (May 18), Labour Day (Sep 7), Thanksgiving (Oct 12).
- Good Friday (Apr 3): Many schools and some workplaces close. Easter Monday (Apr 6) is not an Ontario stat holiday for most jobs, even if your friends have it off.
- Christmas 2026: Christmas is Friday, Boxing Day is Saturday — if you’re Mon–Fri, ask early which day your workplace will treat as the Boxing Day substitute.
Read: “If you’re working part-time while in school, here’s how stat holidays typically play out with irregular shifts in working while studying in Ontario.
Ontario stat holidays 2026 FAQs
How many stat holidays are there in Ontario?
There are 9 statutory holidays for most ESA-covered employees.
Is Civic Holiday (August) a statutory holiday in Ontario?
For most ESA-covered jobs, no. Many employers give it off, but it’s typically treated as an employer policy day, not an ESA public holiday.
Is Truth and Reconciliation Day a stat holiday in Ontario?
It is a federal holiday and usually applies only to federally regulated jobs.
If a stat holiday falls on my day off, do I lose it?
No. You usually get a substitute day off or holiday pay.
Do I get both Christmas and Boxing Day?
Yes, both are on the Ontario stat holiday list, though Boxing Day may be observed differently if it falls on a weekend.
Last updated: March 30, 2026
