Nova Scotia has six paid holidays under the Labour Standards Code, among the fewest in Canada. Remembrance Day falls under its own Act.
Nova Scotia statutory holidays 2026
Holidays in bold are added on top of the five observed across Canada.
Rules for employers
Who qualifies for holiday pay
• The employee was entitled to pay for at least 15 of the 30 calendar days before the holiday.
• They worked their last scheduled shift before and first scheduled shift after the holiday.
If an employee works on a holiday
An eligible employee who works a paid holiday gets a regular day's pay plus 1.5× their regular rate
for hours worked.
If a holiday falls on a day off or during vacation
If a paid holiday falls on a day the employee doesn't normally work, give another paid day off: the
next working day, the day after their vacation, or another day they agree to. In 2026, all six paid
holidays fall on weekdays.
Exemptions
Holiday rules don't apply to employees covered by a collective agreement, farm workers, commissioned salespeople, fishing crews and domestic workers, among others.
How to calculate holiday pay in Nova Scotia
Holiday pay = a regular day's pay. For employees with variable hours, use the average daily hours worked in the 30 days before the holiday.
Example: an employee earns $25 an hour, works 8 hours a day, and earned $4,000 over 20 days in the past 4 week
Hiring or running payroll in Nova Scotia?
Borderless AI applies Nova Scotia's holiday rules and pay calculations automatically. Hire in Nova
Scotia with our Employer of Record or run Canada payroll with Borderless AI. For other provinces,
see Canadian statutory holidays by province.
Frequently asked questions
Is Victoria Day a stat holiday in Nova Scotia?
No. Victoria Day is widely observed but isn't a paid holiday under the Labour Standards Code.
Is Remembrance Day a stat holiday in Nova Scotia?
It falls under the Remembrance Day Act. Most businesses must close, but only eligible employees who work it earn a paid day off.
How many stat holidays does Nova Scotia have?
Six: New Year's Day, Heritage Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, Labour Day and Christmas Day.
