9 Statutory Holidays
Ontario Public Holidays
View Ontario public holidays 2026, including Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. Covers ESA statutory holidays for Ontario workers.
1 Ontario-only Day
1 Observed Date
Ontario Public Holidays 2026
Switch between the detailed list and month-by-month calendar view.
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type | ESA note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Thursday | New Year's Day | - | |
| February 16, 2026 | Monday | Family Day | Third Monday in February. Ontario-specific statutory holiday. | |
| April 3, 2026 | Friday | Good Friday | - | |
| May 18, 2026 | Monday | Victoria Day | - | |
| July 1, 2026 | Wednesday | Canada Day | - | |
| September 7, 2026 | Monday | Labour Day | - | |
| October 12, 2026 | Monday | Thanksgiving | - | |
| December 25, 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day | - | |
| December 28, 2026 | Monday | Boxing Day | December 26, 2026 |
Data from ontario.ca – Public Holidays, canada-holidays.ca – Ontario Last updated June 17, 2026
January
- New Year's Day Thursday
February
- Family Day Monday
March
No holidays this month.
April
- Good Friday Friday
May
- Victoria Day Monday
June
No holidays this month.
July
- Canada Day Wednesday
August
No holidays this month.
September
- Labour Day Monday
October
- Thanksgiving Monday
November
No holidays this month.
December
- Christmas Day Friday
- Boxing Day Monday · observed date
Local public holiday notes
Use these notes to understand what makes Ontario different from the national Canada overview. View Canada overview
Family Day
Family Day on Monday February 16 is Ontario's most distinctive statutory holiday under the Employment Standards Act. It does not exist in Quebec, Nova Scotia, or Newfoundland, which is a key reason users search for Ontario public holidays specifically rather than the national Canada overview.
Boxing Day
Ontario is one of the few Canadian provinces to list Boxing Day as a statutory holiday. In 2026 Boxing Day falls on Saturday December 26, so the observed statutory holiday is Monday December 28.
Civic Holiday
The first Monday in August is widely observed as a day off in Ontario and is sometimes called the Civic Holiday, but it is not a statutory holiday under the Employment Standards Act. Employers are not required to give it as a paid day off.
Understanding Ontario Holidays
ESA Statutory Holidays
Ontario public holidays 2026 are governed by the Employment Standards Act (ESA). The Ontario public holidays 2026 list contains 9 statutory holidays that all qualifying employees are entitled to as paid days off. Employers covered by the ESA must pay public holiday pay for each Ontario public holiday or provide a substitute day off under the rules set by the Ministry of Labour. The ESA is the definitive source for confirming which dates count as Ontario public holidays 2026.
Key Differences from Other Provinces
Ontario public holidays 2026 include Family Day and Boxing Day, which are not statutory holidays everywhere in Canada. On the other hand, Ontario does not observe Remembrance Day, Easter Monday, or Civic Holiday as Ontario public holidays under the ESA. These differences are the main reason an Ontario-specific page gives more accurate planning information than the federal Canada list — the Ontario public holidays 2026 count and dates differ meaningfully from BC, Quebec, and most other provinces.
Planning Use
Use this Ontario public holidays 2026 list for payroll cutoffs, leave approvals, trading hour planning, and roster scheduling. For businesses with employees in multiple provinces, confirm the statutory holiday list for each location because the Ontario public holidays 2026 ESA list differs from BC, Quebec, and other provinces.
FAQ
How many Ontario public holidays are there in 2026?
There are 9 statutory holidays in Ontario in 2026 under the Employment Standards Act: New Year's Day, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day (observed Monday December 28).
What are the Ontario public holidays 2026 dates?
The 9 Ontario statutory holidays in 2026 are: New Year's Day (Jan 1), Family Day (Feb 16), Good Friday (Apr 3), Victoria Day (May 18), Canada Day (Jul 1), Labour Day (Sep 7), Thanksgiving (Oct 12), Christmas Day (Dec 25), and Boxing Day observed (Dec 28).
Is Family Day a statutory holiday in Ontario in 2026?
Yes. Family Day on Monday February 16, 2026 is a statutory holiday in Ontario under the Employment Standards Act. Qualifying employees are entitled to the day as a paid public holiday or a substitute day off.
Is the Civic Holiday a statutory holiday in Ontario?
No. The first Monday in August is widely observed as a day off in Ontario and is commonly called the Civic Holiday or Simcoe Day in Toronto, but it is not a statutory holiday under the Employment Standards Act. Employers are not legally required to give employees a paid day off.
Is Remembrance Day a statutory holiday in Ontario in 2026?
No. Remembrance Day on November 11 is not a statutory holiday in Ontario under the Employment Standards Act. Federal employees and workers in some provincially regulated industries may still have the day off, but most Ontario workers are not entitled to it as a paid statutory holiday.
Does Boxing Day 2026 fall on a weekend in Ontario?
Yes. Boxing Day falls on Saturday December 26, 2026. The observed statutory holiday is Monday December 28, 2026. Ontario employers must treat December 28 as the statutory Boxing Day for ESA purposes.
How do Ontario public holidays differ from BC public holidays in 2026?
Ontario has 9 statutory holidays while BC has 11. BC observes National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Sep 30) and Remembrance Day (Nov 11), which Ontario does not. BC also calls its August holiday BC Day while Ontario does not have it as a statutory holiday at all. Ontario includes Boxing Day, which BC does not observe as a statutory holiday.
Who does the Ontario public holidays 2026 list apply to?
The Ontario public holidays 2026 list applies to employees covered by the provincial Employment Standards Act. This includes most workers in Ontario except those in federally regulated industries such as banking, federal government, telecommunications, and interprovincial transportation, who follow the federal statutory holiday schedule rather than the Ontario public holidays 2026 ESA list.