Victoria Day 2026
Victoria Day 2026 falls on Monday, May 18, 2026.
What is Victoria Day?
Victoria Day falls on the Monday preceding May 25 each year — May 18 in 2026 — and unofficially marks the beginning of Canada's summer season, including the traditional start of gardening and cottage-opening season in much of the country.
Where the tradition comes from
The holiday originated in 1845 to mark Queen Victoria's birthday (May 24), and continued after her death in 1901 as a way to honor the reigning monarch generally rather than Victoria specifically. It's sometimes informally called "May Two-Four" — a play on the date's proximity to May 24 and a common slang term for a case of 24 beers.
How it's observed in 2026
Victoria Day is a federal and most-provincial statutory holiday, closing government offices, banks, and many businesses. Quebec observes a separate but coinciding holiday, National Patriots' Day, on the same date.
Common questions
What day is Victoria Day 2026?
Monday, May 18, 2026.
Why is it called "May Two-Four"?
It's an informal nickname combining the holiday's proximity to May 24 (Queen Victoria's actual birthday) with a common slang term for a 24-can case of beer, reflecting the holiday's association with the unofficial start of summer.
Is Victoria Day observed the same way in Quebec?
Quebec marks the same date as National Patriots' Day instead, a related but distinct provincial holiday.