There may be 365 days in a year, but that does not mean you have to work all of them. Depending on the type of job you have, who your employer is, and where you live, you get scheduled days off each week plus public holidays to rest on.
As a country, Canada observes a handful of statutory holidays. On top of that, each province and territory sets its own list of public holidays that eligible employees can take off. Here is how it all adds up in 2026, both nationally and where you live.
Key Points
1. 2026 has 365 days and 104 weekend days, which leaves 261 Monday-to-Friday weekdays.
2. Once you subtract statutory holidays, most Canadians have between 250 and 255 working days in 2026.
3. The exact number depends on your province or territory, since each recognizes a different set of public holidays.
4. When a holiday falls on a weekend, you usually still get a day off, often the next working day.
How Many Working Days Are In A Year In Canada?
There are 104 weekend days (Saturdays and Sundays) in 2026. A standard 5-day workweek from Monday to Friday leaves 261 working days. That is the total number of days in the year (365, since 2026 is not a leap year) minus the 104 weekend days.
Canada recognizes up to 11 public holidays a year. Federally regulated workers are not required to work on these days, and neither are many other employees, though that depends on the province you live and work in. Some holidays fall on the same date every year, while others move around.
In 2026, most statutory holidays fall on a weekday, so for a federally regulated worker that leaves about 251 working days. When a holiday lands on a weekend, you still get the day off, usually observed on the first weekday after it, and Boxing Day is one such case in 2026, since December 26 falls on a Saturday.
The 2026 Working Year At A Glance
Based on the 2026 calendar and provincial and territorial holiday schedules.
Working Days By Province And Territory In 2026
The number of working days shifts from one region to the next because each province and territory recognizes a different set of statutory holidays. Here is how they compare for 2026.
| Province Or Territory | Statutory Holidays | Working Days (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (federally regulated) | 11 | 251 |
| British Columbia | 11 | 250 |
| Alberta | 9 | 252 |
| Saskatchewan | 10 | 251 |
| Manitoba | 8 | 253 |
| Ontario | 9 | 253 |
| Quebec | 8 | 253 |
| New Brunswick | 8 | 253 |
| Nova Scotia | 6 | 255 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 6 | 255 |
| Prince Edward Island | 8 | 253 |
| Northwest Territories | 11 | 251 |
| Yukon | 11 | 251 |
| Nunavut | 10 | 251 |
These figures count the statutory holidays that fall on a weekday in 2026. When a holiday lands on a weekend, most employees still receive a substitute day off, which can lower the effective total by one.
Why The Number Of Working Days Varies
A few things move the total up or down, so it is normal to see slightly different numbers depending on the source:
- Your province or territory. This is the biggest factor. Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador recognize only six statutory holidays, so they have the most working days, while British Columbia recognizes 11 and has the fewest.
- Whether a holiday falls on a weekend. A holiday that lands on a Saturday or Sunday does not shorten the Monday-to-Friday workweek, though you typically get a substitute weekday off instead.
- Whether you are salaried or paid hourly. Salaried employees are usually paid the same regardless of the number of working days in a month, while hourly workers feel the difference directly.
- Your specific employer and contract. Some employers offer more paid days off than the legal minimum, and part-time or casual schedules change the math again.
What Are The Federal Statutory Holidays In Canada?
In 2026, the 11 statutory holidays for federally regulated workers are:
- New Year’s Day
- Good Friday
- Easter Monday
- Victoria Day
- Canada Day
- Labour Day
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- Thanksgiving
- Remembrance Day
- Christmas Day
- Boxing Day
Full-time employees in the federal sector are paid for all of these. A holiday that falls on a worker’s day of rest is moved to the first scheduled working day after it. Casual or term employees working full-time hours generally have to work the shift right before or after a statutory holiday to qualify for holiday pay.
Across the country, all employees, both federal and private sector, are entitled to paid time off on New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, Labour Day, and Christmas Day. The remaining holidays may or may not be days off depending on the province or territory, and any specifics are set out in your employment contract.
Learn more: Statutory holidays for federally regulated employees on the Government of Canada website.
How Many Working Days In A Year In BC?
BC has 11 provincial statutory holidays:
- New Year’s Day
- Family Day
- Good Friday
- Victoria Day
- Canada Day
- BC Day
- Labour Day
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- Thanksgiving Day
- Remembrance Day
- Christmas Day
BC does not recognize Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, or Boxing Day as statutory holidays. Taking its 11 holidays into account, that leaves 250 working days in BC for 2026.
How do holidays affect pay? Employees in BC receive statutory holiday pay when they do not work on a statutory holiday. It is calculated by taking your total wages (not including overtime) and dividing it by the number of days you worked in the previous 30 days. If you do work on a statutory holiday, you can receive 1.5 times your regular pay for the hours worked, plus your statutory holiday pay. You can also substitute the holiday for another day if your employer agrees. The BC minimum wage sets the base rate that this holiday pay builds on.
How Many Working Days In A Year In Alberta?
Alberta recognizes nine public holidays:
- New Year’s Day
- Alberta Family Day
- Good Friday
- Victoria Day
- Canada Day
- Labour Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Remembrance Day
- Christmas Day
With all public holidays and weekends accounted for, there are 252 working days in Alberta in 2026.
How do holidays affect pay? If a holiday falls on a regular workday, employees who work it are entitled to their regular pay plus 1.5 times their rate for the hours worked, or their regular pay plus a future day off at their regular rate. If the holiday falls on a day that is not a regular workday, employees who work it get their regular pay plus 1.5 times their rate. Employees who do not work are paid their average daily wage if the holiday falls on a regular workday, but those who do not work on a holiday that falls on a non-workday are not eligible for holiday pay. Hourly workers earn at least the Alberta minimum wage, and holiday pay is calculated from there.
How Many Working Days In A Year In Saskatchewan?
There are 10 statutory holidays each year in Saskatchewan:
- New Year’s Day
- Family Day
- Good Friday
- Victoria Day
- Canada Day
- Saskatchewan Day
- Labour Day
- Thanksgiving
- Remembrance Day
- Christmas Day
With all weekends and statutory holidays taken into account, there are 251 working days in Saskatchewan in 2026.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a statutory holiday for federally regulated employees but is not a public holiday under The Saskatchewan Employment Act, so provincially regulated employers are not required to give the day off. Easter Monday and Boxing Day are also not statutory holidays in Saskatchewan.
How do holidays affect pay? For most employees in the province, public holidays are paid days off. Some employees may be required to work but are paid a special holiday wage: 1.5 times their regular hourly rate plus a regular day’s pay for working a statutory holiday. Those calculations start from your regular hourly rate, which for many workers is the Saskatchewan minimum wage.
How Many Working Days In A Year In Manitoba?
There are eight public holidays in Manitoba:
- New Year’s Day
- Louis Riel Day
- Good Friday
- Victoria Day
- Canada Day
- Labour Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
In 2026, there are 253 working days in Manitoba.
How do holidays affect pay? Most employees are paid general holiday pay whether they work or not. Employers are not required to pay holiday pay for Easter Sunday, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, or Boxing Day, since those are not public holidays in the province. Employees who work on a public holiday receive their regular holiday pay plus 1.5 times their wages for all hours worked. Employees who work the same number of hours every workday receive one average day’s pay as holiday pay, while those whose hours or pay vary have it calculated at 5% of gross pay over the 4-week period before the holiday. For hourly employees, that regular rate is no lower than the Manitoba minimum wage.
How Many Working Days In A Year In Ontario?
Ontario has nine public holidays:
- New Year’s Day
- Family Day
- Good Friday
- Victoria Day
- Canada Day
- Labour Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
- Boxing Day
Taking these into account, there are 253 working days a year in Ontario in 2026. (Boxing Day falls on a Saturday in 2026, so it does not shorten the Monday-to-Friday workweek, though eligible employees still receive a substitute day off.)
How do holidays affect pay? Most eligible employees can take the holiday off and receive public holiday pay when it falls on a working day. Otherwise, they can work the holiday and be paid one of two ways: public holiday pay plus premium pay with no substitute day off, or regular pay plus a substitute day off for which they receive public holiday pay. The Ontario minimum wage is the base rate these holiday-pay calculations build on.
How Many Working Days In A Year In Quebec?
Quebec has eight public holidays a year:
- New Year’s Day
- Good Friday or Easter Monday (at the employer’s discretion)
- National Patriots’ Day
- Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day
- Canada Day
- Labour Day
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas Day
Taking these into account, there are 253 working days in Quebec in 2026.
How do holidays affect pay? Remembrance Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation are not statutory holidays in Quebec, so employees are not entitled to pay if they do not work those days. Employees in Quebec do not usually work on statutory holidays. Anyone who must work one is entitled to their regular pay for the day, plus either a paid compensatory holiday (taken within three weeks before or after) or an indemnity for the holiday. Hourly workers earn at least the Quebec minimum wage, which is where holiday pay starts from.
How Many Working Days In A Year In New Brunswick?
The following eight days are paid public holidays in New Brunswick:
- New Year’s Day
- Family Day
- Good Friday
- Canada Day
- New Brunswick Day
- Labour Day
- Remembrance Day
- Christmas Day
In 2026, there are 253 working days in New Brunswick.
How do holidays affect pay? All workers in New Brunswick are entitled to their regular day’s pay plus 1.5 times their regular rate for every hour worked on a paid public holiday. Qualified employees who do not work the holiday are entitled to their regular day’s pay for that day. Those amounts start from your regular hourly rate, which for many workers is the New Brunswick minimum wage.
How Many Working Days In A Year In Nova Scotia?
There are six paid holidays in Nova Scotia:
- New Year’s Day
- Nova Scotia Heritage Day (third Monday in February)
- Good Friday
- Canada Day
- Labour Day
- Christmas Day
That leaves 255 working days a year in Nova Scotia in 2026. Under the Nova Scotia Labour Standards Code, Easter Monday, Victoria Day, and Natal Day are not paid holidays.
How do holidays affect pay? Eligible employees given the day off are paid a regular day’s pay for the holiday. If a holiday falls on an employee’s regular day off, they are given a different day off with pay. Qualified employees who work a holiday are paid holiday pay equal to a regular day’s pay plus 1.5 times their regular rate for the hours worked. For hourly employees, that regular rate is no lower than the Nova Scotia minimum wage.
How Many Working Days In A Year In Newfoundland And Labrador?
There are six paid holidays in Newfoundland and Labrador:
- New Year’s Day
- Good Friday
- Memorial Day (Canada Day)
- Labour Day
- Remembrance Day
- Christmas Day
There are 255 working days in the province in 2026. Easter Monday, Thanksgiving, and Boxing Day are not public holidays in Newfoundland and Labrador.
How do holidays affect pay? Employees who work a paid public holiday are entitled to one of the following: twice their regular pay rate for the hours worked, an extra day off with pay within 30 days, or an extra paid vacation day. Employees who do not work a public holiday may receive an average day’s pay if they are entitled to it. The Newfoundland and Labrador minimum wage is the floor those payments build on.
How Many Working Days In A Year In PEI?
In PEI, there are eight paid public holidays:
- New Year’s Day
- Islander Day
- Good Friday
- Canada Day
- Labour Day
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- Remembrance Day
- Christmas Day
There are 253 working days in PEI in 2026.
How do holidays affect pay? Employees who work a public holiday are entitled to either their regular pay for the day plus 1.5 times their regular rate for the hours worked, or their regular rate for the hours worked plus another paid day off. If an employee does not work the paid public holiday, they get a day off with pay on the working day right after the holiday, or on another agreed-upon day. Hourly workers earn at least the PEI minimum wage, and holiday pay is figured from there.
How Many Working Days In A Year In The Northwest Territories?
There are 11 paid holidays in the Northwest Territories:
- New Year’s Day
- Good Friday
- Victoria Day
- National Indigenous Peoples Day
- Canada Day
- First Monday in August
- Labour Day
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- Thanksgiving Day
- Remembrance Day
- Christmas Day
The Northwest Territories has 251 working days in 2026. (National Indigenous Peoples Day falls on a Sunday in 2026, so it does not shorten the Monday-to-Friday workweek.)
How do holidays affect pay? Employees are entitled to paid time off on these holidays, whether or not they fall on a workday. If an employee has the day off, they are entitled to an average day’s pay. If they work a statutory holiday, holiday pay is 1.5 times their regular rate plus an average day’s pay, or they may take another day off in lieu with pay. Those calculations start from your regular hourly rate, which for many workers is the Northwest Territories minimum wage.
How Many Working Days In A Year In Yukon?
In Yukon, there are 11 public holidays:
- New Year’s Day
- Good Friday
- Victoria Day
- National Indigenous Peoples Day
- Canada Day
- Discovery Day
- Labour Day
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- Thanksgiving Day
- Remembrance Day
- Christmas Day
Taking these paid holidays into account, there are 251 working days in Yukon in 2026.
How do holidays affect pay? Employees who work a holiday are entitled to either an overtime rate for the holiday, or their regular rate for the hours worked plus another day off with pay. Employees who do not work the holiday are paid their regular rate. If the holiday falls on a worker’s day off, it is observed on the first working day right after. For hourly employees, that regular rate is no lower than the Yukon minimum wage.
With 365 days in the year and 10 public holidays, there are 251 working days in Nunavut in 2026. The 10 holidays are:
- New Year’s Day
- Good Friday
- Victoria Day
- Canada Day
- Nunavut Day
- First Monday in August
- Labour Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Remembrance Day
- Christmas Day
How do holidays affect pay? Employees who work a holiday are paid their regular day’s pay plus 1.5 times their regular rate for all hours worked, or they can opt for regular pay plus another paid day off. Employees who do not work a holiday are paid a regular day’s pay. The Nunavut minimum wage, the highest in the country, is the base rate this holiday pay builds on.
Final Thoughts
Several things shape exactly how many days you work in a year, from the province or territory you live in to whether you are paid hourly or on salary. As a general rule, though, once you account for weekends and paid public holidays, there are somewhere between 250 and 255 working days in 2026.
Working Days FAQs
There are 261 Monday-to-Friday weekdays in 2026 (365 days minus 104 weekend days). Once you subtract statutory holidays, most Canadians have between 250 and 255 working days, depending on their province or territory. For a federally regulated worker, it is about 251.
Ontario recognizes nine public holidays, which leaves 253 working days in 2026 after weekends and holidays are removed. Boxing Day falls on a Saturday in 2026, so it does not reduce the Monday-to-Friday count, though eligible employees still receive a substitute day off.
A year has 365 days, but a standard Monday-to-Friday schedule works out to 261 weekdays. At five days per week, that is about 52 work weeks (261 divided by 5) before you subtract statutory holidays.
Yes. Statutory holiday pay is considered earnings, so Canadians on Employment Insurance are paid for statutory holidays. That pay is allocated to the week the holiday falls in, which may be before, during, or after a benefit period.
References
- Government of Canada. (2026). Statutory holidays for federally regulated employees. https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/employment-standards/federal-holidays.html
- Provincial and territorial employment standards offices. (2026). General and public holiday rules by jurisdiction.
