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Halloween has officially evolved past a single night of trick-or-treating into an entire cultural season, and a new survey reveals that a majority of Canadians also wish they could keep the sweet treats flowing all year long.
According to the 2026 Mars Canada Spooktacular Trends Report, 57 per cent of Canadians say they crave their favourite Halloween candy outside of the autumn months and 55 per cent went as far as to say they would buy Halloween-themed candy year-round if it remained available.
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The survey highlights a generational shift in how people view the spooky holiday, and nearly half of all respondents (49 per cent) considered Halloween to be a full season rather than just one day — a sentiment that is driven heavily by younger generations.
The data shows that 48 per cent of Canadians count Halloween among their absolute favourite holidays of the year, a number that skyrockets to 63 per cent for Gen Z (those born between 1997 and 2012) and 57 per cent for Millennials (people born between 1981 and 1996).
Three in four Canadians planned to buy Halloween candy this year, outpacing those buying costumes (54 per cent) or decor (57 per cent).
GenZers have the biggest sweet tooth with 84 per cent of them buying Halloween sweets but a whopping 90 per cent of folks in Atlantic Canada buy candy for the holiday.
The candy choice matters, too: 61 per cent of buyers choose treats based on what they think their guests will enjoy most rather than their own preferences, and 61 per cent firmly believe the type of candy you hand out says something specific about you as a host.
The national poll also discovered that one in five Canadians (21 per cent) do not know any of their neighbours well and 62 per cent know two or fewer people living on their block.
Younger generations are the most isolated, with 34 per cent of Gen Z reporting zero connection to their immediate neighbours.
The pressure to deliver on Halloween is ramping up as well. More than half of Canadians (51 per cent) reported feeling increasing expectations surrounding the holiday.
Once again, the generational divide is stark with 73 per cent of Gen Z respondents feeling the rise in expectations, and 63 per cent pointing directly to social media as a primary contributor.
Among Millennials (those born between 1981 and 1996) 57 per cent are feeling the pressure, while among Gen X respondents (those born between 1965 and 1980) 48 per cent noticed increased expectations. Boomers (people born between 1946 and 1964) were the most relaxed, with only 39 per cent feeling the strain.
- The survey conducted by Ipsos Canada sampled 1,000 adult Canadians between Sept. 29 and Oct. 1. The credibility interval, a measure of precision used for online, nonprobability polls, for this survey is plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
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