As restaurants, florists and grocery stores prepare for a love-filled weekend, Moneris, Canada’s leading commerce provider, looked at how Valentine’s Day spend shifted last year to give us a glimpse of what merchants can expect this year.
The spend data shows that across key merchant categories, in 2025 total spend on Valentine’s Day increased by 46% over the previous week. Valentine’s Day is seemingly becoming a bigger event. When looking at year-over-year comparison, Canadian spend on Valentine’s Day increased by 20% from 2024 to 2025.
The businesses that benefited, according to Moneris:
- Canadians used Valentine’s Day as a reason to go to restaurants. Compared to the previous week, restaurant spend rose 36% in 2025. The total number of transactions at restaurants also increased by 10% week-over-week;
- Canadians are still buying each other flowers, as florists saw a 318% increase in total spend over the previous week. The number of transactions at florists increased by 555% week-over-week;
The 88% week-over-week increase in total spend at grocery stores on Valentine’s Day might suggest that some Canadians also potentially opted to spend Valentine’s Day in. This might be date nights at home, Galentine’s Day gatherings, singles events or full family activities. The total number of transactions increased by 69% week-over-week.
What this could mean for 2026:
- By examining shifts in transaction volume and spending patterns across regions and categories, we can uncover meaningful trends. These insights show where consumer demand was strongest, how habits evolved compared to the previous year and a practical lens for businesses to anticipate and plan for Valentine’s Day 2026;
- With this year’s Valentine’s Day falling on a Saturday, this could further support spending by giving Canadians more flexibility to engage in the festivities all weekend long.
Sean McCormick, Vice President of Business Development, Data Services, said: “Moneris data shows that Canadians tend to ramp up their spending on Valentine’s Day, with total Canadian spend in 2025 jumping more than 46% compared to the previous week. With this event falling on a Saturday this year, and as it continues to evolve beyond a traditional dinner for two to include friends, family and at-home celebrations, businesses should expect that late-stage momentum to carry into 2026.
“Moneris data illustrates that Canadians are investing more in Valentine’s Day experiences. Last year, total Canadian spend grew over 20% compared to 2024, with restaurant spending climbing nearly 22%, highlighting how dining out remains a cornerstone of this event while other celebrations continue to expand.”
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