SOURCE:    Vacation Tracker
TITLE:     Northwest Territories Stat Holidays 2026: Dates & Holiday Pay
URL:       https://vacationtracker.io/holidays/canada/northwest-territories/2026/
LANG:      en
PUBLISHED: 2026-10-31
UPDATED:   2026-11-01
SUMMARY:   All 11 Northwest Territories stat holidays for 2026 with dates, which days aren't statutory, holiday pay rules and free calendar downloads.

# 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.

## All 2026 holidays in the Northwest Territories

| Holiday | Date | Day of week | Substitute day | Type | Paid by law? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 2026-01-01 | Thursday |  | Statutory | Required by law |
| Good Friday | 2026-04-03 | Friday |  | Statutory | Required by law |
| Easter Monday | 2026-04-06 | Monday |  | Commonly given | Not required |
| Victoria Day | 2026-05-18 | Monday |  | Statutory | Required by law |
| National Indigenous Peoples Day | 2026-06-21 | Sunday | Falls on a Sunday. Holiday pay or another day off | Statutory | Required by law |
| Canada Day | 2026-07-01 | Wednesday |  | Statutory | Required by law |
| Civic Holiday | 2026-08-03 | Monday |  | Statutory | Required by law |
| Labour Day | 2026-09-07 | Monday |  | Statutory | Required by law |
| National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Statutory holiday in the NWT since 2022) | 2026-09-30 | Wednesday |  | Statutory | Required by law |
| Thanksgiving | 2026-10-12 | Monday |  | Statutory | Required by law |
| Remembrance Day | 2026-11-11 | Wednesday |  | Statutory | Required by law |
| Christmas Day | 2026-12-25 | Friday |  | Statutory | Required by law |
| Boxing Day | 2026-12-26 | Saturday |  | Commonly given | Not required |

## 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.

Full rules: Northwest Territories leave laws: https://vacationtracker.io/leave-laws/canada/northwest-territories/

## 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.

- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| [Alberta](https://vacationtracker.io/holidays/canada/alberta/2026/) | 9 | None |
| [British Columbia](https://vacationtracker.io/holidays/canada/british-columbia/2026/) | 11 | None |
| [Manitoba](https://vacationtracker.io/holidays/canada/manitoba/2026/) | 9 | None |
| [New Brunswick](https://vacationtracker.io/holidays/canada/new-brunswick/2026/) | 8 | None |
| [Newfoundland and Labrador](https://vacationtracker.io/holidays/canada/newfoundland-and-labrador/2026/) | 6 | None |
| [Northwest Territories](https://vacationtracker.io/holidays/canada/northwest-territories/2026/) | 11 | None |
| [Nova Scotia](https://vacationtracker.io/holidays/canada/nova-scotia/2026/) | 6 | None |
| [Nunavut](https://vacationtracker.io/holidays/canada/nunavut/2026/) | 11 | Nunavut Day |
| [Ontario](https://vacationtracker.io/holidays/canada/ontario/2026/) | 9 | Boxing Day |
| [Prince Edward Island](https://vacationtracker.io/holidays/canada/prince-edward-island/2026/) | 8 | None |
| [Quebec](https://vacationtracker.io/holidays/canada/quebec/2026/) | 8 | National Holiday |
| [Saskatchewan](https://vacationtracker.io/holidays/canada/saskatchewan/2026/) | 10 | None |
| [Yukon](https://vacationtracker.io/holidays/canada/yukon/2026/) | 11 | Discovery Day |

## Frequently asked questions

Q: What are the stat holidays in the Northwest Territories in 2026?
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.


Q: Is Easter Monday a stat holiday 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.


Q: Is Boxing Day a stat holiday in the Northwest Territories?
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.


Q: Is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation a stat holiday in the Northwest Territories?
Yes. National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a statutory holiday in the Northwest Territories. In 2026 it falls on Wednesday, September 30.


Q: Is Remembrance Day a stat holiday in the Northwest Territories?
Yes. Remembrance Day is a statutory holiday in the Northwest Territories. In 2026 it falls on Wednesday, November 11.


Q: How is stat holiday pay calculated in the Northwest Territories?
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.


Q: Who qualifies for stat holiday pay in the Northwest Territories?
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.


Q: What do employees get for working on a stat holiday in the Northwest Territories?
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.


Q: What happens if a stat holiday falls on a weekend in the Northwest Territories?
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.


## Sources

- Employment Standards | Government of Northwest Territories (Statutory Holidays FAQ): https://gnwt.ca/education-training-and-employment/employment-standards/nwt-employment-standards
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation declared statutory holiday in NWT (GNWT news, Bill 47, in force June 3, 2022): https://www.gov.nt.ca/en/newsroom/national-day-truth-and-reconciliation-declared-statutory-holiday-northwest-territories

Holiday calendar data includes date-holidays (CC BY-SA 3.0), checked against the official sources above.
Holiday dates come from public sources. Check your employment contract and the official sources above before you rely on them.

CSV: https://vacationtracker.io/static/data/holiday-pages/canada/northwest-territories-holidays-2026.csv