- England and Wales
- 8 bank holidays
- Scotland
- 10 bank holidays
- Northern Ireland
- 10 bank holidays
UK bank holidays 2026
In 2026, there are 8 bank holidays in England and Wales, 10 in Scotland and 10 in Northern Ireland.
The first bank holiday is New Year’s Day, Thursday 1 January 2026; the last is Boxing Day (substitute day), Monday 28 December 2026.
England and Wales: bank holidays 2026
This is the GOV.UK bank holiday list for England and Wales. You can use the source link to check the government's published dates.
| Date | Day | Bank holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday | New Year’s Day | |
| Friday | Good Friday | |
| Monday | Easter Monday | |
| Monday | Early May bank holiday | |
| Monday | Spring bank holiday | |
| Monday | Summer bank holiday | |
| Friday | Christmas Day | |
| Monday | Boxing DaySubstitute day |
Scotland: bank holidays 2026
Scotland's GOV.UK list includes the day after New Year's Day and St Andrew's Day, but not Easter Monday. Its summer bank holiday falls at the start of August rather than the end.
| Date | Day | Bank holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday | New Year’s Day | |
| Friday | 2nd January | |
| Friday | Good Friday | |
| Monday | Early May bank holiday | |
| Monday | Spring bank holiday | |
| Monday | World Cup bank holiday | |
| Monday | Summer bank holiday | |
| Monday | St Andrew’s Day | |
| Friday | Christmas Day | |
| Monday | Boxing DaySubstitute day |
Northern Ireland: bank holidays 2026
Northern Ireland's GOV.UK list includes St Patrick's Day and the Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day). You can check the published dates using the source link.
| Date | Day | Bank holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday | New Year’s Day | |
| Tuesday | St Patrick’s Day | |
| Friday | Good Friday | |
| Monday | Easter Monday | |
| Monday | Early May bank holiday | |
| Monday | Spring bank holiday | |
| Monday | Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day)Substitute day | |
| Monday | Summer bank holiday | |
| Friday | Christmas Day | |
| Monday | Boxing DaySubstitute day |
About substitute days. The "substitute day" label identifies the replacement weekday shown in GOV.UK's bank holiday list.
Bank holidays in 2026 at a glance
- In England and Wales, the Easter bank holidays are Good Friday, Friday 3 April 2026, and Easter Monday, Monday 6 April 2026.
- Boxing Day falls on a weekend, so Monday 28 December 2026 is the substitute day in all the lists (England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland).
- The substitute day for Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day) is Monday 13 July 2026 in Northern Ireland.
- 5 of the 8 bank holidays in England and Wales in 2026 fall on a Monday.
- Including weekends, 2026 has 5 long weekends in England and Wales, 8 long weekends in Scotland and 6 long weekends in Northern Ireland.
Choosing the right bank holiday list
Choose the list for England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland to see bank holidays for 2026. The dates come from GOV.UK. Source links and the dates they were read are listed under Sources and updates at the end of this page, so you can check the original information. Bank holiday dates alone do not tell you whether a school is open. For school attendance dates, check your school's own calendar alongside the relevant term dates.
Other years: bank holidays 2027, bank holidays 2028.
Questions and answers
Why are there different bank holiday lists?
GOV.UK publishes separate lists for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with different holidays in each. Scotland also has its summer bank holiday at the start of August rather than the end.
What is a substitute day?
When a bank holiday falls at the weekend, a weekday is usually given instead. GOV.UK labels that replacement a "substitute day".
Are schools open on bank holidays?
In England, councils' term calendars treat bank holidays as days off school. Check your school's calendar for any exception.
Can new bank holidays be added?
An extra bank holiday is occasionally announced for a special occasion. It appears in the lists when GOV.UK publishes it.