8 bank holidays in England and Wales, 10 in Scotland and 10 in Northern Ireland.
Next in 2026Fri 25 DecemberChristmas DaySource: GOV.UK · checked 4 November 2026England and Wales have 8 bank holidays in 2026, Scotland 10 and Northern Ireland 10. Scotland’s total is one higher than usual because of the one-off World Cup bank holiday on Monday 15 June 2026. The last two dates of the year are Christmas Day on Friday 25 December and the Boxing Day substitute on Monday 28 December.
All bank holidays 2026 by region
The table lists all 2026 bank holidays with the regions they apply to. Past dates stay in the list so you can check what happened earlier in the year.
| Date | Bank holiday | England & Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 1 Jan | New Year’s Day | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Fri 2 Jan | 2nd January | – | ✓ | – | |
| Tue 17 Mar | St Patrick’s Day | – | – | ✓ | |
| Fri 3 Apr | Good Friday | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Mon 6 Apr | Easter Monday | ✓ | – | ✓ | |
| Mon 4 May | Early May bank holiday | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Mon 25 May | Spring bank holiday | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Mon 15 Jun | World Cup bank holiday | – | ✓ | – | |
| Mon 13 Jul | Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day) | – | – | ✓ | substitute day |
| Mon 3 Aug | Summer bank holiday | – | ✓ | – | |
| Mon 31 Aug | Summer bank holiday | ✓ | – | ✓ | |
| Mon 30 Nov | St Andrew’s Day | – | ✓ | – | |
| Fri 25 Dec | Christmas Day | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Mon 28 Dec | Boxing Day | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | substitute day |
Source: GOV.UK bank holidays data, checked 4 November 2026.
The 2026 calendar month by month
What’s different in 2026
Scotland had a one-off World Cup bank holiday. Monday 15 June 2026 was a bank holiday in Scotland to mark the men’s team reaching the World Cup finals, following the opening game against Haiti. The King approved it by royal proclamation, as the Scottish Government announced. It applied in Scotland only and does not repeat.
Boxing Day moves to Monday 28 December. Christmas Day 2026 is a Friday, so Boxing Day falls on Saturday 26 December. The bank holiday moves to the following Monday in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The Battle of the Boyne holiday moved to Monday 13 July. In 2026, 12 July is a Sunday, so Northern Ireland’s bank holiday was on the Monday as a substitute day.
St Andrew’s Day is on a Monday. 30 November 2026 is itself a Monday, so Scotland’s bank holiday stays on the day and gives a long weekend without a substitute.
Christmas 2026: how to get the longest break
Christmas Day (Friday), the Boxing Day substitute (Monday 28 December) and New Year’s Day 2027 (Friday 1 January) sit inside one week. Booking the three working days in between, 29 to 31 December, gives 10 days off in a row, from Friday 25 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027. In Scotland, 2 January 2027 is a Saturday, so the extra Scottish bank holiday moves to Monday 4 January and the break runs one day longer.
| Bank holiday | Without leave | Bridge the gap | Whole weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | 1 days | – | Book 4 days → 11 days off (Thu 25 Dec – Sun 4 Jan) |
| Good Friday + Easter Monday | 4 days | – | Book 8 days → 16 days off (Sat 28 Mar – Sun 12 Apr) |
| Early May bank holiday | 3 days | – | Book 4 days → 9 days off (Sat 2 May – Sun 10 May) |
| Spring bank holiday | 3 days | – | Book 4 days → 9 days off (Sat 23 May – Sun 31 May) |
| Summer bank holiday | 3 days | – | Book 4 days → 9 days off (Sat 29 Aug – Sun 6 Sep) |
| Christmas Day + Boxing Day + New Year’s Day | 4 days | Book 3 days → 10 days off (Fri 25 Dec – Sun 3 Jan) | Book 7 days → 16 days off (Sat 19 Dec – Sun 3 Jan) |
| Bank holiday | Without leave | Bridge the gap | Whole weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day + 2nd January | 4 days | – | Book 3 days → 11 days off (Thu 25 Dec – Sun 4 Jan) |
| Good Friday | 3 days | – | Book 4 days → 9 days off (Sat 28 Mar – Sun 5 Apr) |
| Early May bank holiday | 3 days | – | Book 4 days → 9 days off (Sat 2 May – Sun 10 May) |
| Spring bank holiday | 3 days | – | Book 4 days → 9 days off (Sat 23 May – Sun 31 May) |
| World Cup bank holiday | 3 days | – | Book 4 days → 9 days off (Sat 13 Jun – Sun 21 Jun) |
| Summer bank holiday | 3 days | – | Book 4 days → 9 days off (Sat 1 Aug – Sun 9 Aug) |
| St Andrew’s Day | 3 days | – | Book 4 days → 9 days off (Sat 28 Nov – Sun 6 Dec) |
| Christmas Day + Boxing Day + New Year’s Day + 2nd January | 4 days | Book 3 days → 11 days off (Fri 25 Dec – Mon 4 Jan) | Book 11 days → 23 days off (Sat 19 Dec – Sun 10 Jan) |
| Bank holiday | Without leave | Bridge the gap | Whole weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | 1 days | – | Book 4 days → 11 days off (Thu 25 Dec – Sun 4 Jan) |
| St Patrick’s Day | 1 days | – | Book 4 days → 9 days off (Sat 14 Mar – Sun 22 Mar) |
| Good Friday + Easter Monday | 4 days | – | Book 8 days → 16 days off (Sat 28 Mar – Sun 12 Apr) |
| Early May bank holiday | 3 days | – | Book 4 days → 9 days off (Sat 2 May – Sun 10 May) |
| Spring bank holiday | 3 days | – | Book 4 days → 9 days off (Sat 23 May – Sun 31 May) |
| Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day) | 3 days | – | Book 4 days → 9 days off (Sat 11 Jul – Sun 19 Jul) |
| Summer bank holiday | 3 days | – | Book 4 days → 9 days off (Sat 29 Aug – Sun 6 Sep) |
| Christmas Day + Boxing Day + New Year’s Day | 4 days | Book 3 days → 10 days off (Fri 25 Dec – Sun 3 Jan) | Book 7 days → 16 days off (Sat 19 Dec – Sun 3 Jan) |
Assumes a Monday-to-Friday working week. Leave days are counted on working days only; check your own contract and shift pattern.
Frequently asked questions about 2026
How many bank holidays are there in England in 2026?
England and Wales have 8 bank holidays in 2026. The extra June bank holiday applied only in Scotland.
Is Christmas Eve a bank holiday in 2026?
No. Christmas Eve (Thursday 24 December 2026) and New Year’s Eve (Thursday 31 December 2026) are normal working days in every UK region, although some employers close early.
Where can I see 2027?
All 2027 dates, with what changes compared with 2026, are on the page for UK bank holidays 2027.
Sources: GOV.UK bank holidays data and Privy Council proclamations. Checked 4 November 2026.