Census.gc.ca — Welcome to the 2026 Census
The next census will be taking place in May 2026.
www.census.gc.caHere’s the latest on Census in Canada based on official Statistics Canada updates.
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The 2026 Census of Population collection has begun, with some northern and remote communities already in the field; nationwide data collection for the rest of Canada started in May 2026. This marks the next decennial census cycle aimed at updating population and housing statistics.[1]
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Key milestones for 2026 include new questions on topics such as sexual orientation, homelessness, and general health to address data gaps. The census questions were published in the Canada Gazette and are now publicly available for Canadians to review.[5]
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Statistics Canada is actively recruiting for the census, with approximately 32,000 census jobs across the country to support data collection and processing in 2026.[6]
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For ongoing preparation, a 2026 Census questionnaire and related materials have been released, and Canadians are encouraged to participate to ensure accurate representation of the population. Additional background and supporting geography products related to the census cycle have been posted by Statistics Canada.[2][10]
Illustrative example:
- In early 2026, collection began in northern regions, while most of Canada entered the main collection period in May; this staggered start helps cover remote communities first and scale up nationwide operations.[1]
If you’d like, I can pull the exact dates for your area of interest in Canada, or summarize the new 2026 census questions in detail.[5][1]