About Thanksgiving (Canada)
Canadian Thanksgiving falls on the second Monday of October — more than a month before its American cousin — and the countdown above tracks the next one. The earlier date suits Canada's earlier harvest and pairs the feast with peak autumn color.
The table looks familiar — turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie — but the long weekend has its own rhythm: a final cottage trip of the season, hikes through the fall foliage, and the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest parade. Canadian Thanksgiving traditions actually predate the American holiday's official adoption.
Because the holiday is pegged to the second Monday of October rather than a fixed date, its calendar day shifts each year, falling anywhere between October 8 and 14. Parliament settled on the October date in 1957, giving Canadians a relaxed three-day weekend in the heart of autumn. The countdown above always targets the next one — bookmark it or add it to your own countdown page so you never lose track of the long weekend.
Upcoming dates
| 2026 | Monday, October 12, 2026next |
| 2027 | Monday, October 11, 2027 |
| 2028 | Monday, October 9, 2028 |
| 2029 | Monday, October 8, 2029 |
| 2030 | Monday, October 14, 2030 |
FAQ
When is Canadian Thanksgiving?
The second Monday of October every year — a statutory holiday in most provinces.
Why is it earlier than US Thanksgiving?
Canada's harvest comes earlier at northern latitudes — the October date was fixed by Parliament in 1957.
What do Canadians eat?
Largely the same feast as the US version — roast turkey, stuffing, cranberries and pumpkin pie — often served any day of the long weekend.
Is Canadian Thanksgiving a statutory holiday?
Yes in most of Canada, though it is an optional holiday in the Atlantic provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.