UK bank holidays · 2026
UK bank holidays 2026, in all four nations.
England and Wales have 8 bank holidays in 2026, Scotland 10 and Northern Ireland 10. When one falls on a weekend, the next free weekday is a substitute day.
Next bank holiday in England and Wales:Christmas Day, Friday 25 December· in 79 days
| Bank holiday | England and Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day1 January, or the next weekday | Thu 1 Jan | Thu 1 Jan | Thu 1 Jan |
| 2nd January2 January, or the next free weekday (Scotland) | Not a bank holiday | Fri 2 Jan | Not a bank holiday |
| St Patrick's Day17 March, or the next weekday (Northern Ireland) | Not a bank holiday | Not a bank holiday | Tue 17 Mar |
| Good FridayThe Friday before Easter Sunday | Fri 3 Apr | Fri 3 Apr | Fri 3 Apr |
| Easter MondayThe Monday after Easter Sunday (not Scotland) | Mon 6 Apr | Not a bank holiday | Mon 6 Apr |
| Early May bank holidayFirst Monday in May | Mon 4 May | Mon 4 May | Mon 4 May |
| Spring bank holidayLast Monday in May | Mon 25 May | Mon 25 May | Mon 25 May |
| World Cup bank holidayA one-off for Scotland's first World Cup match since 1998 | Not a bank holiday | Mon 15 Jun | Not a bank holiday |
| Battle of the Boyne12 July, or the next weekday (Northern Ireland) | Not a bank holiday | Not a bank holiday | Mon 13 JulSubstitute day |
| Summer bank holidayFirst Monday in August in Scotland, last Monday in August elsewhere | Mon 31 Aug | Mon 3 AugSubstitute day | Mon 31 Aug |
| St Andrew's Day30 November, or the next Monday (Scotland) | Not a bank holiday | Mon 30 Nov | Not a bank holiday |
| Christmas Day25 December, or the next free weekday | Fri 25 Dec | Fri 25 Dec | Fri 25 Dec |
| Boxing Day26 December, or the next free weekday | Mon 28 DecSubstitute day | Mon 28 DecSubstitute day | Mon 28 DecSubstitute day |
| Bank holidays | 8 | 10 | 10 |
Bank holidays aren't an automatic right to a day off: whether you get the day, and whether it's paid, depends on your contract. Dates follow the GOV.UK list; Scotland also has local holidays that vary by town.
Working days in 2026, nation by nation.
Monday to Friday, minus the bank holidays that land on a weekday.
253
Working days in England and Wales
251
Working days in Scotland
251
Working days in Northern Ireland
| Month | England & Wales | Scotland | N. Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21 | 20 | 21 |
| February | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| March | 22 | 22 | 21 |
| April | 20 | 21 | 20 |
| May | 19 | 19 | 19 |
| June | 22 | 21 | 22 |
| July | 23 | 23 | 22 |
| August | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| September | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| October | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| November | 21 | 20 | 21 |
| December | 21 | 21 | 21 |
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🇺🇸 Christmas Day · 🇺🇸 New Year's Day · 🇬🇧 Christmas Day · 🇬🇧 Boxing Day · 🇬🇧 New Year's Day · 🇨🇦 Christmas Day · 🇨🇦 New Year's Day
Questions
When is the next bank holiday?
In England and Wales, Christmas Day on Friday 25 December.
How many bank holidays are there in 2026?
England and Wales have 8, Scotland 10 and Northern Ireland 10. Scotland's count includes a one-off bank holiday on Monday 15 June for the World Cup.
What happens when a bank holiday falls on a weekend?
A substitute day is given, usually the following Monday. In 2026 that moves Boxing Day to Monday 28 December in England and Wales.
Do I get bank holidays off work?
Not automatically. Your employer doesn't have to give you bank holidays off, or pay you for them; it depends on your contract. Employers can count bank holidays towards the 5.6 weeks of paid holiday most workers are entitled to (28 days for someone working five days a week).
How are Scotland's bank holidays different?
Scotland has 2 January and St Andrew's Day (30 November), and its summer bank holiday is the first Monday in August, not the last. Easter Monday isn't a bank holiday there. Many local holidays vary by town, too.
Which bank holidays does Northern Ireland have?
The eight England and Wales have, plus St Patrick's Day (17 March) and the Battle of the Boyne, also called Orangemen's Day (12 July). That's 10 in 2026.
How many working days are in 2026 in the UK?
253 in England and Wales, 251 in Scotland and 251 in Northern Ireland, counting Monday to Friday and leaving out bank holidays.
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