Thursday 5 November 2026 The independent guide to bank holidays in the United Kingdom Dates checked against GOV.UK

May Bank Holidays 2027

There are two May bank holidays in 2027: the early May bank holiday on Monday 3 May and the spring bank holiday on Monday 31 May. Both apply in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

May and December are the only months with two bank holidays in every UK region. In May both fall on a Monday, so each gives a three-day weekend without any annual leave.

Are there two bank holidays in May every year?

Yes, in a normal year. The early May bank holiday is on the first Monday in May and the spring bank holiday on the last Monday. Both can be moved by royal proclamation, and occasionally May gets a third: in 2023 the coronation of King Charles III added Monday 8 May, so May 2023 had three bank holidays.

May 2027

  • Early May bank holidayAll UK regionsMon 3 May
  • Spring bank holidayAll UK regionsMon 31 May

May 2028

  • Early May bank holidayAll UK regionsMon 1 May
  • Spring bank holidayAll UK regionsMon 29 May

May 2027

MONTUEWEDTHUFRISATSUN
Selected day
Monday 3 May 2027
A bank holiday in every UK region
  • England & WalesBank holiday: Early May bank holiday
  • ScotlandBank holiday: Early May bank holiday
  • Northern IrelandBank holiday: Early May bank holiday
Bank holidaySelected dayToday / next holidayWeeks start on Monday · Source: GOV.UK

The early May bank holiday

The first Monday in May has been a bank holiday across the UK since 1978. It is often called May Day, although it is not tied to 1 May itself. In 2020 it moved to Friday 8 May to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day, the only change to it in the GOV.UK data since 2019.

The spring bank holiday

The last Monday in May replaced Whit Monday as a bank holiday under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971. The details, including the 2022 move for the Platinum Jubilee, are on the spring bank holiday page.

Planning around the May bank holidays

Each May bank holiday is on a Monday, so four days of annual leave, Tuesday to Friday, turn either one into nine days off in a row. In 2027 that means Saturday 1 to Sunday 9 May, or Saturday 29 May to Sunday 6 June.

Frequently asked questions

Is 1 May a bank holiday?

Only when 1 May is a Monday, as it was in 2023 and will be in 2028. The bank holiday is the first Monday in May, whatever its date.

Are the May bank holidays the same in Scotland and Northern Ireland?

Yes. Both May bank holidays fall on the same days in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Sources: GOV.UK bank holidays data and Privy Council proclamations. Checked 4 November 2026.

  1. Spring bank holiday
  2. Easter bank holidays
  3. UK bank holidays 2027
  4. Next bank holiday

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