What’s OPEN & CLOSED New Year’s Day Toronto and southern Ontario

As Ontario welcomes New Year’s Day, January 1, 2026, residents can expect to see a mix of parties and events take place across the province. Here is what’s open and closed in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, Milton, Hamilton, Niagara Region and Durham Region.

Whether you’re planning a quiet day at home, venturing out for a bite to eat, or exploring local attractions, knowing what’s open and closed can help you make the most of the holiday.

From shopping malls and grocery stores to restaurants, public transit, and recreation options, here’s everything you need to know about operating hours and closures in Ontario on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026.

• Mississauga
• Toronto
• Brampton
• Halton – Burlington, Oakville, Milton
• Hamilton
• Niagara Region – Niagara Falls, St Catharines
• Durham Region

Mississauga

On New Year’s Day, several places in Mississauga will be open, including Square One Shopping Centre (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.), Walmart and Whole Foods at Square One, select smaller grocery stores such as Rabba Fine Foods locations, certain Shoppers Drug Mart stores, the Celebration Square Ice Rink, the Wine Rack at M City and some restaurants (call ahead to confirm).

Major shopping centres such as Erin Mills Town Centre, Heartland Town Centre, Dixie Outlet Mall, Sheridan Centre and Meadowvale Town Centre will be closed, along with most major grocery stores, non-essential federal, provincial, regional and municipal government offices (including City Hall), banks, libraries, all LCBO and Beer Store locations, Canada Post, and community centres.

MiWay will follow a Sunday schedule, and GO Transit will operate on a Saturday schedule. Garbage and recycling collection will be delayed by one day, and all Community Recycling Centres will be closed.

Toronto

In Toronto, several places will remain open on New Year’s Day, including the Eaton Centre and Pacific Mall. Food and grocery options include Rabba, Summerhill Market, select Whole Foods and Wine Rack locations (call ahead), and Eataly. Many cafes, restaurants, and bars will also operate (confirm hours before heading out). Popular tourist attractions such as Ripley’s Aquarium, the Toronto Zoo, the ROM, Casa Loma, the AGO, the Aga Khan Museum, Arcadia Earth and Canada’s Wonderland Winterfest will welcome visitors alongside outdoor ice rinks, parks, and trails.

Non-emergency government services, including City Hall, civic centres, libraries, banks and Canada Post, will be closed. Most major grocery stores, the St. Lawrence Market, LCBO and Beer Store locations, and shopping centres such as CF Fairview Mall, Yorkdale, Sherway Gardens and Scarborough Town Centre will not operate.

The TTC will run on a holiday schedule, and GO Transit will follow a Saturday schedule. There will be no garbage collection on Jan. 1, 2026.

Brampton

In Brampton on New Year’s Day, the Gore Meadows Covered Outdoor Skating Rink, Chinguacousy Park Skate Recreational Trail, and the Boreham Park rink will be open. Bramalea City Centre, most drug stores and pharmacies, Rabba Fine Foods stores, and takeout coffee shops such as Tim Hortons and Starbucks will also be operational (check individual locations for hours). Many restaurants will operate, but calling ahead is recommended.

Most major stores, all major grocery stores (e.g., Metro, Longo’s), Shoppers World, all non-essential federal, provincial and municipal government offices (including City Hall), Brampton Library branches, banks, LCBO, Beer Store locations, Canada Post, and Region of Peel Community Recycling Centres will be closed. Peel Art Gallery Museum and Archives (PAMA) will also be closed on Jan. 1.

Waste collection will be delayed by one day.

Brampton Transit will operate on a Sunday/Holiday service schedule and GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule.

Halton – Burlington, Oakville, Milton

On New Year’s Day, several places will remain open, including Toronto Premium Outlets (9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.). Local parks, outdoor recreational amenities, outdoor light festivals, movie theatres, and gas stations will be open. Most Shoppers Drug Mart locations, smaller grocery stores such as Rabba, Starbucks, Tim Hortons, and some restaurants will operate (but call ahead to confirm). Municipal parking lots will also be available.

A number of places will be closed, including Oakville Place, Mapleview Centre, Burlington Centre, Milton Mall, major grocery stores, banks, libraries, Beer Stores, LCBOs, Oakville Museum, Milton Sports Centre, Mattamy National Cycling Centre, arenas, Rotary Pond skating rink, community centres, and all levels of government offices (including City Hall/Town Hall) will be closed. Canada Post will not provide mail services. Waste collection will not take place on Jan. 1.

Oakville Transit will operate on a holiday schedule, Burlington Transit will operate on a Sunday/holiday schedule, Milton Transit will not be running and GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule.

Hamilton

On New Year’s Day, Hamilton parks and trails will be open. Residents can also visit movie theatres, skating rinks (Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre – Serafini Family Ice Pad, Dundas Driving Park, Freelton Community Park, and Waterdown Memorial Park will be open), most convenience stores, some pharmacies, some restaurants, and Splitsville Entertainment.

Many places will be closed to observe the holiday, including banks, Beer Stores, Canada Post, all non-essential federal, provincial and municipal government offices (including Hamilton administration offices, which will re-open on Jan. 2), most grocery stores, Hamilton Farmers’ Market, LCBO, libraries, all Hamilton Civic Museums, Lime Ridge Mall and recreation centres.

There will be no waste collection and Community Recycling Centres will be closed.

Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) buses will operate on a Sunday schedule. There will be no service on 12 Wentworth and 42 Mohawk East. All subscription trips on DARTS are cancelled (except dialysis). Reservations are required to ride on New Year’s Day. GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule.

Niagara Region – Niagara Falls, St Catharines

On New Year’s Day in St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Welland, and Port Colborne, many businesses in Niagara Falls will remain open due to the city’s “special tourist area exemption.” Residents and visitors can access some smaller grocery stores, most convenience stores and gas stations, and select Shoppers Drug Marts (call ahead). Most restaurants in Niagara Falls will be open, but call ahead to confirm. The Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights, movie theatres, and most family-oriented tourist attractions in Niagara Falls will also be open (call ahead to confirm). Additionally, the Outlet Collection at Niagara and the Niagara Pen Centre will be open.

All LCBOs, Beer Stores, most major grocery stores, non-essential federal, provincial, regional and municipal government offices (including city and town halls), banks, libraries, community centres, recycling centres, arenas, and malls outside of Niagara Falls will be closed, including Fairview Mall in St. Catharines and Seaway Mall in Welland. Some wineries and breweries may be open, but call ahead to confirm.

There will be no garbage pickup on Jan. 1.

Bus service runs until 2 a.m. on Dec. 31 in Welland, St. Catharines and Niagara Falls. There is no service on Niagara Transit on Jan. 1. GO Transit runs on a Saturday schedule on Jan. 1.

Durham Region

On New Year’s Day, most convenience stores, some Shoppers Drug Mart locations (call ahead to confirm), and select Starbucks and Tim Hortons locations will be open. Other cafes, restaurants and bars will be open, but call ahead to confirm. While most breweries will be closed, some cannabis stores and ski resorts, such as Ski Lakeridge and Dagmar, will welcome visitors. Movie theatres and most tourist attractions will also be open.

Malls, including Oshawa Centre and The Shops at Pickering City Centre, will be closed, although restaurants with street-facing entrances may be open (call ahead). Most major grocery stores, banks, non-essential federal, provincial, regional and municipal government offices (including city and town halls), libraries, community centres, Canada Post, LCBOs, and Beer Stores will not operate.

Waste collection will be pushed ahead one day.

DRT Pulse buses will be running on a weekend schedule and GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule.