United Kingdom 2026 bank holiday guide
In England and Wales, common bank holidays include New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, the Early May bank holiday, the Spring bank holiday, the Summer bank holiday, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. Scotland and Northern Ireland have additional or different local holidays.
Bank holidays do not mean every workplace shuts: retail and tourism often stay busy. School holiday patterns also differ. Expect slower email replies on the Friday before a long weekend.
Use this page for the common 2026 England & Wales set, then verify devolved lists when your team is outside those nations.
Planning tips
- Easter weekend: peak spring short-break demand.
- August bank holiday: popular end-of-summer getaway.
- Christmas and Boxing Day: check rail engineering works.
- May bank holidays: frequent three-day weekends for domestic trips.
United Kingdom 2026 public holiday table
This 2026 view lists 8 public holiday dates for United Kingdom. The earliest entry is 2026-01-01 (New Year's Day, Thu) and the latest is 2026-12-26 (Boxing Day). The table below is fully readable without JavaScript.
| Date | Weekday | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-01 | Thu | New Year's Day |
| 2026-04-03 | Fri | Good Friday |
| 2026-04-06 | Mon | Easter Monday |
| 2026-05-04 | Mon | Labour Day / Greenery Day / Bank Holiday |
| 2026-05-25 | Mon | Memorial Day / Spring Bank Holiday |
| 2026-08-31 | Mon | Summer Bank Holiday / National Heroes Day |
| 2026-12-25 | Fri | Christmas Day |
| 2026-12-26 | Sat | Boxing Day |
Note: Compiled from public notices for planning. Confirm critical dates with official sources.
Cross-border planning notes
England & Wales bank holidays are not UK-wide — Scotland and Northern Ireland differ. Versus the U.S., the UK weights Easter and the August summer bank holiday more heavily.
UK holiday FAQ
Why “bank” holiday?
The name is historical; today it generally means a public holiday, not only a banking closure.
Is it the same across the UK?
No. Scotland and Northern Ireland publish different dates and local holidays.
Do shops close?
Large stores often open; Christmas Day restrictions are stricter than most other bank holidays.