Prince Edward Island's Employment Standards Act gives employees who qualify eight paid holidays: New Year's Day, Islander Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, Labour Day, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Remembrance Day and Christmas Day. Holiday pay is 5% of the employee's regular wages from the four weeks before the holiday.
If you've moved to the Island from another province, the list will look short in places and long in others. Here are the 2026 and 2027 dates, worked out from the days the Government of PEI names (its page was published on 30 June 2026), followed by the qualifying rules and the pay maths.
PEI paid holiday dates
| Paid holiday | Rule | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 1 January | Thursday 1 January | Friday 1 January |
| Islander Day | 3rd Monday in February | Monday 16 February | Monday 15 February |
| Good Friday | Friday before Easter | Friday 3 April | Friday 26 March |
| Canada Day | 1 July | Wednesday 1 July | Thursday 1 July |
| Labour Day | 1st Monday in September | Monday 7 September | Monday 6 September |
| National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | 30 September | Wednesday 30 September | Thursday 30 September |
| Remembrance Day | 11 November | Wednesday 11 November | Thursday 11 November |
| Christmas Day | 25 December | Friday 25 December | Saturday 25 December |
The insight people miss is what isn't there. Victoria Day, Easter Monday, Thanksgiving and Boxing Day aren't on PEI's list of paid holidays under the Act. Employers can choose to give them, and many do, but they aren't one of the eight.
Who qualifies for holiday pay
PEI's rule is about showing up either side of the holiday. An employee won't get holiday pay if they fail to work both their last scheduled shift before the holiday and their first scheduled shift after it, without permission or a valid reason. They may also not qualify if they were asked to work on the holiday and chose not to.
So a part-time employee who works their normal shifts around the holiday qualifies. Someone who skips the shift before Canada Day without a reason may lose the holiday pay.
How the 5% holiday pay formula works
- Add up the employee's regular wages for the four weeks before the holiday.
- Leave out overtime.
- Include any vacation pay or other holiday pay they received in that period.
- Take 5% of the total. That's their holiday pay.
Because it's a percentage of recent earnings, the formula scales automatically. Someone working 20 hours a week gets half the holiday pay of someone doing 40 at the same rate, and nobody has to calculate an "average day".
If the holiday falls on a day off
When a paid holiday lands on a day the employee doesn't usually work, the employer must give them a paid day off on another day. PEI lists three options: their next scheduled workday, the first workday after their vacation, or another agreed day before their next vacation. With Christmas Day falling on a Saturday in 2027, that rule will matter for every Monday to Friday team.
Working on a paid holiday
| Option | What the employee gets |
|---|---|
| Option 1 | 1.5 times their regular wage rate for the hours worked, plus their regular holiday pay |
| Option 2 | Their regular wage for the day, plus a paid day off at a later date |
For option 2, the day off must be agreed by both sides and taken before the employee's next vacation. If you can't agree a date, option 1 is the safer route.
Christmas falls differently in 2026 and 2027
In 2026, Christmas Day is a Friday, so a Monday to Friday team simply gets the day off with pay. In 2027 it's a Saturday, so the same team is owed a paid day off on another day under the rule above. Plan that day before the holiday rush, not after it.
Planning tips for Island employers
- Put Islander Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation into payroll now, since both are easy to miss.
- Track who worked the shifts either side of each holiday, so you can show why someone didn't qualify.
- Keep four weeks of regular wages handy for each employee before every holiday.
- Decide your policy on days outside the eight, like Boxing Day, and put it in writing.
For the wage side, my guide to the PEI minimum wage covers the current rate and the next rise. If you employ people in other Atlantic provinces, compare the rules in my Nova Scotia statutory holidays guide.
My verdict
PEI's system is simpler than most: eight days, one qualifying test and one 5% formula. The traps are the holidays people assume are on the list and aren't, the shift-either-side rule, and Christmas Day landing on a Saturday in 2027. Get those three right and holiday pay on the Island is straightforward.
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Frequently asked questions
How many statutory holidays are there in PEI?
Eight. PEI's Employment Standards Act gives qualifying employees New Year's Day, Islander Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, Labour Day, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Remembrance Day and Christmas Day.
Is Boxing Day a statutory holiday in PEI?
No. Boxing Day isn't one of the eight paid holidays under PEI's Employment Standards Act, though an employer can choose to give it.
How is holiday pay calculated in PEI?
Holiday pay is 5% of the employee's regular wages earned in the four weeks before the holiday, not including overtime but including any vacation or holiday pay received in that time.
What do you get for working on a statutory holiday in PEI?
Either 1.5 times your regular wage rate for the hours worked plus holiday pay, or your regular wage plus a paid day off later, agreed with your employer and taken before your next vacation.
When is Islander Day in 2026?
Islander Day is the third Monday in February, which is Monday 16 February 2026 and Monday 15 February 2027.
Is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation a paid holiday in PEI?
Yes. It's one of the eight paid holidays under PEI's Employment Standards Act and falls on 30 September.
What if a PEI holiday falls on my day off?
Your employer must give you a paid day off on another day, such as your next scheduled workday, the first workday after your vacation, or another agreed day before your next vacation.
Can I lose holiday pay in PEI?
Yes. You won't get holiday pay if you fail to work both your last scheduled shift before the holiday and your first one after it without permission or a valid reason.
