Canadian Thanksgiving 2026
Share a harvest meal on Canadian Thanksgiving! The holiday falls on the second Monday of October — earlier than U.S. Thanksgiving in November — and it is Canada’s long weekend for family dinners, autumn travel, and thanks for the harvest.
About Canadian Thanksgiving
History & origins
Canadian Thanksgiving is observed on the second Monday in October. Harvest thanksgivings and community meals have deep roots among Indigenous peoples and among European settlers in what is now Canada. An annual national Thanksgiving holiday has been proclaimed in Canada since 1879, though the calendar date shifted for decades.
For a time after the First World War, Thanksgiving was tied to Armistice observances in November. In 1931 Remembrance Day was set apart on November 11, and Thanksgiving returned to autumn dates set by proclamation. On January 31, 1957, a federal proclamation permanently appointed the second Monday in October as the day of general thanksgiving for the harvest.
It is a statutory holiday in most provinces and territories. It is distinct from the United States’ Thanksgiving, which is the fourth Thursday in November.
Why it matters
The earlier date lines up with harvest timing in much of Canada and gives the country its own identity separate from the American November holiday. For travellers and retailers it is a major October long weekend — often the last busy cottage weekend before winter close-up.
How to celebrate
Cook or share a seasonal meal — turkey is common, but regional harvest foods count just as much. Visit family or friends for the long weekend. Take a fall walk, attend a local harvest festival, or volunteer with a food bank. If you are comparing calendars with U.S. relatives, remember Canada’s date is the second Monday of October, not late November.
Facts
- Canadian Thanksgiving is the second Monday of October
- An annual national Thanksgiving has been observed in Canada since 1879
- A January 31, 1957 proclamation permanently fixed the second Monday in October
- Remembrance Day (November 11) is a separate holiday; the two were once calendar-linked
- U.S. Thanksgiving is a different holiday on the fourth Thursday in November
Upcoming dates
- Monday, October 12, 2026
- Monday, October 11, 2027
- Monday, October 9, 2028
- Monday, October 8, 2029
- Monday, October 14, 2030
Frequently asked questions
When is Canadian Thanksgiving in 2026?
Canadian Thanksgiving in 2026 falls on Monday, October 12, 2026.
Is today Canadian Thanksgiving?
No. Canadian Thanksgiving in 2026 falls on Monday, October 12, 2026, not today.
What is Canadian Thanksgiving?
It is Canada’s autumn harvest holiday on the second Monday of October, marked with family meals, travel, and thanks for the season’s harvest.
Who started Canadian Thanksgiving?
Harvest thanksgivings predate Confederation. The modern fixed date comes from a 1957 federal proclamation setting the second Monday in October; annual national observances go back to 1879.
How do you celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving?
A simple way is a shared harvest meal and time with family or friends. Many people also travel for the long weekend, enjoy fall outdoors, or support a local food charity.
Is Canadian Thanksgiving an official holiday?
Yes. It is a statutory holiday in most Canadian provinces and territories. It is not the same date or holiday as U.S. Thanksgiving.
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