UK Bank Holidays 2025 and 2026 - Business Wales
Whether a worker has to work on bank holidays is up to their emplo
businesswales.gov.walesHere’s the latest overview of UK bank holidays, with focus on England & Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Dates are for 2026, with notes where observance differs by nation.
-
England & Wales (2026)
- New Year’s Day: Friday, 1 January
- Good Friday: Friday, 3 April
- Easter Monday: Monday, 6 April
- Early May Bank Holiday: Monday, 4 May
- Spring Bank Holiday: Monday, 31 May
- Summer Bank Holiday: Monday, 31 August
- Christmas Day: Friday, 25 December
- Boxing Day (substitute day if needed): Monday, 28 December
-
Scotland (2026)
- New Year’s Day: Thursday, 1 January
- Early May Bank Holiday: not observed in Scotland in the same way as England/Wales; typically first Monday in May
- Spring Bank Holiday: Monday, 25 May (regional)
- Summer Bank Holiday: Monday, 2 August
- Christmas Day: Friday, 25 December
- Boxing Day: Saturday, 26 December (observance often moved to Monday, 28 December, if a substitute day is needed)
-
Northern Ireland (2026)
- New Year’s Day: Thursday, 1 January
- St Patrick’s Day: Wednesday, 17 March
- Good Friday: Friday, 3 April
- Easter Monday: Monday, 6 April
- Early May Bank Holiday: Monday, 4 May
- Spring Bank Holiday: Monday, 31 May
- Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day): Monday, 13 July
- Summer Bank Holiday: Monday, 31 August
- Christmas Day: Friday, 25 December
- Boxing Day: Saturday, 26 December (observed on Monday, 28 December, if substitute day applies)
Practical notes:
- Some holidays are observed only in certain nations of the UK, so check local guidance if you work cross-border or have holidays attached to employer policy.
- If you’re planning travel or long weekends, consider that some workplaces grant an alternative substitute day if a bank holiday falls on a weekend; confirm with your employer.
If you’d like, I can tailor a quick calendar of 2026 bank holidays for your specific location (London/England, Scotland, or Northern Ireland) and flag any substitute days. Also I can pull the exact government or official guidance for the latest year if you specify the country within the UK.