Full List of UK Bank Holidays 2026
As 2025 comes to an end, many people in the UK are already planning their time off for 2026. There are a few important changes to the bank holiday calendar next year, especially around the festive season, so it’s worth taking note. The first bank holiday of 2026 in the United Kingdom will be New Year’s Day on Thursday, 1st January. In Scotland, an extra holiday will be observed on Friday, 2nd January, giving Scots a long weekend to start the year.
St Patrick’s Day on Tuesday, 17th March, will be a bank holiday in Ireland only. Soon after, Easter will create a long weekend for most regions, running from Friday, 3rd April (Good Friday) to Monday, 6th April (Easter Monday).
May will bring two bank holidays: the Early May Bank Holiday on Monday, 4th May, and the Spring Bank Holiday on Monday, 25th May.
All UK regions will enjoy the Summer Bank Holiday on Monday, 31st August.
Looking ahead to the end of the year, there are some festive changes in 2026. Christmas Day falls on a Friday and Boxing Day on a Saturday. To compensate, a substitute bank holiday will be observed on Monday, 28th December, giving many households a four-day weekend.
The following year, in 2027, both Christmas Day and Boxing Day will again have substitute bank holidays, falling on Monday, 27th December and Tuesday, 28th December, while New Year’s Day 2028 will be celebrated on Monday, 3rd January, due to it occurring on a Saturday.