Northwest Territories Statutory Holidays 2026
The Northwest Territories has 11 statutory holidays in 2026, plus several more that many employers give.
Last updated on Nov 1, 2026
11 statutory holidays and 2 commonly given in 2026.
11 statutory holidays in 2026.
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All 2026 holidays in the Northwest Territories
13 days listed| Month | Date | Holiday | Type | Paid by law? | Add to calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1Thu | New Year's Day | Statutory | Required by law | |
| April | 3Fri | Good Friday | Statutory | Required by law | |
| 6Mon | Easter Monday | Commonly given | Not required | ||
| May | 18Mon | Victoria Day | Statutory | Required by law | |
| June | 21Sun | National Indigenous Peoples DayFalls on a Sunday. Holiday pay or another day off | Statutory | Required by law | |
| July | 1Wed | Canada Day | Statutory | Required by law | |
| August | 3Mon | Civic Holiday | Statutory | Required by law | |
| September | 7Mon | Labour Day | Statutory | Required by law | |
| 30Wed | National Day for Truth and ReconciliationStatutory holiday in the NWT since 2022 | Statutory | Required by law | ||
| October | 12Mon | Thanksgiving | Statutory | Required by law | |
| November | 11Wed | Remembrance Day | Statutory | Required by law | |
| December | 25Fri | Christmas Day | Statutory | Required by law | |
| 26Sat | Boxing Day | Commonly given | Not required |
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What employers need to know
Who qualifies
To get statutory holiday pay, an employee must have worked for you for at least 30 days in the 12 months before the holiday. They must work their last scheduled shift before the holiday and their next scheduled shift after it, and come in on the holiday if they're scheduled or called in. Part-time staff qualify on the same terms, while employees on pregnancy or parental leave don't get holiday pay during that leave.
Holiday pay
An eligible employee who has the holiday off gets an average day's pay. Approved vacation or sick leave doesn't remove the duty to pay for the holiday. For staff who aren't paid by the hour or day, the method is different, and the territory asks employers to contact Employment Standards.
Working on a holiday
An eligible employee who works a statutory holiday gets time and a half for the hours worked plus an average day's pay. Instead, you can move the holiday to another day and give the employee that day off with pay. In a week with a statutory holiday, overtime starts after 32 regular hours (or 8 hours in a day), and the holiday pay is counted separately.
Holidays that fall on a weekend
If a holiday falls on an employee's non-working day and they don't work, they get an average day's pay, or you can give them another day off with pay. For example, if the holiday falls on a Sunday you can move it to Monday. You must tell employees in advance which day you're treating as the holiday.
Maximize your PTO in 2026
These are our suggestions for the best days to take off in the Northwest Territories. Each one joins a few PTO days to a holiday and a weekend. Take all 15 suggested PTO days and you get 47 days off across 11 breaks, including 8 long weekends. Pick a break to see it on the calendar.
- Statutory
- Commonly given
- Suggested PTO day
- Weekend
- Today
January 2026
February 2026
March 2026
April 2026
May 2026
June 2026
July 2026
August 2026
September 2026
October 2026
November 2026
December 2026
All 2026 suggestions as a list
- Take Friday, January 2 off to get a 4-day weekend from January 1 to 4 (New Year's Day).
- Take Thursday, April 2 off to get a 4-day weekend from April 2 to 5 (Good Friday).
- Take Friday, May 15 off to get a 4-day weekend from May 15 to 18 (Victoria Day).
- Take Friday, July 31 off to get a 4-day weekend from July 31 to August 3 (Civic Holiday).
- Take Friday, September 4 off to get a 4-day weekend from September 4 to 7 (Labour Day).
- Take Friday, October 9 off to get a 4-day weekend from October 9 to 12 (Thanksgiving).
- Take Thursday, December 24 off to get a 4-day weekend from December 24 to 27 (Christmas Day).
- Take Monday, June 29 and Tuesday, June 30 off to get a 5-day break from June 27 to July 1 (Canada Day).
- Take Monday, September 28 and Tuesday, September 29 off to get a 5-day break from September 26 to 30 (National Day for Truth and Reconciliation).
- Take Monday, November 9 and Tuesday, November 10 off to get a 5-day break from November 7 to 11 (Remembrance Day).
- Take Thursday, June 18 and Friday, June 19 off to get a 4-day weekend from June 18 to 21 (National Indigenous Peoples Day).
Compare provinces and territories
| Province or territory | Statutory holidays in 2026 | Holidays others don't have |
|---|---|---|
| AlbertaOnly here: None | 9 | None |
| British ColumbiaOnly here: None | 11 | None |
| ManitobaOnly here: None | 9 | None |
| New BrunswickOnly here: None | 8 | None |
| Newfoundland and LabradorOnly here: None | 6 | None |
| Northwest Territories You're hereOnly here: None | 11 | None |
| Nova ScotiaOnly here: None | 6 | None |
| NunavutOnly here: Nunavut Day | 11 | Nunavut Day |
| OntarioOnly here: Boxing Day | 9 | Boxing Day |
| Prince Edward IslandOnly here: None | 8 | None |
| QuebecOnly here: National Holiday | 8 | National Holiday |
| SaskatchewanOnly here: None | 10 | None |
| YukonOnly here: Discovery Day | 11 | Discovery Day |
Sources
- Employment Standards | Government of Northwest Territories (Statutory Holidays FAQ)
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation declared statutory holiday in NWT (GNWT news, Bill 47, in force June 3, 2022)
Holiday calendar data includes date-holidays (CC BY-SA 3.0), checked against the official sources above.
Last updated on Nov 1, 2026. Holiday dates come from public sources. Check your employment contract and the official sources above before you rely on them.
Frequently asked questions
The Northwest Territories has 11 statutory holidays in 2026: New Year's Day (Thursday, January 1), Good Friday (Friday, April 3), Victoria Day (Monday, May 18), National Indigenous Peoples Day (Sunday, June 21), Canada Day (Wednesday, July 1), Civic Holiday (Monday, August 3), Labour Day (Monday, September 7), National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Wednesday, September 30), Thanksgiving (Monday, October 12), Remembrance Day (Wednesday, November 11) and Christmas Day (Friday, December 25). Easter Monday and Boxing Day are not statutory in the Northwest Territories.
No. Easter Monday isn't a statutory holiday in the Northwest Territories, so provincially regulated employers don't have to give it. Some employers give it anyway. In 2026 it falls on Monday, April 6.
No. Boxing Day isn't a statutory holiday in the Northwest Territories, so provincially regulated employers don't have to give it. Some employers give it anyway. In 2026 it falls on Saturday, December 26. Federally regulated employers, such as banks, airlines and telecoms, must still give it under the Canada Labour Code.
Yes. National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a statutory holiday in the Northwest Territories. In 2026 it falls on Wednesday, September 30.
Yes. Remembrance Day is a statutory holiday in the Northwest Territories. In 2026 it falls on Wednesday, November 11.
An eligible employee who has the holiday off gets an average day's pay. Approved vacation or sick leave doesn't remove the duty to pay for the holiday. For staff who aren't paid by the hour or day, the method is different, and the territory asks employers to contact Employment Standards.
To get statutory holiday pay, an employee must have worked for you for at least 30 days in the 12 months before the holiday. They must work their last scheduled shift before the holiday and their next scheduled shift after it, and come in on the holiday if they're scheduled or called in. Part-time staff qualify on the same terms, while employees on pregnancy or parental leave don't get holiday pay during that leave.
An eligible employee who works a statutory holiday gets time and a half for the hours worked plus an average day's pay. Instead, you can move the holiday to another day and give the employee that day off with pay. In a week with a statutory holiday, overtime starts after 32 regular hours (or 8 hours in a day), and the holiday pay is counted separately.
In 2026, National Indigenous Peoples Day falls on a Sunday. If a holiday falls on an employee's non-working day and they don't work, they get an average day's pay, or you can give them another day off with pay. For example, if the holiday falls on a Sunday you can move it to Monday. You must tell employees in advance which day you're treating as the holiday.