Every UK bank holiday — every date, every region.
Calendars, history, regional rules and pay rights for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland — kept up to date, year after year.
UK bank holidays 2026 — England & Wales
All eight public holidays in chronological order. Today is highlighted; past dates appear faded.
| Date | Holiday | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 01Jan | New Year’s Day | Thursday |
| 03Apr | Good Friday | Friday |
| 06Apr | Easter Monday | Monday |
| 04May | Early May Bank HolidayMay Day | Monday |
| 25May | Spring Bank Holiday | Monday |
| 31Aug | Summer Bank Holiday | Monday |
| 25Dec | Christmas Day | Friday |
| 28Dec | Boxing Day (substitute)Substitute | Monday |
The whole 2026 calendar in one view
Every bank holiday across the year — circled and tagged. Hover a date for details.
Bank holidays vary across the UK
Public holidays differ from one nation to another. Tap a region for the full list.
The standard eight
- NY · Good Fri · Easter Mon
- Early May · Spring · Summer
- Christmas · Boxing Day
Same as England
- Identical to England
- St David’s Day not statutory
- 1 March observed unofficially
Two extra, one swap
- Includes 2 January
- Summer = first Mon Aug
- St Andrew’s Day · 30 Nov
Ten public holidays
- St Patrick’s Day · 17 Mar
- Battle of the Boyne · 13 Jul
- All Eng & Wales holidays
Calendars by year
Looking ahead — or back. Browse the full UK calendar for any recent or upcoming year.
Plan smarter — practical guides
How holidays affect your pay, rights, travel and business operations.
Pay & rights
Bank holiday pay, time-and-a-half myths, working on a public holiday.
Banks & Post Office
What’s open, what’s closed, ATM limits, payment delays.
Travel & transport
Train timetables, Tube engineering, motorway forecasts.
Holiday history
Why eight holidays, the 1871 Bank Holidays Act, royal proclamations.
Shops & retail
Sunday Trading Act, supermarket exceptions, Christmas Day closure.
Schools & childcare
Term dates by region, INSET days, half-term overlap.
The questions everyone asks
Quick answers to the most common questions about UK public holidays.
How many bank holidays in the UK in 2026?
England and Wales have 8 bank holidays in 2026. Scotland has 9 (it adds 2 January and St Andrew’s Day, swaps the August holiday). Northern Ireland has 10 (St Patrick’s Day and the Battle of the Boyne). Boxing Day is moved to Mon 28 Dec because 26 Dec is a Saturday.
Are employers required to give bank holidays off?
No. UK law guarantees a minimum of 5.6 weeks of paid statutory leave (28 days for a five-day week), which can — but doesn’t have to — include bank holidays. Whether you get the day off, get paid extra or a day in lieu depends on your contract.
Do banks really close on bank holidays?
Branches close, yes. But online banking, mobile apps and most ATMs work as normal. Faster Payments still settle, but BACS, Direct Debits and CHAPS may be delayed by one working day.
What if a bank holiday falls on a weekend?
The holiday is moved (a “substitute day”) to the next available weekday — almost always the following Monday. In 2026, Boxing Day (Sat 26 Dec) is substituted to Mon 28 Dec.
Is Good Friday 2026 a holiday across the whole UK?
Yes. Good Friday — 3 April 2026 — is a bank holiday in all four UK nations. Easter Monday (6 April 2026) is a bank holiday in England, Wales and NI but not officially in Scotland.
When is the next UK bank holiday?
The next public holiday in England, Wales and NI is the Spring Bank Holiday on Mon 25 May 2026. Then the Summer Bank Holiday on Mon 31 Aug 2026.