UK Bank Holidays 2026

Official source: Use GOV.UK bank holidays for current dates. For work rights, GOV.UK says bank holidays do not have to be given as paid leave, although employers can include them in annual leave.

What is a bank holiday?

Bank holidays are public holidays in the United Kingdom when most businesses, schools, and government offices are closed. The name dates back to the Bank Holidays Act 1871, which designated specific days when banks would be closed. Today, the term is used for all official public holidays, regardless of whether banks are involved.

Bank holidays are not the same across the whole UK. England and Wales share the same bank holidays, but Scotland and Northern Ireland each have additional days that reflect their own traditions and history. Whether a worker gets paid time off on a bank holiday depends on their contract and annual leave arrangement.

England and Wales — 2026 dates

England and Wales have eight bank holidays in 2026: New Year’s Day (1 January), Good Friday (3 April), Easter Monday (6 April), Early May bank holiday (4 May), Spring bank holiday (25 May), Summer bank holiday (31 August), Christmas Day (25 December), and Boxing Day (28 December — the substitute day, since 26 December falls on a Saturday).

Scotland — differences

Scotland shares most bank holidays with England and Wales but has some notable differences. Scotland has an additional bank holiday on 2 January (the day after New Year’s Day), and St Andrew’s Day on 30 November is a bank holiday in Scotland but not in the rest of the UK.

Scotland does not observe Easter Monday as a bank holiday. The Summer bank holiday in Scotland falls on the first Monday in August (3 August in 2026), rather than the last Monday in August as in England and Wales.

Northern Ireland — differences

Northern Ireland shares most bank holidays with England and Wales but has two additional days. St Patrick’s Day on 17 March is a bank holiday in Northern Ireland only. The Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day) on 12 July is also unique to Northern Ireland — in 2026, since 12 July falls on a Sunday, the substitute bank holiday is Monday 13 July.

These additional holidays reflect Northern Ireland’s distinct cultural and historical traditions. St Patrick’s Day celebrates the patron saint, while the Battle of the Boyne commemorates the 1690 battle in which William of Orange defeated the forces of James II.

Key Facts

• England and Wales: 8 bank holidays in 2026
• Scotland: adds 2 January and St Andrew’s Day (30 November); no Easter Monday
• Northern Ireland: adds St Patrick’s Day (17 March) and Battle of the Boyne (12/13 July)
• Scotland’s Summer bank holiday is in early August, not late August
• Boxing Day 2026 substitute: Monday 28 December (26th is a Saturday)
• Bank holidays are not identical across the four nations