When are the 2026 UK bank holidays?

There are eight bank holidays in England and Wales in 2026, nine in Scotland and ten in Northern Ireland. In England and Wales they are New Year's Day (Thursday 1 January), Good Friday (3 April), Easter Monday (6 April), the early May bank holiday (Monday 4 May), the spring bank holiday (Monday 25 May), the summer bank holiday (Monday 31 August), Christmas Day (Friday 25 December) and the Boxing Day substitute (Monday 28 December). Scotland adds 2 January and St Andrew's Day and has its summer holiday in early August; Northern Ireland adds St Patrick's Day and the Battle of the Boyne. The dates come from gov.uk Bank Holidays.

Every UK bank holiday in 2026

Source: gov.uk Bank Holidays. Substitute days apply when a holiday falls on a weekend.

Why Easter moves

Easter is set by the lunar calendar, so Good Friday and Easter Monday fall on different dates each year. In 2026 Good Friday is 3 April and Easter Monday is 6 April. That is why the spring holidays shift from one year to the next while Christmas and New Year stay fixed.

Plan around them

Several 2026 holidays sit next to a weekend, so a single booked day can buy a four-day break. The long-weekend maximiser works out the best dates for your nation and allowance. For the live next-holiday view and clock-change dates, see the 2026 UK bank holidays page.

Source: gov.uk Bank Holidays. Always confirm against gov.uk before booking travel or leave.