As residents across Durham Region prepare to welcome 2026, it’s helpful to know what services and businesses will be operating on New Year’s Day, Thursday, Jan. 1. Similar to Christmas Day, most locations will be closed, though a few essential and recreational services will remain available.
What’s Open
- Most convenience stores
- Select Shoppers Drug Mart locations (call ahead to confirm hours)
- Some Starbucks locations (reduced hours)
- Most Tim Hortons locations (hours may vary)
- Some restaurants, particularly Chinese restaurants
- Movie theatres
- Most tourist attractions
- Some cannabis stores (call ahead)
- Ski resorts, including Ski Lakeridge and Dagmar
Note: Most breweries will be closed.What’s Closed
- Shopping malls (restaurants with exterior entrances may be open)
- Major grocery stores
- Banks
- Government offices, including city and town halls
- Community centres
- Libraries
- Canada Post (no mail pickup or delivery)
- LCBO
- Beer Store
Transit
- Durham Region Transit (DRT) Pulse buses will operate on a weekend schedule
- GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule
Waste Collection
Because New Year’s Day falls on a Thursday:
- Garbage, recycling and blue box collection will be delayed by one day
- Regional transfer stations in Oshawa, Port Perry, Cannington and Bowmanville will be closed
(These stations are closed for most of the holiday period, including Dec. 25–29 and Jan. 1)
Residents are encouraged to check directly with businesses or municipal websites for any last-minute schedule changes.
Photo Credits : Insauga
