SOURCE:    Vacation Tracker
TITLE:     Nova Scotia Stat Holidays 2027: Dates, Long Weekends & Holiday Pay
URL:       https://vacationtracker.io/holidays/canada/nova-scotia/2027/
LANG:      en
PUBLISHED: 2026-10-31
UPDATED:   2026-11-01
SUMMARY:   All 6 Nova Scotia stat holidays for 2027 with dates, which days aren't statutory, holiday pay rules and free calendar downloads.

# Nova Scotia Statutory Holidays 2027

Nova Scotia has 6 statutory holidays in 2027, plus several more that many employers give.

Last updated on Nov 1, 2026.

## All 2027 holidays in Nova Scotia

| Holiday | Date | Day of week | Substitute day | Type | Paid by law? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 2027-01-01 | Friday |  | Statutory | Required by law |
| Heritage Day | 2027-02-15 | Monday |  | Statutory | Required by law |
| Good Friday | 2027-03-26 | Friday |  | Statutory | Required by law |
| Canada Day | 2027-07-01 | Thursday |  | Statutory | Required by law |
| Natal Day | 2027-08-02 | Monday |  | Commonly given | Not required |
| Labour Day | 2027-09-06 | Monday |  | Statutory | Required by law |
| National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Not a statutory holiday in Nova Scotia. Federally regulated employers must give it.) | 2027-09-30 | Thursday |  | Observance | Not a day off |
| Remembrance Day | 2027-11-11 | Thursday |  | Commonly given | Not required |
| Christmas Day | 2027-12-25 | Saturday | Falls on a Saturday. Substitute day often Mon Dec 27 | Statutory | Required by law |

## What employers need to know

**Who qualifies.** To qualify for a paid holiday, the employee must have been entitled to pay for at least 15 of the 30 calendar days before the holiday. They must also have worked their last scheduled shift before the holiday and their first scheduled shift after it. Employers cannot hold back holiday pay until a probation period ends.

**Holiday pay.** An employee who qualifies and gets the day off is paid a regular day's pay. If their hours change from day to day, average the hours they worked over the 30 days before the holiday. Commissions they regularly earn count toward that day's pay.

**Working on a holiday.** An employee who qualifies and works the holiday gets a regular (or average) day's pay plus 1.5 times their regular rate for every hour worked. In a continuous operation, the employer can pay this way, or pay straight time for the hours worked and give a different paid day off instead.

**Holidays that fall on a weekend.** If a holiday falls on a qualifying employee's regular day off, the employer must give them a different paid day off. That can be the next working day, a day added to the end of their vacation, or another day the employee agrees to.

Full rules: Nova Scotia leave laws: https://vacationtracker.io/leave-laws/canada/nova-scotia/

## Maximize your PTO in 2027

These are our suggestions for the best days to take off in Nova Scotia. Each one joins a few PTO days to a holiday and a weekend. Take all 6 suggested PTO days and you get **24 days off across 6 breaks**, all long weekends. Pick a break to see it on the calendar.

- Take Monday, January 4 off to get a 4-day weekend from January 1 to 4 (New Year's Day).
- Take Friday, February 12 off to get a 4-day weekend from February 12 to 15 (Heritage Day).
- Take Thursday, March 25 off to get a 4-day weekend from March 25 to 28 (Good Friday).
- Take Friday, July 2 off to get a 4-day weekend from July 1 to 4 (Canada Day).
- Take Friday, September 3 off to get a 4-day weekend from September 3 to 6 (Labour Day).
- Take Friday, December 24 off to get a 4-day weekend from December 24 to 27 (Christmas Day).

## When Nova Scotia teams take time off

The 5 weeks when the most Nova Scotia employees using Vacation Tracker were off, compared with an average week.

- Aug 2 – 8 (Week 31): 2.5× a normal week
- Jul 5 – 11 (Week 27): 2.2× a normal week
- Sep 13 – 19 (Week 37): 2.0× a normal week
- Sep 6 – 12 (Week 36): 1.9× a normal week
- Aug 23 – 29 (Week 34): 1.8× a normal week

## Compare provinces and territories

| Province or territory | Statutory holidays in 2027 | Holidays others don't have |
|---|---|---|
| [Alberta](https://vacationtracker.io/holidays/canada/alberta/2027/) | 9 | None |
| [British Columbia](https://vacationtracker.io/holidays/canada/british-columbia/2027/) | 11 | None |
| [Manitoba](https://vacationtracker.io/holidays/canada/manitoba/2027/) | 9 | None |
| [New Brunswick](https://vacationtracker.io/holidays/canada/new-brunswick/2027/) | 8 | None |
| [Newfoundland and Labrador](https://vacationtracker.io/holidays/canada/newfoundland-and-labrador/2027/) | 6 | None |
| [Northwest Territories](https://vacationtracker.io/holidays/canada/northwest-territories/2027/) | 11 | None |
| [Nova Scotia](https://vacationtracker.io/holidays/canada/nova-scotia/2027/) | 6 | None |
| [Nunavut](https://vacationtracker.io/holidays/canada/nunavut/2027/) | 11 | Nunavut Day |
| [Ontario](https://vacationtracker.io/holidays/canada/ontario/2027/) | 9 | Boxing Day |
| [Prince Edward Island](https://vacationtracker.io/holidays/canada/prince-edward-island/2027/) | 8 | None |
| [Quebec](https://vacationtracker.io/holidays/canada/quebec/2027/) | 8 | National Holiday |
| [Saskatchewan](https://vacationtracker.io/holidays/canada/saskatchewan/2027/) | 10 | None |
| [Yukon](https://vacationtracker.io/holidays/canada/yukon/2027/) | 11 | Discovery Day |

## Frequently asked questions

Q: What are the stat holidays in Nova Scotia in 2027?
Nova Scotia has 6 statutory holidays in 2027: New Year's Day (Friday, January 1), Heritage Day (Monday, February 15), Good Friday (Friday, March 26), Canada Day (Thursday, July 1), Labour Day (Monday, September 6) and Christmas Day (Saturday, December 25). Victoria Day, Remembrance Day, Thanksgiving, Boxing Day, Easter Monday, Natal Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation are not statutory in Nova Scotia.


Q: Is Victoria Day a stat holiday in Nova Scotia?
No. Victoria Day isn't a statutory holiday in Nova Scotia, so provincially regulated employers don't have to give it. In 2027 it falls on Monday, May 24. Federally regulated employers, such as banks, airlines and telecoms, must still give it under the Canada Labour Code.


Q: Is Remembrance Day a stat holiday in Nova Scotia?
No. Remembrance Day isn't a statutory holiday in Nova Scotia, so provincially regulated employers don't have to give it. It isn't a general paid holiday under the Labour Standards Code. It's covered by the separate Remembrance Day Act, so only some employees get a benefit. In 2027 it falls on Thursday, November 11. Federally regulated employers, such as banks, airlines and telecoms, must still give it under the Canada Labour Code.


Q: Is Thanksgiving a stat holiday in Nova Scotia?
No. Thanksgiving isn't a statutory holiday in Nova Scotia, so provincially regulated employers don't have to give it. In 2027 it falls on Monday, October 11. Federally regulated employers, such as banks, airlines and telecoms, must still give it under the Canada Labour Code.


Q: Is Boxing Day a stat holiday in Nova Scotia?
No. Boxing Day isn't a statutory holiday in Nova Scotia, so provincially regulated employers don't have to give it. In 2027 it falls on Sunday, December 26. Federally regulated employers, such as banks, airlines and telecoms, must still give it under the Canada Labour Code.


Q: How is stat holiday pay calculated in Nova Scotia?
An employee who qualifies and gets the day off is paid a regular day's pay. If their hours change from day to day, average the hours they worked over the 30 days before the holiday. Commissions they regularly earn count toward that day's pay.


Q: Who qualifies for stat holiday pay in Nova Scotia?
To qualify for a paid holiday, the employee must have been entitled to pay for at least 15 of the 30 calendar days before the holiday. They must also have worked their last scheduled shift before the holiday and their first scheduled shift after it. Employers cannot hold back holiday pay until a probation period ends.


Q: What do employees get for working on a stat holiday in Nova Scotia?
An employee who qualifies and works the holiday gets a regular (or average) day's pay plus 1.5 times their regular rate for every hour worked. In a continuous operation, the employer can pay this way, or pay straight time for the hours worked and give a different paid day off instead.


Q: What happens if a stat holiday falls on a weekend in Nova Scotia?
In 2027, Christmas Day falls on a Saturday. If a holiday falls on a qualifying employee's regular day off, the employer must give them a different paid day off. That can be the next working day, a day added to the end of their vacation, or another day the employee agrees to.


## Sources

- Holiday and Retail Closing Day Charts | novascotia.ca: https://novascotia.ca/lae/employmentrights/holidaychart.asp
- Nova Scotia Paid Holidays and Retail Closing Days (Open Data NS, Labour, Skills and Immigration; 2015-2028): https://data.novascotia.ca/Employment-and-Labour/Nova-Scotia-Paid-Holidays-and-Retail-Closing-Days/q3ue-h9i9

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/nova-scotia-holidays-2027.csv