Canadian Thanksgiving 2026 is on Monday, October 12, 2026. It always falls on the second Monday in October, exactly 45 days before American Thanksgiving, which is Thursday, November 26, 2026.
Thanksgiving Day (Action de grâce in Quebec) is a national holiday in Canada, but whether you get a paid day off depends on your province or territory and on whether your employer is federally regulated. This guide lists the dates through 2030, explains why Canada celebrates in October, shows where the day is a statutory holiday, and compares it with the American holiday.
Canadian Thanksgiving 2026 and future dates
| Year | Canadian Thanksgiving | US Thanksgiving |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Monday, October 12, 2026 | Thursday, November 26, 2026 |
| 2027 | Monday, October 11, 2027 | Thursday, November 25, 2027 |
| 2028 | Monday, October 9, 2028 | Thursday, November 23, 2028 |
| 2029 | Monday, October 8, 2029 | Thursday, November 22, 2029 |
| 2030 | Monday, October 14, 2030 | Thursday, November 28, 2030 |
The second Monday in October can only fall between October 8 and 14, and the fourth Thursday in November can only fall between November 22 and 28. Because October has 31 days, the two always line up the same way: the American holiday comes 45 days after the Canadian one every year. See the full list of 2026 public holidays on the Canada holiday calendar, and look ahead with the 2027 Canadian holidays.
Why Canada celebrates Thanksgiving in October
The short answer is the harvest. Canada’s growing season ends earlier than most of the United States, and the date Parliament settled on in 1957 describes the day as one of thanks “for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed.” The date took a long time to settle:
- 1578: Martin Frobisher’s expedition held a service of thanks in what is now Nunavut, often cited as the first European thanksgiving in North America.
- 1872: the first Thanksgiving after Confederation, held on April 5 to mark the Prince of Wales’s recovery from illness.
- 1879: the first annual Thanksgiving, on Thursday, November 6. Parliament then chose a date each year.
- 1921 to 1930: Thanksgiving and Armistice Day were celebrated together on the Monday of the week of November 11.
- 1931: November 11 became Remembrance Day on its own, and Thanksgiving moved back to October.
- 1957: a proclamation fixed Thanksgiving on the second Monday in October.
These dates come from The Canadian Encyclopedia. The American holiday has a separate history; our guide to why US Thanksgiving is on a Thursday covers it.
Where Canadian Thanksgiving is a statutory holiday
Each province and territory sets its own employment standards, so “stat holiday” status varies. The table summarizes the general rule; your employment contract or collective agreement can give you more.
| Jurisdiction | Paid statutory holiday? |
|---|---|
| Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan | Yes |
| Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon | Yes |
| Federally regulated workplaces (banks, airlines, telecom, federal public service, and others) | Yes, one of 10 general holidays under the Canada Labour Code |
| New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island | No, not a required paid holiday |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | No, not one of the paid public holidays under the Labour Standards Act (provincial government staff do get the day) |
Sources: the Government of Canada page on federal general holidays, the Newfoundland and Labrador 2026 paid holidays list, and The Canadian Encyclopedia for the provincial picture. In the Atlantic provinces many employers close anyway, but they aren’t required to give a paid day off. If you work in a province where it is a statutory holiday and you are asked to work, holiday pay rules apply; check your province’s employment standards office for the exact formula.
What’s open and closed
- Canada Post: closed, with no mail collection or delivery. Some post office counters inside private retailers keep the host store’s hours.
- Federal government offices: closed. The Canada Revenue Agency lists Thanksgiving Day, Monday, October 12, 2026, among its public holidays.
- Banks: banks are federally regulated employers and Thanksgiving is a general holiday for their staff, so expect most branches to be closed and transfers to process on the next business day. Check with your bank.
- Stores: retail opening rules vary by province and municipality. Some stores close and others open with shorter hours, so check before you go.
Across the border, Monday, October 12, 2026 is also Columbus Day in the United States, so US federal offices, post offices and most banks are closed too. It’s a busy weekend for cross-border travel in both directions.
Canadian vs. American Thanksgiving
| Canada | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Rule | Second Monday in October | Fourth Thursday in November |
| Possible dates | October 8–14 | November 22–28 |
| 2026 date | Monday, October 12 | Thursday, November 26 |
| Fixed by | 1957 proclamation | 1941 act of Congress |
| Usual weekend | Three days (Saturday to Monday) | Four days for many workers (Thursday to Sunday) |
| Status | Statutory in most provinces and territories | Federal holiday |
Because the Canadian holiday is on a Monday, many families hold the big meal on the Saturday or Sunday and use Monday for travel home. The American version, on a Thursday, leads straight into Black Friday. To count down to the US date, use days until Thanksgiving.
Planning the long weekend
The 2026 long weekend runs from Saturday, October 10 to Monday, October 12. If you send money or documents across the border that week, remember that both countries’ banks are closed on the Monday, so a transfer started on Friday may not arrive until Tuesday, October 13. Anything due “within five business days” of the weekend moves by a day as well; the 5 business days calculator shows the new date. For the US side, see days until Columbus Day.
Frequently asked questions
When is Canadian Thanksgiving 2026?
Monday, October 12, 2026. It is always the second Monday in October.
Is Canadian Thanksgiving a statutory holiday everywhere in Canada?
No. It is a paid statutory holiday in most provinces and all three territories, and for federally regulated employees, but not a required paid holiday in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland and Labrador.
Why is Canadian Thanksgiving earlier than American Thanksgiving?
Canada’s harvest ends earlier, and since 1957 the holiday has been fixed on the second Monday in October. US Thanksgiving was set on the fourth Thursday in November by a 1941 law.
Is Canadian Thanksgiving always on the same day as Columbus Day?
Yes. Both holidays fall on the second Monday in October, so they always share a date.
Is mail delivered on Thanksgiving in Canada?
No. Canada Post doesn’t collect or deliver mail on Thanksgiving Day, and its own post offices are closed.