What’s open and closed in Waterloo Region on New Year’s Day 2026?

An ION train at Conestoga Station in Waterloo on Nov. 9, 2023.

New Year’s Day is a holiday for many, which means most offices, businesses and stores will be closed or will operate on a different schedule.

Here’s what will be open and closed in Waterloo Region on Jan. 1.

Grocery stores, pharmacies, beer and liquor locations

Most grocery stores and pharmacies will be closed on New Year’s Day. Before heading out, check your nearest location for their operating hours.

Convenience and independent stores may remain open.

Expect most alcohol and cannabis stores to be closed on New Year’s Day.

Shopping malls and centres

Cambridge Centre, Fairview Park Mall in Kitchener and Conestoga Mall in Waterloo will be closed on Jan. 1.

Most independent stores will also be closed, so check ahead before stopping by.

Restaurants and bars

Operating hours may vary by location.

Banks

Banks will be closed.

Mail and parcel delivery

Canada Post locations and courier companies, such as Purolator, UPS and FedEx, will be closed.

Smaller companies and rideshares, such as Uber and Lyft, may still offer local delivery.

Libraries

All branches will be closed.

Museums

Schneider Haus, the Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum and McDougall Cottage Historic Site are closed.

Region of Waterloo International Airport

While administrative offices will be closed, all other airport operations are not affected by the holiday.

Public health clinics

Local public health clinics are closed.

Warming spaces

Warming spaces will be open on Jan. 1 at: 150 Main Street in Cambridge (from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) and 150 Frederick Street in Kitchener (from 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.).

Overnight warming spaces at 298 Lawrence Avenue in Kitchener and 6 Cambridge Street in Cambridge) will be open on New Year’s Eve.

Grand River Transit

Grand River Transit remains on a holiday service schedule until Jan. 4.

For New Year’s Eve:

• Expanded service on routes 7, 8, 12, 51, 53, 61, 201, 202, 204, 205, 206 and the 302 ION bus.
• Route 301 ION light rail: Last train departs Conestoga Station at 12:10 a.m. and Fairway Station at 1 a.m.

For New Year’s Day:

• No service on the following bus routes: 3, 4, 5, 14, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 29, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 57, 60, 62, 67, 76, 77, 78, 91 and 110.
• MobilityPLUS subscription trips are cancelled.

GO Transit and UP Express

Free rides on GO Transit from 7 p.m. on New Year’s Eve to 8 a.m. on New Year’s Day.

Free rides on UP Express on New Year’s Eve from 7 p.m. until end of service.

For New Year’s Eve, there will also be extra late trips on the following lines:

• Lakeshore West: The last train will leave Union Station at 7:47 a.m.
• Lakeshore East: The last train will leave Union Station at 7:20 a.m.
• Kitchener Line: The last train will leave Union Station at 6:34 a.m.
• Stouffville Line: The last train will leave Union Station at 4:00 a.m.
• Barrie Line: The last train will leave Union Station at 3:54 a.m.
• Richmond Hill Line: The last train will leave Union Station at 1:15 a.m.
• Milton Line: The last train will leave Union Station at 2:55 a.m.
• UP Express: Special trains will be departing every 30 minutes, starting at 1:15 a.m., with the last train leaving Union Station at 3:45 a.m.

Garbage and green bin collection

There will be no curbside waste collection New Year’s Day. Thursday collection will be delayed until Friday, and Friday collection will be moved to Saturday. Those are both double garbage collection days.

There are no double garbage collection days between Jan. 5 to Jan. 9. The next allowable dates are Jan. 12 to Jan. 16.

Christmas trees will be picked up from Jan. 5 to Jan. 16.

Transfer stations in Cambridge and Waterloo will be closed on Jan. 1.