How to wear a poppy in Canada: 2026 dates and rules

You can wear a poppy in Canada from Saturday, Oct. 24, to Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, according to the Royal Canadian Legion, which runs the national campaign. The lapel poppy goes on the left side, over the heart, and it is free, though the Legion accepts donations to its Poppy Fund for veterans and their families.

Updated Oct. 22, 2026.

The Legion fixed the campaign to the same dates every year starting in 2026. The Canadian Armed Forces confirmed the change in a message to members dated Sept. 25, which said the Legion “has established 24 October as the annual start date of the national Poppy campaign.”

Key facts: wearing a poppy in 2026

Question	Answer
Campaign dates	Saturday, Oct. 24, to Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026
Who sets the dates	The Royal Canadian Legion
Which side	Left side, over the heart
Cost	Free, with donations accepted for the Poppy Fund
When to remove it	After the Nov. 11 ceremony, or at the end of the day
Length of the 2026 campaign	19 days, counting both Oct. 24 and Nov. 11

When can you start wearing a poppy in Canada?

You can start on Oct. 24. The Legion’s guidance says the lapel poppy “should be worn during the Remembrance period, from October 24 until November 11.”

That is earlier than the old rule of thumb. For years the campaign began on the last Friday in October, and the Veterans Affairs Canada poppy page still says so. In 2026 that Friday falls on Oct. 30. The Legion is the body that oversees poppy policy, and its Oct. 24 date is the one the Armed Forces have adopted, so it governs this year.

The Armed Forces message said the fixed dates give the campaign “a consistent and predictable period” each year. It also said the military’s own dress instructions would be amended in due course.

The change adds six days to the 2026 campaign. Under the old rule it would have started Oct. 30 and run 13 days, counting both ends. Starting Oct. 24, it runs 19 days.

Which side do you wear a poppy on?

Wear it on the left, over the heart. The Legion says the poppy “should be worn with respect on the left side, over the heart.”

Veterans Affairs Canada says the poppy is worn on the left lapel of a garment if possible. If your clothing has no lapel, it says the Legion recommends wearing it as close to your heart as possible, such as on a jacket, sweater or scarf.

The Legion also warns against hiding the flower. It says the lapel poppy is a “sacred symbol of Remembrance” and should not be fixed with any pin that obstructs it.

Is the poppy free, and where does the money go?

The poppy itself is free. The Legion says “Poppies are always free,” but it accepts donations to the Poppy Fund.

The Legion says the money supports Canada’s veterans and their families in need. Veterans Affairs Canada says donations provide direct help for veterans in financial distress, as well as funding for medical equipment, medical research, home services and long-term care facilities.

Canadians outside the country can get a poppy from Legion branches in the United States, Germany and the Netherlands, or through their Canadian embassy or consulate, the Legion said. The Legion’s separate online poppy store sells brooches and other products, which are not the free lapel poppy. Check with your local Legion branch or on legion.ca for where poppies are handed out near you.

When do you take the poppy off?

There is no single required moment. The Legion says poppies may be worn throughout the Remembrance period, including in the evening after the Remembrance Day ceremony, and that some people choose to remove theirs at the end of the day on Nov. 11.

Many people remove the poppy at the end of the ceremony and place it on the cenotaph or on a wreath as a sign of respect. Veterans Affairs Canada describes the same practice.

If you are not at a ceremony, the Legion says a removed poppy should be stored appropriately or disposed of respectfully. If one falls to the ground, the Legion encourages people to pick it up and brush it off so it can be kept or disposed of respectfully.

Can you wear a poppy outside the campaign period?

Sometimes. Veterans Affairs Canada says a person may wear one at certain other times, and the Legion says poppies may be worn at veterans’ funerals and commemorative events. Veterans Affairs Canada’s advice is to follow the lead of the event organizers.

Is Remembrance Day a day off?

Nov. 11 is a paid holiday in some provinces and territories and not in others. Our Remembrance Day 2026 guide lists the rules for every province and territory, which stores must close and when the two minutes of silence is held. If you are also planning around the fall clock change, see our Nov. 1 daylight saving time guide, since the change falls inside the poppy period.