Family Day (Canada) 2026
Take the February long weekend on Family Day! In several Canadian provinces the third Monday in February is a statutory holiday meant to give people time with family in the long stretch between New Year’s and Good Friday.
About Family Day (Canada)
History & origins
Family Day is not a federal holiday. It is a provincial statutory holiday on the third Monday of February in Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick. Alberta created the first Family Day in 1990 under Premier Don Getty, partly to break the long winter gap without a civic holiday. Saskatchewan followed in 2007; Ontario in 2008 (first observed that February after a Dalton McGuinty campaign commitment); British Columbia in 2013 (later aligned to the third Monday); and New Brunswick in 2018.
Other provinces use the same Monday for differently named holidays: Louis Riel Day in Manitoba, Islander Day in Prince Edward Island, and Heritage Day in Nova Scotia. There is no single pan-Canadian Family Day statute.
Why it matters
For millions of Canadians it is the mid-winter statutory break — useful for school calendars, ski trips, and simple time at home. Because the name and legal status are provincial, travellers should not assume every province shuts down on the same premise.
How to celebrate
Spend the day with family or close friends — a meal, a winter outing, or an unhurried day at home. Check whether your province observes Family Day or a differently named Monday holiday. If you work in a federally regulated job, confirm whether the provincial holiday applies to you. Keep plans simple; the point of the holiday is time together, not an elaborate festival.
Facts
- Family Day falls on the third Monday of February in AB, ON, BC, SK, and NB
- Alberta held the first Family Day in 1990
- Ontario’s Family Day was first observed in 2008
- Manitoba marks Louis Riel Day, P.E.I. Islander Day, and Nova Scotia Heritage Day on the same Monday
- Family Day is provincial, not a federal statutory holiday
Upcoming dates
- Monday, February 16, 2026
- Monday, February 15, 2027
- Monday, February 21, 2028
- Monday, February 19, 2029
- Monday, February 18, 2030
Frequently asked questions
When is Family Day (Canada) in 2026?
Family Day (Canada) in 2026 falls on Monday, February 16, 2026.
Is today Family Day (Canada)?
No. Family Day (Canada) in 2026 falls on Monday, February 16, 2026, not today.
What is Family Day?
Family Day is a provincial February holiday in several Canadian provinces, created to give people a mid-winter statutory day for time with family.
Who started Family Day?
Alberta introduced the first Family Day in 1990. Other provinces later adopted the third-Monday holiday under the Family Day name or under local names such as Louis Riel Day.
How do you celebrate Family Day?
There is no required ritual — share a meal, take a winter day trip, or rest at home. Confirm your province’s holiday name and rules before you travel or book time off.
Is Family Day an official holiday?
It is an official statutory holiday in the provinces that legislated it. It is not a federal holiday, and some provinces use a different name for the same Monday.
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