How to keep up with Bank of Canada interest rate updates in 2026
A new year means a new slate of Bank of Canada interest rate announcements.
These dates are key for Canadians to make important financial decisions, including buying a home or a mortgage.
In January, the Bank of Canada held the key interest rate at 2.25 per cent. It has maintained that rate since October 2025.
“Monetary policy is focused on keeping inflation close to the 2 per cent target while helping the economy through this period of structural adjustment,” reads the Jan. 28 announcement. “Governing Council judges that the current policy rate remains appropriate, conditional on the economy evolving broadly in line with the outlook we published today.”
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Penelope Graham, a Ratehub.ca mortgage expert, said this rate hold ushered “borrowers into what will likely be a prolonged period of stability.”
“As stated in its respective December and October announcements, the Bank reiterated the current policy rate is ‘appropriate’ to support current economic conditions, but emphasized it is prepared to act if necessary, pointing to risks posed by growing US protectionism, and heightened uncertainty,” she shared in January.
Overall, Canada’s central bank forecasted that economic growth will be soft in 2026, as businesses slow down hiring and Canadian trade eases U.S. volatility with increasing domestic demand.
“It also pointed to recent easing in core inflation measures, and expects inflation to remain close to its 2 per cent target over the year, further supporting the rationale for an extended rate hold,” explained Graham.
Canadians who want to stay on top of Bank of Canada policy interest rate updates should add the following dates to their calendar:
- Wednesday, March 18
- Wednesday, April 29
- Wednesday, June 10
- Wednesday, July 15
- Wednesday, Sept. 2
- Wednesday, Oct. 28
- Wednesday, Dec. 9
All interest rate announcements take place at 9:45 a.m. ET. The Bank of Canada Monetary Policy Report will be published with the January, April, July, and October rate updates.