England and Wales have 8 bank holidays in 2026. Scotland has 9, and Northern Ireland has 10. The differences reflect region-specific public holidays that do not apply across all 4 nations.
The key 2026 date to note is Monday, 28 December 2026, which is a substitute bank holiday because Boxing Day falls on Saturday, 26 December 2026.
Across the year, 2 UK bank holidays in 2026 require substitute dates: the Battle of the Boyne in Northern Ireland (Sunday, 12 July → observed Monday, 13 July) and Boxing Day (Saturday, 26 December → observed Monday, 28 December).
Understanding which dates are substitutes — and why — is essential for payroll planning, travel booking, and annual leave decisions.
Table of Contents
UK Bank Holidays 2026: Full List for England and Wales
England and Wales have 8 bank holidays in 2026, published by the UK Government on GOV.UK. The dates are as follows.
| Date | Day | Bank Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, 1 January 2026 | Thursday | New Year’s Day |
| Friday, 3 April 2026 | Friday | Good Friday |
| Monday, 6 April 2026 | Monday | Easter Monday |
| Monday, 4 May 2026 | Monday | Early May Bank Holiday |
| Monday, 25 May 2026 | Monday | Spring Bank Holiday |
| Monday, 31 August 2026 | Monday | Summer Bank Holiday |
| Friday, 25 December 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day |
| Monday, 28 December 2026 | Monday | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
Christmas Day falls on a Friday, 25 December 2026 — a standard working day, so no substitute is needed for Christmas itself. Boxing Day falls on Saturday, 26 December 2026. Because it falls on a weekend, Monday, 28 December 2026, becomes the substitute bank holiday under the rules established by the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971.
In 2027, both Christmas Day (Saturday, 25 December) and Boxing Day (Sunday, 26 December) fall on weekends, producing 2 substitute days: Monday, 27 December and Tuesday, 28 December. The 2026 configuration produces only 1 substitute day — a meaningful difference for payroll teams and retail scheduling.
Bank Holidays 2026 by UK Nation
Scotland Bank Holidays 2026
Scotland has 9 bank holidays in 2026. Scotland observes a different public holiday calendar from England and Wales under powers devolved through the Scotland Act 1998.
Scotland does not observe Easter Monday. Instead, it recognises Thursday, 2 January 2026 and Monday, 30 November 2026 (St Andrew’s Day).
| Date | Day | Bank Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, 1 January 2026 | Thursday | New Year’s Day |
| Friday, 2 January 2026 | Friday | 2nd January |
| Friday, 3 April 2026 | Friday | Good Friday |
| Monday, 4 May 2026 | Monday | Early May Bank Holiday |
| Monday, 25 May 2026 | Monday | Spring Bank Holiday |
| Monday, 3 August 2026 | Monday | Summer Bank Holiday |
| Monday, 30 November 2026 | Monday | St Andrew’s Day |
| Friday, 25 December 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day |
| Monday, 28 December 2026 | Monday | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
3 key differences separate Scotland’s 2026 bank holiday calendar from England and Wales:
- Easter Monday is not a bank holiday in Scotland
- Scotland’s Summer Bank Holiday falls on the first Monday of August — Monday, 3 August 2026 — rather than the last Monday of August (Monday, 31 August 2026). This creates a 4-week gap between Scotland’s summer bank holiday and the rest of the UK
- Scotland observes 2 additional bank holidays: Friday, 2 January, and Monday, 30 November (St Andrew’s Day)
The 4-week divergence in the Summer Bank Holiday has practical implications for tourism, staffing, and travel pricing across the UK. Scottish accommodation demand peaks earlier in August, while demand in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland peaks at the end of the month.
St Andrew’s Day 2026
Monday, 30 November 2026, is St Andrew’s Day, Scotland’s national day. It is a bank holiday in Scotland only. Employers in Scotland are not legally required to give workers the day off, but they must include it in the calculation of statutory leave entitlement.
The Scottish Parliament legislated St Andrew’s Day as a bank holiday through the St Andrew’s Day Bank Holiday (Scotland) Act 2007.
Northern Ireland Bank Holidays 2026
Northern Ireland has 10 bank holidays in 2026 — more than any other UK nation. It observes all 8 bank holidays of England and Wales, plus St Patrick’s Day and the Battle of the Boyne.
| Date | Day | Bank Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, 1 January 2026 | Thursday | New Year’s Day |
| Tuesday, 17 March 2026 | Tuesday | St Patrick’s Day |
| Friday, 3 April 2026 | Friday | Good Friday |
| Monday, 6 April 2026 | Monday | Easter Monday |
| Monday, 4 May 2026 | Monday | Early May Bank Holiday |
| Monday, 25 May 2026 | Monday | Spring Bank Holiday |
| Monday, 13 July 2026 | Monday | Battle of the Boyne (substitute day) |
| Monday, 31 August 2026 | Monday | Summer Bank Holiday |
| Friday, 25 December 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day |
| Monday, 28 December 2026 | Monday | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
The Battle of the Boyne is commemorated on 12 July each year. In 2026, 12 July falls on a Sunday, so the bank holiday is observed on Monday, 13 July 2026. This is the second substitute bank holiday in Northern Ireland’s 2026 calendar, alongside Monday, 28 December.
St Patrick’s Day falls on Tuesday, 17 March 2026 — a standard weekday, so no substitute is required.
Wales Bank Holidays 2026
Bank holidays in Wales 2026 are identical to England’s — 8 days on the same dates. St David’s Day (Tuesday, 1 March 2026) is not a bank holiday in Wales, though it is Wales’s national day. The Welsh Government has previously considered making it a bank holiday, but no legislation has been passed as of 2026.
How Many Bank Holidays Are There in 2026?
England and Wales have 8 bank holidays in 2026. Scotland has 9. Northern Ireland has 10.
| Nation | Bank Holidays in 2026 | Unique Holidays |
|---|---|---|
| England | 8 | None beyond UK-wide standard |
| Wales | 8 | None beyond UK-wide standard |
| Scotland | 9 | 2 January, St Andrew’s Day (30 Nov); no Easter Monday |
| Northern Ireland | 10 | None beyond the UK-wide standard |
In the international context, England and Wales have fewer statutory public holidays than most other European countries. Germany has between 9 and 13 public holidays, depending on the federal state. France has 11. Spain has 12 at the national level, with additional regional days.
Why Is Monday, 28 December 2026, a Bank Holiday?
Monday, 28 December 2026, is a bank holiday because Boxing Day (Saturday, 26 December 2026) falls on a weekend. Under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, when a statutory bank holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, a substitute weekday is designated — normally the following Monday.
The sequence for December 2026 works as follows:
| Date | Day | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, 25 December 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day bank holiday |
| Saturday, 26 December 2026 | Saturday | Boxing Day (falls on weekend — not observed) |
| Sunday, 27 December 2026 | Sunday | Weekend |
| Monday, 28 December 2026 | Monday | Substitute Boxing Day bank holiday |
This configuration means Boxing Day retail sales, which traditionally fall on 26 December, shift to Monday, 28 December 2026. Payroll teams processing December salary runs must account for the substitute date, as it affects which dates qualify as working days for payment timing purposes.
In 2025, both Christmas Day and Boxing Day fell on Thursday and Friday, respectively — no substitutes were needed. In 2027, both fall on weekends, requiring 2 substitute days. The 2026 configuration is simpler than the 2027 configuration, but requires attention because the Saturday Boxing Day is not immediately obvious.
Next Bank Holiday 2026: Upcoming Dates from February 2026
The next UK-wide bank holiday from February 2026 is Good Friday on Friday, 3 April 2026. The upcoming bank holidays in chronological order are listed below.
| Bank Holiday | Date | Nations |
|---|---|---|
| Good Friday | Friday, 3 April 2026 | England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland |
| Easter Monday | Monday, 6 April 2026 | England, Wales, Northern Ireland (not Scotland) |
| Early May Bank Holiday | Monday, 4 May 2026 | All UK nations |
| Spring Bank Holiday | Monday, 25 May 2026 | All UK nations |
| Scotland Summer Bank Holiday | Monday, 3 August 2026 | Scotland only |
| Battle of the Boyne | Monday, 13 July 2026 | Northern Ireland only |
| Summer Bank Holiday | Monday, 31 August 2026 | England, Wales, Northern Ireland |
| St Andrew’s Day | Monday, 30 November 2026 | Scotland only |
| Christmas Day | Friday, 25 December 2026 | All UK nations |
| Boxing Day (substitute) | Monday, 28 December 2026 | All UK nations |
Good Friday is technically a common law holiday rather than a statutory bank holiday under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 — but it is universally observed across all 4 UK nations and treated as a bank holiday for practical purposes by employers, businesses, and public services.
UK Bank Holidays 2026: Monthly Calendar Breakdown
January Bank Holiday 2026
Thursday, 1 January 2026, is New Year’s Day — a bank holiday across all 4 UK nations. Scotland additionally observes Friday, 2 January 2026 as a bank holiday. For workers in England and Wales, the New Year break extends from Wednesday, 31 December 2025, through Thursday, 1 January 2026, with Friday, 2 January, being a normal working day.
March Bank Holiday 2026
Tuesday, 17 March 2026, is St Patrick’s Day — a bank holiday in Northern Ireland only. It falls on a Tuesday in 2026, so no substitute date is required.
April Bank Holiday 2026
April 2026 contains 2 bank holidays: Good Friday (Friday, 3 April) and Easter Monday (Monday, 6 April). These 2 holidays anchor the Easter long weekend — a 4-day break from Friday, 3 April to Monday, 6 April 2026. Scotland does not observe Easter Monday, making Good Friday Scotland’s sole April bank holiday.
May Bank Holiday 2026
May 2026 contains 2 bank holidays: the Early May Bank Holiday on Monday, 4 May 2026, and the Spring Bank Holiday on Monday, 25 May 2026. May is the only month in the 2026 UK calendar that contains 2 bank holidays for all 4 nations simultaneously.
Monday, 25 May 2026 (Spring Bank Holiday) also falls on the first day of the May half-term school holiday for most schools in England and Wales, which runs from Monday, 25 May to Friday, 29 May 2026. This alignment creates an extended break opportunity for families.
July Bank Holiday 2026
Monday, 13 July 2026, is the Battle of the Boyne bank holiday — observed in Northern Ireland only. The commemoration date is 12 July, but because Sunday, 12 July, falls on a weekend, the substitute bank holiday moves to Monday, 13 July 2026.
August Bank Holiday 2026
Scotland’s Summer Bank Holiday falls on Monday, 3 August 2026. England, Wales, and Northern Ireland observe their Summer Bank Holiday on Monday, 31 August 2026. The 4-week gap between these 2 dates is one of the most significant structural differences in the UK public holiday calendar and affects tourism demand, staffing levels, and retail schedules across the country.
November Bank Holiday 2026
Monday, 30 November 2026, is St Andrew’s Day — a bank holiday in Scotland only. It is Scotland’s national day. Employers in Scotland are required to recognise it as part of statutory leave calculations, though they are not compelled to grant the specific day off if contractual arrangements substitute an alternative day.
December Bank Holiday 2026
December 2026 contains 2 bank holidays: Christmas Day on Friday, 25 December, and the substitute Boxing Day bank holiday on Monday, 28 December. Saturday, 26 December (Boxing Day) and Sunday, 27 December are not bank holidays. The Monday, 28 December substitute is the only additional working-day bank holiday in December 2026.
Annual Leave Planner: Maximising Bank Holidays 2026
Workers in England and Wales can extend their bank holidays significantly by booking annual leave on the working days surrounding each public holiday. The following planner shows the most efficient leave combinations for 2026.
January 2026: 4 Days Off for 1 Day of Leave
Book Friday, 2 January 2026 (1 day of annual leave) to achieve 4 consecutive days off from Thursday, 1 January to Sunday, 4 January 2026. Workers who carry over unused leave from 2025 can extend this by booking Tuesday, 30 December to Wednesday, 31 December 2025 for a potential 11-day break from Christmas Day 2025 through Sunday, 4 January 2026.
April 2026: 16 Days Off for 8 Days of Leave
Book Monday, 30 March to Thursday, 2 April 2026 (4 days) and Tuesday, 7 April to Friday, 10 April 2026 (4 days) for 16 consecutive days off from Saturday, 28 March to Sunday, 12 April 2026. The 2 Easter bank holidays (Good Friday and Easter Monday) provide the anchor, and 8 days of annual leave complete the full 16-day break.
Easter 2026 represents the highest leave multiplier of the year — 8 days of annual leave produce 16 consecutive days off.
May 2026: Two Separate 9-Day Breaks
May 2026 offers 2 independent opportunities to achieve 9 consecutive days off from 4 days of annual leave.
| Leave Dates (Annual Leave) | Total Break | Consecutive Days Off |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, 5 May – Friday, 8 May 2026 (4 days) | Saturday, 2 May – Sunday, 10 May 2026 | 9 days |
| Tuesday, 26 May – Friday, 29 May 2026 (4 days) | Saturday, 23 May – Sunday, 31 May 2026 | 9 days |
The second window (Tuesday, 26 May to Friday, 29 May) coincides with the May half-term school holiday, making it the most popular leave window of the spring for families.
August and September 2026: 9 Days for 4 Days of Leave
Workers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland can book Tuesday, 1 September to Friday, 4 September 2026 (4 days) for 9 consecutive days off from Saturday, 29 August to Sunday, 6 September 2026, using the Summer Bank Holiday on Monday, 31 August as the anchor.
Scottish workers should book Tuesday, 4 August to Friday, 7 August 2026 (4 days) for 9 consecutive days off from Saturday, 1 August to Sunday, 9 August 2026, using Scotland’s Summer Bank Holiday on Monday, 3 August.
Christmas and New Year 2026: 16 Days Off for 7 Days of Leave
Book Monday, 21 December to Thursday, 24 December 2026 (4 days) and Tuesday, 29 December to Thursday, 31 December 2026 (3 days) for 16 consecutive days off from Saturday, 19 December 2026 to Sunday, 3 January 2027. This uses the Christmas Day bank holiday (Friday, 25 December), the substitute Boxing Day bank holiday (Monday, 28 December), and the New Year’s Day bank holiday (Friday, 1 January 2027).
Scotland and Northern Ireland Additional Leave Opportunities
Workers in Scotland and Northern Ireland benefit from additional bank holidays not available in England and Wales:
- Scotland — St Andrew’s Day: Book Tuesday, 1 December to Friday, 4 December 2026 (4 days) for 9 consecutive days off from Saturday, 28 November to Sunday, 6 December 2026
- Northern Ireland — Battle of the Boyne: Book Tuesday, 14 July to Friday, 17 July 2026 (4 days) for 9 consecutive days off from Saturday, 11 July to Sunday, 19 July 2026
UK Long Weekends in 2026
2026 produces 6 automatic long weekends without any annual leave, created by bank holidays that fall on Mondays or Fridays. The Easter weekend is the longest guaranteed break at 4 consecutive days.
| Bank Holiday | Long Weekend Dates | Consecutive Days (No Leave Needed) |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thursday, 1 January – Sunday, 4 January 2026 | 4 days |
| Good Friday + Easter Monday | Friday, 3 April – Monday, 6 April 2026 | 4 days |
| Early May Bank Holiday | Saturday, 2 May – Monday, 4 May 2026 | 3 days |
| Spring Bank Holiday | Saturday, 23 May – Monday, 25 May 2026 | 3 days |
| Summer Bank Holiday | Saturday, 29 August – Monday, 31 August 2026 | 3 days |
| Christmas + Substitute Boxing Day | Friday, 25 December – Monday, 28 December 2026 | 4 days |
New Year’s Day 2026 falls on a Thursday, producing a 4-day break only if workers are off on the Friday. Without taking Friday, 2 January as annual leave, the automatic break is 1 day (Thursday, 1 January) before returning to work on Friday. Scotland’s Friday, 2 January bank holiday solves this automatically for Scottish workers.
Your Rights on Bank Holidays: UK Employment Law
Employers are not legally required to give workers paid time off on bank holidays. The statutory right to paid leave in the UK is 5.6 weeks per year (28 days for a full-time worker on a 5-day week) under the Employment Rights Act 1996. This entitlement may or may not include bank holidays — it depends on the individual employment contract.
3 common contractual arrangements apply in the UK:
- Bank holidays are included in the 28-day entitlement: Workers use part of their annual leave allowance on each bank holiday. They have no additional days to book off.
- Bank holidays are given in addition to the 28-day entitlement: Workers receive 28 days plus each bank holiday as separate paid leave. This is more generous than the statutory minimum.
- Workers have contracted hours that do not include bank holidays: Workers on non-standard schedules (part-time, shift work) receive pro-rata entitlement based on their working pattern.
There is no automatic legal right to enhanced pay (for example, double time) for working on a bank holiday. Whether enhanced pay applies depends entirely on the employment contract.
Part-time workers receive bank holiday entitlement on a pro-rata basis. A worker contracted to 3 days per week receives approximately 60% of the full-time bank holiday entitlement (16.8 hours, compared to 28 hours for a full-time worker).
Good Friday and Christmas Day are common law holidays — they are not listed as statutory bank holidays under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, but they are universally treated as bank holidays and included in all GOV.UK published lists.
Shops, Banks, and Services on Bank Holidays 2026
Most UK high street banks close on bank holidays. Online banking, mobile apps, and ATMs continue to operate normally. Planned bank transfers submitted on a bank holiday are typically processed on the next working day. The Faster Payments system does process some payments on bank holidays, but delays are possible for BACS and CHAPS transfers.
Major supermarkets open on bank holidays with adjusted hours. Tesco, Sainsbury’s, ASDA, and Morrisons typically operate reduced hours on bank holidays. On Christmas Day (Friday, 25 December 2026), most supermarkets close entirely or open for very limited morning hours. On the substitute Boxing Day (Monday, 28 December 2026), most operate near-normal hours. Confirm specific store hours on each retailer’s website, as times vary by location.
Royal Mail does not deliver post on bank holidays. Collections and deliveries are suspended on all 8 England and Wales bank holiday dates. This affects delivery timelines around Good Friday (Friday, 3 April), Easter Monday (Monday, 6 April), the May bank holidays, the August bank holiday, and the Christmas and Boxing Day period. Allow additional time for items posted immediately before any bank holiday.
Public transport runs reduced schedules on bank holidays. Most rail operators run a Sunday service timetable on bank holidays. Bus services vary by local operator. Always check National Rail Enquiries, Transport for London, or your regional transport authority’s website before travelling on any bank holiday date.
Frequently Asked Questions: UK Bank Holidays 2026
How many bank holidays are there in 2026?
England and Wales have 8 bank holidays in 2026. Scotland has 9. Northern Ireland has 10. The differences reflect region-specific cultural observances legislated under devolved powers.
When is the next bank holiday in 2026?
From February 2026, the next UK-wide bank holiday is Good Friday on Friday, 3 April 2026, followed by Easter Monday on Monday, 6 April 2026 (not observed in Scotland).
Why is Monday, 28 December 2026, a bank holiday?
Monday, 28 December 2026, is a substitute bank holiday for Boxing Day, which falls on Saturday, 26 December 2026. Under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, when a bank holiday falls on a weekend, the following Monday is designated as the substitute.
Does Scotland observe Easter Monday as a bank holiday in 2026?
No. Scotland does not observe Easter Monday. Scotland instead observes Friday, 2 January 2026, and Monday, 30 November 2026 (St Andrew’s Day), giving it 9 bank holidays total.
When is the Summer Bank Holiday 2026?
The Summer Bank Holiday falls on Monday, 31 August 2026, in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, it falls earlier — on Monday, 3 August 2026 — creating a 4-week difference from the rest of the UK.
Do employees have a legal right to bank holidays off?
No statutory right to bank holidays off exists unless the employment contract specifies it. Bank holidays may or may not be included within the 5.6 weeks of statutory annual leave — the contract determines entitlement.
Is Good Friday a statutory bank holiday in 2026?
Good Friday is a common law holiday, not a statutory bank holiday, but it is universally recognised and included in all official UK bank holiday lists. Friday, 3 April 2026, is observed as a bank holiday across all 4 UK nations.
How many bank holidays does Northern Ireland have in 2026?
Northern Ireland has 10 bank holidays in 2026 — more than any other UK nation. It observes all bank holidays of England and Wales, plus St Patrick’s Day (Tuesday, 17 March) and the Battle of the Boyne (Monday, 13 July, observed as a substitute for Sunday, 12 July).
How many days off can I get by booking leave around bank holidays in 2026?
Workers in England and Wales can achieve up to 61 consecutive days off across the year by booking annual leave strategically around bank holidays. The most efficient single period is Easter 2026, where 8 days of leave produce 16 consecutive days off.
Are the Boxing Day sales on Saturday, 26 December, or Monday, 28 December 2026?
Major Boxing Day retail sales in 2026 are expected on Monday, 28 December, the substitute bank holiday, rather than Saturday, 26 December. Retailers typically align sales events with the observed bank holiday date.
All bank holiday dates are published by the UK Government on GOV.UK. Employer obligations regarding bank holiday pay and leave are governed by the Employment Rights Act 1996 and individual employment contracts. Regional differences in Scotland are governed by the Scotland Act 1998. Always check GOV.UK for the most current confirmed dates.
