- Christmas Day · all UK regionsFriday 25 December 2026
- Boxing Day · all UK regionsMonday 28 December 2026 (substitute day)
The Christmas bank holidays 2026 are Christmas Day on Friday 25 December and Boxing Day, which moves to Monday 28 December because 26 December is a Saturday. Both dates apply in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Why is the Boxing Day bank holiday on Monday 28 December?
Boxing Day 2026 falls on a Saturday. When a bank holiday lands at a weekend, the next weekday becomes the bank holiday instead, and GOV.UK lists Monday 28 December 2026 as the Boxing Day substitute day. You still get two bank holidays at Christmas; they are just split over the weekend, Friday and Monday.
December 2026
- England & WalesBank holiday: Christmas Day
- ScotlandBank holiday: Christmas Day
- Northern IrelandBank holiday: Christmas Day
Christmas bank holidays 2026 compared with other years
The weekday of 25 December changes every year, so the bank holiday dates do too. In 2027 both Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall at a weekend, which means two substitute days: Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December 2027.
| Year | Bank holiday | England & Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Christmas Day | Mon 25 Dec | Mon 25 Dec | Mon 25 Dec |
| Boxing Day | Tue 26 Dec | Tue 26 Dec | Tue 26 Dec | |
| 2024 | Christmas Day | Wed 25 Dec | Wed 25 Dec | Wed 25 Dec |
| Boxing Day | Thu 26 Dec | Thu 26 Dec | Thu 26 Dec | |
| 2025 | Christmas Day | Thu 25 Dec | Thu 25 Dec | Thu 25 Dec |
| Boxing Day | Fri 26 Dec | Fri 26 Dec | Fri 26 Dec | |
| 2026 | Christmas Day | Fri 25 Dec | Fri 25 Dec | Fri 25 Dec |
| Boxing Day | Mon 28 Dec | Mon 28 Dec | Mon 28 Dec | |
| 2027 | Christmas Day | Mon 27 Dec | Mon 27 Dec | Mon 27 Dec |
| Boxing Day | Tue 28 Dec | Tue 28 Dec | Tue 28 Dec | |
| 2028 | Christmas Day | Mon 25 Dec | Mon 25 Dec | Mon 25 Dec |
| Boxing Day | Tue 26 Dec | Tue 26 Dec | Tue 26 Dec | |
| 2029 | Christmas Day | Tue 25 Dec | Tue 25 Dec | Tue 25 Dec |
| Boxing Day | Wed 26 Dec | Wed 26 Dec | Wed 26 Dec | |
| 2030 | Christmas Day | Wed 25 Dec | Wed 25 Dec | Wed 25 Dec |
| Boxing Day | Thu 26 Dec | Thu 26 Dec | Thu 26 Dec | |
| 2031 | Christmas Day | Thu 25 Dec | Thu 25 Dec | Thu 25 Dec |
| Boxing Day | Fri 26 Dec | Fri 26 Dec | Fri 26 Dec |
Source: GOV.UK bank holidays data (confirmed years), checked 4 November 2026. Later years are calculated from the usual rules and marked provisional.
Which days between Christmas and New Year are bank holidays?
Only Christmas Day, Boxing Day (or their substitutes) and New Year’s Day. The days in between, including Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, are normal working days in every UK region, although some workplaces close or finish early by their own choice. In Scotland 2 January is an extra bank holiday; in 2027 it falls on a Saturday, so the Scottish bank holiday moves to Monday 4 January 2027.
For Christmas 2026 that gives this pattern in England, Wales and Northern Ireland:
| Date | Day | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Dec 2026 | Thursday | Working day (Christmas Eve) |
| 25 Dec 2026 | Friday | Bank holiday: Christmas Day |
| 28 Dec 2026 | Monday | Bank holiday: Boxing Day (substitute) |
| 29–31 Dec 2026 | Tue–Thu | Working days |
| 1 Jan 2027 | Friday | Bank holiday: New Year’s Day |
Booking the three working days from 29 to 31 December gives 10 days off in a row, from Friday 25 December to Sunday 3 January. Scotland gets one more day, because 4 January is its 2 January substitute.
Payday and payments over Christmas
Bacs only processes payments on banking days, so the bank holidays shorten the processing window. When payday falls on a bank holiday, your employer decides whether you are paid on the working day before or after; the payday calculator shows both. Bank branch opening hours over Christmas vary by bank, so check your own bank’s branch finder.
Frequently asked questions
Is Christmas Eve a bank holiday?
No. Christmas Eve is not a bank holiday anywhere in the UK. Whether you get the day or afternoon off depends on your employer.
Do you get both days off if Boxing Day is on a Saturday?
The bank holiday moves to Monday 28 December 2026, so the day off exists on paper. Whether you get it off, and whether it is paid, depends on your contract: GOV.UK states that employers do not have to give paid leave on bank holidays.
Is 27 December a bank holiday in 2026?
No. 27 December 2026 is a Sunday. The substitute bank holiday is Monday 28 December.
Sources: GOV.UK bank holidays data and Privy Council proclamations. Checked 4 November 2026.