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Canada Day is forecasted to be one of the least homebound major holidays this year, with Canadians expected to lean into barbecues, gatherings and outdoor activities, according to new data from Numerator.
The consumer insights and data company’s 2026 Annual Holiday Preview, fielded among more than 5,000 consumers, found that only 48% of respondents plan to celebrate at home on July 1 – the lowest tally among major holidays tracked by the firm. By comparison, 73% celebrate Halloween at home, while Christmas sits at 64%.
Overall, 61% of Canadians surveyed said they intend to celebrate Canada Day in some form, trailing Christmas (86%), New Year’s Eve (70%) and Easter and Thanksgiving (67%).
The data suggests Canada Day celebrations remain centred around communal and outdoor activities. Nearly half of respondents (46%) said grilling or barbecuing are part of their plans, while 42% expect to spend time with partners or family and 31% plan to celebrate with larger groups.
The holiday also continues to drive food-and-drink spending, with 68% of celebrants planning food purchases and 44% intending to buy alcohol. That places Canada Day alcohol purchasing behind occasions such as Cinco de Mayo (54%) and St. Patrick’s Day (50%).
A separate Numerator poll of roughly 1,800 people suggest consumer patriotism and its effect on purchasing seems to be coolling.
May’s Tariff Sentiment Tracker includes a monthly survey of roughly 1,800 Canadian consumers. And the number of respondents who “strongly agree” with the sentiment, “I intend to buy only products made in Canada,” has hit its lowest point since Donald Trump began imposing tariffs last winter at 17%. That number was 26% in February 2025 and 29% the following month.
