Bank holidays 2026: full list of UK bank holidays in 2026 confirmed for England, Wales, Scotland, and NI
A simple guide to how time off is spread across the UK next year 📅
- The UK will have a mix of shared and nation-specific bank holidays in 2026
- England and Wales follow the same calendar, while Scotland and Northern Ireland differ
- Scotland has extra winter and national celebration holidays
- Northern Ireland observes additional culturally significant days not marked elsewhere
- Some holidays move to weekdays when they fall at weekends due to substitute days
Bank holidays are key dates in the calendar for workers, families, and businesses across the UK.
They often shape annual leave plans, school schedules, and opening hours for shops and public services.
While some bank holidays are shared across the UK, others vary by nation, reflecting local traditions and historical events. Below is the full list of confirmed UK bank holidays for 2026, broken down by country.
England and Wales bank holidays 2026
England and Wales share the same bank holiday calendar. In 2026, there are eight bank holidays in total:
- Thursday, January 1 – New Year’s Day
- Friday, April 3 – Good Friday
- Monday, April 6 – Easter Monday
- Monday, May 4 – Early May bank holiday
- Monday, May 25 – Spring bank holiday
- Monday, August 31 – Summer bank holiday
- Friday, December 25 – Christmas Day
- Monday, December 28 – Boxing Day (substitute day)
Scotland bank holidays 2026
Scotland has a slightly different set of bank holidays, including additional dates in January and for St Andrew’s Day:
- Thursday, January 1 – New Year’s Day
- Friday, January 2 – 2nd January
- Friday, April 3 – Good Friday
- Monday, May 4 – Early May bank holiday
- Monday, May 25 – Spring bank holiday
- Monday, August 3 – Summer bank holiday
- Monday, November 30 – St Andrew’s Day
- Friday, December 25 – Christmas Day
- Monday, December 28 – Boxing Day (substitute day)
Northern Ireland bank holidays 2026
Northern Ireland observes several unique bank holidays linked to cultural and historical events:
- Thursday, January 1 – New Year’s Day
- Tuesday, March 17 – St Patrick’s Day
- Friday, April 3 – Good Friday
- Monday, April 6 – Easter Monday
- Monday, May 4 – Early May bank holiday
- Monday, May 25 – Spring bank holiday
- Monday, July 13 – Battle of the Boyne (substitute day)
- Monday, August 31 – Summer bank holiday
- Friday, December 25 – Christmas Day
- Monday, December 28 – Boxing Day (substitute day)
What is a ‘substitute day’?
A substitute day is awarded when a usual bank holiday date falls on a weekend. Instead of losing the day off, the holiday is moved to the next available weekday, usually a Monday.
In 2026, Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, so the bank holiday is observed on Monday, December 28 across the UK.