Victoria Day 2026

Open the cottage season on Victoria Day! Canada observes the holiday on the Monday preceding May 25 — the classic May long weekend that once marked Queen Victoria’s birthday and now also serves as the official celebration in Canada of the reigning Sovereign’s birthday.

Victoria DayMay long weekendCanadian holidayQueen VictoriaSovereign birthdayMay Two-Four

Victoria Day - Open the cottage season on Victoria Day! Canada observes the holiday on the Monday preceding May 25 — the classic May long weekend that once marked Queen Victoria’s birthday and now also serves as the official celebration in Canada of the reigning Sovereign’s birthday.

About Victoria Day

History & origins

Victoria Day is fixed by the federal Holidays Act as “the first Monday immediately preceding May 25.” Queen Victoria was born on May 24, 1819. The Legislature of the Province of Canada declared her birthday a holiday in 1845. After her death in 1901, Parliament kept a Victoria Day holiday; in 1952 the date was moved to the Monday preceding May 25 so the country would have a reliable long weekend.

Historically the day also became the official birthday celebration in Canada for later monarchs whose natural birthdays fell at other times of year. A 2023 proclamation fixed Victoria Day as the day for celebrating the birthday of the Sovereign in Canada (currently King Charles III).

In Quebec the same Monday is observed as National Patriotes Day (Journée nationale des Patriotes), commemorating the struggle for responsible government in the Rebellions of 1837–38. Victoria Day is a statutory holiday in most provinces and territories; Atlantic provinces historically treat it differently under provincial rules.

Why it matters

For many Canadians the day is less about royalty than about the first warm long weekend of the year — opening cottages, planting gardens, and attending fireworks or community festivals. It is also one of the clearest examples of a moving Canadian holiday: the Monday rule, not a fixed May 24, is what you need for travel and school calendars.

How to celebrate

Plan a May long-weekend trip or a day outdoors. Attend a local parade or fireworks display where offered. Read a short history of Queen Victoria’s connection to Canada, or, in Quebec, learn about National Patriotes Day. Use the long weekend for spring yard work, a museum visit, or time with family. Check provincial holiday rules if you are travelling between jurisdictions.

Facts

The Holidays Act sets Victoria Day on the first Monday immediately preceding May 25
Queen Victoria’s birthday was May 24; the Province of Canada made it a holiday in 1845
Since 1952 the holiday has been the Monday before May 25, creating the May long weekend
A 2023 proclamation fixed Victoria Day as Canada’s celebration of the Sovereign’s birthday
In Quebec the same Monday is National Patriotes Day (Journée nationale des Patriotes)

Upcoming dates

Monday, May 18, 2026
Monday, May 24, 2027
Monday, May 22, 2028
Monday, May 21, 2029
Monday, May 20, 2030

Frequently asked questions

When is Victoria Day in 2026?

Victoria Day in 2026 falls on Monday, May 18, 2026.

Is today Victoria Day?

No. Victoria Day in 2026 falls on Monday, May 18, 2026, not today.

What is Victoria Day?

Victoria Day is a Canadian legal holiday on the Monday before May 25. It began as a celebration of Queen Victoria’s birthday and is also used in Canada as the official birthday observance for the reigning Sovereign.

Who started Victoria Day?

The Province of Canada declared Queen Victoria’s May 24 birthday a holiday in 1845. Later federal law kept the name Victoria Day and, in 1952, moved it to the Monday preceding May 25.

How do you celebrate Victoria Day?

Many Canadians treat it as the May long weekend: outdoor time, cottage openings, community fireworks, and spring events. In Quebec, the same date is marked as National Patriotes Day.

Is Victoria Day an official holiday?

Yes. It is a federal legal holiday under the Holidays Act. Most provinces and territories observe it as a public holiday; check local rules in Atlantic Canada and Quebec’s Patriotes naming.

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