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Eid al-Adha ·Canada ·Islamic calendar

Eid al-Adha 2026 in Canada: dates, mosques, prayers, 2027 outlook

June 6, 2026·caldays editorial

Eid al-Adha 2026 in Canada was observed on Wednesday, 27 May 2026 (10 Dhu al-Hijjah 1447 AH), following the Saudi moon-sighting announcement. The next Eid al-Adha falls on Monday, 17 May 2027.

Canada has approximately 1.8 million Muslims (~4.9% of the population, 2021 census) — the second-largest non-Christian religious community in the country. The largest concentrations are in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Greater Montreal, Greater Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, and Edmonton.

Quick reference: Eid al-Adha 2026 in Canada

FieldValue
Date observedWed 27 May 2026
Hijri date10 Dhu al-Hijjah 1447 AH
Federal statutory holidayNo
Provincial statutory holidayNo (not recognised in any province)
Estimated Canadian Muslims~1.8 million (2021 census)
Next Eid al-AdhaMon 17 May 2027
Next Islamic holidayMawlid al-Nabi — Tue 25 Aug 2026

Is Eid al-Adha a statutory holiday in Canada?

No. Eid al-Adha is not a federal statutory holiday, and is not recognised as a statutory holiday in any Canadian province or territory. Muslim Canadians typically use floating holidays, vacation days, or unpaid leave.

However:

  • Federal employers under the Canada Labour Code must reasonably accommodate religious observance unless it causes undue hardship (per Canadian Human Rights Act).
  • Ontario, Quebec, and BC have human rights codes that require similar accommodation for provincially-regulated workplaces.
  • Ontario school boards in the Peel, York, and Toronto District School Boards close schools on Eid al-Adha (decision from 2018 onwards) — this is a school board calendar matter, not a statutory holiday.
  • Some municipalities (e.g. City of Mississauga, City of Markham, City of Brampton) issue official Eid greetings and adjust some municipal services.

For Canada's federal/provincial holiday calendars, see /ca/calendar.

Eid prayer (Salat al-Eid) across Canada

Eid prayer was held shortly after sunrise on Wednesday, 27 May 2026 at mosques and large outdoor venues across the country. Notable congregations:

  • Toronto / GTA — ISNA Canada (Mississauga), Jami Mosque (Boustead), Bait-ul-Islam (Maple), Madinah Masjid (Danforth), Salaheddin Islamic Centre (Scarborough); outdoor prayer at the Toronto Muslim Festival (Downsview Park) drawing 25,000+
  • Montreal — Centre Islamique du Québec, Al-Sunnah Al-Nabawiyah Centre, Khalid bin Walid Mosque (Côte-des-Neiges); outdoor prayer at Parc Jean-Drapeau
  • Vancouver — Masjid Al-Salaam (Burnaby), BC Muslim Association (Richmond); outdoor prayer at Swangard Stadium
  • Calgary — Akram Jomaa Islamic Centre, Calgary Islamic Centre (8th Avenue NW); outdoor prayer at Genesis Centre
  • Ottawa — Ottawa Mosque (Northwestern Avenue), Assalam Mosque; outdoor prayer at Lansdowne Park
  • Edmonton — Al-Rashid Mosque (the oldest mosque in Canada, built 1938), Markaz-Ul-Islam; outdoor prayer at Edmonton Expo Centre
  • Winnipeg, Halifax, Quebec City, Saskatoon — local mosque congregations

Local prayer timings vary 5–15 minutes between cities; check your local mosque or Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) announcements.

How the date was determined

Canadian Muslims follow several methodologies for dating Eid:

  1. Saudi moon-sighting — most large mosques and the Hilal Council of Canada announced 27 May based on the Saudi proclamation on 24 May 2026
  2. Astronomical calculation — the Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA) uses predetermined astronomical dates; for 2026 these matched the Saudi date
  3. Local Canadian sighting — a minority of communities wait for a North American sighting

For 2026 the Canadian Muslim community was largely unified on Wednesday, 27 May.

Qurbani in Canada

Canadian Muslims arrange the ritual sacrifice (Qurbani / Udhiyah) in several ways:

  • International charities — Islamic Relief Canada, Human Concern International, Penny Appeal Canada, Muslim Hands Canada arrange sacrifice in countries facing food insecurity. Typical cost: CAD $200–$400 per sheep, $1,000+ for cattle share.
  • Domestic CFIA-licensed halal slaughterhouses — Provinces require sacrifice through licensed facilities; private home slaughter is illegal in Canada. Major facilities in Mississauga, Markham, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver Lower Mainland, and rural Quebec accept Qurbani orders.

Meat is traditionally divided into thirds: family, friends/relatives, the poor.

Eid greetings used in Canada

  • Eid Mubarak — universal across all Canadian Muslim communities
  • Eid Sa'eed — Arabic
  • Eid Mubarak ho — Urdu/Hindi (common in GTA South Asian community)
  • Bayramınız Mübarek Olsun — Turkish (used in Toronto and Montreal Turkish diaspora)
  • Selamat Hari Raya Aidiladha — Malay/Indonesian (Vancouver and Toronto Southeast Asian community)
  • Tabaski — used by West African Canadian communities (Senegalese, Malian — large in Montreal)

Looking ahead: Eid al-Adha 2027

Eid al-Adha 2027 in Canada is expected on Monday, 17 May 2027 (10 Dhu al-Hijjah 1448 AH). Because the Islamic calendar is purely lunar (354 days), Eid al-Adha shifts ~11 days earlier each Gregorian year.

Forward projection:

  • 2026: Wed 27 May ✓
  • 2027: ~Mon 17 May
  • 2028: ~Fri 5 May
  • 2029: ~Tue 24 April
  • 2030: ~Sat 13 April

Next Islamic holiday in Canada

After Eid al-Adha, the next major date observed by Canadian Muslims is Mawlid al-Nabi — the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad — falling on Tuesday, 25 August 2026. Mawlid is widely observed among Canada's Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Indian Sufi, and West African Muslim communities, though Salafi-leaning communities do not observe it.

Related references


Eid dates depend on Saudi moon-sighting and local Canadian announcement. Verify with your local mosque or the Hilal Council of Canada before planning leave or ceremonies.

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