What's open and closed in Ottawa around Canada Day 2026

Free transit, many travel changes downtown on Wednesday

Canada Day 2026 brings a midweek holiday, changing operating hours for businesses, services and transit on Wednesday July 1.

Here's a look at what's opened and closed in Ottawa around Canada Day.

This is a general overview and it's worth double-checking with anywhere specific you are thinking of visiting.

Stores in certain areas of the city, including the Glebe and ByWard Market, can open on holidays under the province's Retail Business Holidays Act.

The Rideau Centre and Tanger Outlets Ottawa will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Bayshore, St. Laurent and Place d'Orléans malls will be closed.

Most grocery stores in the city will be closed.

All LCBOs will be closed. Some Beer Stores will be open.

There will be closures and other changes around downtown to facilitate the flood of people coming for the official events, to sightsee and grab a bite, or both.

The national afternoon show at LeBreton Flats is from noon to 1:30 p.m. and the evening show starts at 8 p.m. and ends with 10 p.m. fireworks.

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Downtown Ottawa road, bridge and path closures start at 6 a.m. July 1, with another batch at 7 or 8 p.m.

The first are closest to the Ottawa River, generally blocking traffic travelling north of Albert Street as of 6 a.m. This includes the Chaudière and Portage bridges, while the Alexandra Bridge closes to drivers southbound to Ottawa.

The Chaudière Crossing is closed to both pedestrians and vehicles.

Paths around the war museum close at 6 a.m. as well.

Closures expand south at 7 p.m. meaning people can't drive north of Laurier Avenue West, on Albert as far west as Bayswater Avenue or on Booth north of Somerset.

The Chief William Commanda pedestrian bridge closes at 8 p.m.

Closures should end by 2 a.m. July 2.

There will be a few road closures Tuesday and Wednesday around the ByWard Market Square. The city is also reminding people who aren't often downtown about construction at the intersection of Laurier Avenue West and Elgin Street.

There may be local road closures around smaller community events.

OC Transpo is free for 24 hours starting at 3 a.m. on July 1, and on a special Canada Day schedule.

Line 1 of the O-Train runs from 6 a.m. until 2 a.m. Thursday. Lines 2 and 4 run from 7 a.m. until 1 a.m. Thursday.

There will be shuttle buses between easterly and westerly Park and Rides and the end of Line 1 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. One links Terry Fox and Eagleson lots in the west to Tunney's Pasture station, the other from Millenium and Trim in the east to Blair station.

Unlike some previous years, Pimisi station will remain open — except between 9 and 10 p.m. Buses will replace westbound trains after the fireworks show, and westbound trains will be stopping at neighbouring Lyon and Bayview stations.

Para Transpo trips on July 1 are automatically cancelled. Its hub for the national LeBreton Flats event is on Vimy Place in front of the museum.

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City-run outdoor pools, wading pools and splash pads will be open with modified schedules.

Many city recreation centres will be closed, others will have altered hours and changes to drop-in schedules.

The National Gallery, Ottawa Art Gallery and agriculture, aviation, history, nature, science and war museums are open and free. The history and war museums also have extended hours until 7 p.m.

City-operated museums and arts centres will be closed.

There will be no curbside green bin, recycling, garbage or bulky item collection on Wednesday. That day's collection moves to Thursday, July 2, and collection will be delayed by one day for the rest of the week.

Multi-residential garbage containers will be collected on the regular scheduled day. Collections of multi-residential recycling containers, bulky items and green bins will be delayed by one day.

The Trail Waste Facility Landfill is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

All services at Ottawa City Hall, Ben Franklin Place in Nepean, 255 Centrum Blvd. in Orléans, the West Carleton Community Complex and the Provincial Offences Court at 100 Constellation Dr. will be closed.

All Ottawa Public Library branches will be closed. All city child-care centres will be closed.

The Site mobile van will operate from 5 to 11:30 p.m.