UK Bank Holidays 2026: Full List for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
The UK has eight bank holidays in England and Wales in 2026, nine in Scotland and ten in Northern Ireland. The dates aren’t identical across the four nations, and the differences catch people out — especially around New Year and the August bank holiday.
One quirk worth flagging immediately: because Boxing Day falls on a Saturday in 2026, the substitute holiday moves to Monday 28 December, giving England and Wales a four-day Christmas break.
England and Wales — 8 bank holidays
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Thursday | New Year’s Day |
| 3 April | Friday | Good Friday |
| 6 April | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 4 May | Monday | Early May Bank Holiday |
| 25 May | Monday | Spring Bank Holiday |
| 31 August | Monday | Summer Bank Holiday |
| 25 December | Friday | Christmas Day |
| 28 December | Monday | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
Scotland — 9 bank holidays
Scotland differs in three places: it takes 2 January rather than Easter Monday, holds its summer holiday at the start of August rather than the end, and observes St Andrew’s Day at the end of November.
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Thursday | New Year’s Day |
| 2 January | Friday | 2nd January |
| 3 April | Friday | Good Friday |
| 4 May | Monday | Early May Bank Holiday |
| 25 May | Monday | Spring Bank Holiday |
| 3 August | Monday | Summer Bank Holiday |
| 30 November | Monday | St Andrew’s Day |
| 25 December | Friday | Christmas Day |
| 28 December | Monday | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
Northern Ireland — 10 bank holidays
Northern Ireland adds St Patrick’s Day in March and the Battle of the Boyne in July. In 2026 the Twelfth falls on a Sunday, so it’s observed on Monday 13 July.
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Thursday | New Year’s Day |
| 17 March | Tuesday | St Patrick’s Day |
| 3 April | Friday | Good Friday |
| 6 April | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 4 May | Monday | Early May Bank Holiday |
| 25 May | Monday | Spring Bank Holiday |
| 13 July | Monday | Battle of the Boyne (substitute day) |
| 31 August | Monday | Summer Bank Holiday |
| 25 December | Friday | Christmas Day |
| 28 December | Monday | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
Long weekends in 2026
- 3–6 April — Easter (Fri–Mon), four days in England and Wales
- 2–4 May — Early May Bank Holiday (Sat–Mon)
- 23–25 May — Spring Bank Holiday (Sat–Mon)
- 29–31 August — Summer Bank Holiday (Sat–Mon)
- 25–28 December — Christmas (Fri–Mon), four days
- 1–4 January — New Year, four days in Scotland thanks to 2 January
There’s no bank holiday between the end of August and Christmas in England and Wales — a long stretch that makes late-year travel planning more valuable, and the August bank holiday one of the busiest weekends of the year for domestic trips and short-haul flights.
Planning around UK bank holidays
UK bank holidays are the most predictable travel peaks of the British year. The consequences are straightforward:
- Easter is the biggest spring getaway — book ferries, Eurostar and cottages by January.
- Early May and Spring bank holidays fill the Lake District, Cornwall and the Cotswolds months ahead.
- August bank holiday is the single busiest weekend for domestic travel. Airport queues are at their worst.
- Christmas and New Year — 25 December is a near-total shutdown: almost everything closes, including most public transport.
If you’re travelling abroad from the UK, the Christmas travel guide covers the December booking windows in detail, and Best Time to Visit Japan shows how to line a trip up with a UK bank holiday weekend.
Frequently asked questions
How many bank holidays are there in 2026?
England and Wales have eight bank holidays in 2026, Scotland has nine, and Northern Ireland has ten.
Is Boxing Day a bank holiday in 2026?
Boxing Day falls on Saturday 26 December 2026, so the bank holiday is observed on Monday 28 December instead.
Do Scotland and England have the same bank holidays?
No. Scotland takes 2 January instead of Easter Monday, holds its summer bank holiday on the first Monday of August rather than the last, and observes St Andrew’s Day on 30 November.
Are shops open on bank holidays in the UK?
Most shops and supermarkets open on bank holidays, often with reduced hours. Christmas Day is the main exception, when nearly everything closes.
Our sources
Dates verified against the GOV.UK bank holiday schedule for England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Last reviewed: 15 October 2026.