Boxing Day in Canada: Dates and Where It’s a Holiday
Boxing Day is December 26, the day after Christmas. It is best known for shopping sales, but its status as a paid holiday depends on where you work.
When is Boxing Day?
- Next:
- 2026:
- 2027:
Is it a statutory holiday?
Boxing Day is a statutory holiday in Ontario and for federally regulated employees. In several other provinces it is widely observed as a day off but is not a paid statutory holiday under employment standards.
When Boxing Day falls on a weekend
In 2027 Christmas Day falls on a Saturday and Boxing Day on a Sunday. When that happens, employers in jurisdictions where the day is statutory usually give a substitute day off or holiday pay. The exact rules differ by province, so check your employment standards office.
Where the name comes from
The most common explanation is the British custom of giving gift boxes to servants, tradespeople and the poor on the day after Christmas.
Last reviewed: October 2026. Holiday pay rules can change. For pay questions, check your provincial or territorial employment standards office.
