Boxing Day is one of the biggest shopping days of the year in Montreal, but in Quebec it starts later than elsewhere in Canada. Here’s what to know about Boxing Day in Montreal in 2026.
Stores open at 1 p.m.
Under Quebec’s law on store hours, most retail stores and malls can’t open before 1 p.m. on December 26. In 2026, Boxing Day falls on a Saturday.
What’s open on December 26
- Malls and stores: from 1 p.m.
- Grocery stores: from 1 p.m.
- SAQ liquor stores: from 1 p.m.
- Restaurants, bars, pharmacies and cinemas: usually open (hours vary)
- Banks: usually closed
- The Great Christmas Market: open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday
Where to shop
- Sainte-Catherine Street and the Eaton Centre downtown
- The underground city, linking malls and the metro
- Large suburban malls in Laval, the South Shore and the West Island
Tips
- Arrive before 1 p.m. if you want to be first in line for doorbuster deals.
- Ask about exchanges: some stores don’t accept returns or exchanges on December 26.
- Take the metro: downtown parking fills up fast on Boxing Day.
