UK Bank Holidays 2026
As of Friday, October 2, 2026, the next bank holiday is Christmas Day on Friday, December 25, 2026 (84 days away). 2 dates remain on this list for the rest of the year.
UK bank holidays (England and Wales) in 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan | Thursday | New Year's Day |
| 3 Apr | Friday | Good Friday |
| 6 Apr | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 4 May | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| 25 May | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| 31 Aug | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| 25 Dec | Friday | Christmas Day |
| 28 Dec | Monday | Boxing Day (observed; the holiday itself falls on Sat, Dec 26) |
Bank holidays are the days when most banks and many businesses in the UK close. England and Wales have 8 bank holidays in 2026, listed above. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different lists: Scotland also has 2 January and St Andrew's Day (30 November), and Northern Ireland has St Patrick's Day (17 March) and the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne (12 July).
Good Friday and Easter Monday move with Easter, which falls on Sunday, April 5, 2026 in 2026. The Early May bank holiday is the first Monday in May, the Spring bank holiday is the last Monday in May, and the Summer bank holiday is the last Monday in August (in England and Wales). When New Year's Day, Christmas Day or Boxing Day falls on a weekend, a substitute weekday is given. In 2026, Boxing Day moves to Monday, December 28, 2026. Extra one-off bank holidays declared by the government, such as for a coronation, are not included until they are announced.
There is no automatic right to paid time off on a bank holiday: it depends on your contract, and the statutory minimum of 5.6 weeks of paid leave can include them. 2026 has 253 UK business days once the bank holidays are removed from the weekdays. To count working days around them use the working days calculator, and to see every date of the year open the 2026 calendar.
This is the complete list of bank holidays in England and Wales for 2026, with the weekday of each one. The dates come from the same holiday data our working days calculators use, so the list and the calculators always agree.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this list include Scotland and Northern Ireland?
No. It lists England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have some different bank holidays, so check the list for where you live or work.
Where do these dates come from?
They follow the bank holiday rules for England and Wales, including substitute weekdays when a holiday falls on a weekend and the Easter-based dates, and are generated from the same data our working days calculators use.
How many bank holidays are there in 2026?
England and Wales have 8 bank holidays in 2026: New Year's Day (Thu, Jan 1), Good Friday (Fri, Apr 3), Easter Monday (Mon, Apr 6), Early May bank holiday (Mon, May 4), Spring bank holiday (Mon, May 25), Summer bank holiday (Mon, Aug 31), Christmas Day (Fri, Dec 25), Boxing Day (Mon, Dec 28).
What is the next bank holiday?
As of Friday, October 2, 2026, the next bank holiday in England and Wales is Christmas Day on Friday, December 25, 2026.
Are bank holidays the same in Scotland and Northern Ireland?
No. Scotland has 2 January and St Andrew's Day as bank holidays and its summer bank holiday is on the first Monday in August; Northern Ireland adds St Patrick's Day and 12 July. This page lists England and Wales.
Do I get paid for a bank holiday?
Not automatically. There is no legal right to time off on a bank holiday; whether you are paid, and whether it counts towards your annual leave, depends on your employment contract.
When is Easter in 2026?
Easter Sunday is Sunday, April 5, 2026, so Good Friday is Friday, April 3, 2026 and Easter Monday is the day after Easter.