Public Holidays in the United Kingdom 2026 – Bank & National Holidays
Public holidays in the United Kingdom are generally published as bank holidays, but the dates are not identical across every part of the UK. England and Wales share one official schedule, while Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own bank holiday calendars. This page covers the verified 2026 dates for all three schedules, including regional and substitute holidays.
Also Explore: Public Holiday in UkraineNext Public Holiday in United Kingdom
Because bank holidays differ across the United Kingdom, the next holiday shown below may apply to a particular UK region rather than every part of the country. Check the relevant England and Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland schedule when planning around a holiday.
| Date | Day | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 30, 2026 | Monday | St Andrew’s Day | Regional Holiday |
Public Holidays in the United Kingdom 2026
The table below includes the official 2026 bank holiday entries for England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The three regional schedules are stored separately, so the same holiday or date may appear more than once when it is observed in more than one part of the United Kingdom.
A repeated date does not mean there are multiple separate UK-wide holidays on that day. It usually means the holiday appears independently in two or more regional bank holiday calendars.
| Date | Day | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Thursday | New Year’s Day | Regional Holiday |
| January 2, 2026 | Friday | 2nd January | Regional Holiday |
| March 17, 2026 | Tuesday | St Patrick’s Day | Regional Holiday |
| April 3, 2026 | Friday | Good Friday | Regional Holiday |
| April 6, 2026 | Monday | Easter Monday | Regional Holiday |
| May 4, 2026 | Monday | Early May | Regional Holiday |
| May 4, 2026 | Monday | Early May bank holiday | Regional Holiday |
| May 25, 2026 | Monday | Spring | Regional Holiday |
| May 25, 2026 | Monday | Spring bank holiday | Regional Holiday |
| June 15, 2026 | Monday | World Cup | Regional Holiday |
| July 13, 2026 | Monday | Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day) (substitute day) | Regional Holiday |
| August 3, 2026 | Monday | Summer | Regional Holiday |
| August 31, 2026 | Monday | Summer bank holiday | Regional Holiday |
| November 30, 2026 | Monday | St Andrew’s Day | Regional Holiday |
| December 25, 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day | Regional Holiday |
| December 28, 2026 | Monday | Boxing Day | Regional Holiday |
| December 28, 2026 | Monday | Boxing Day (substitute day) | Regional Holiday |
How Public Holidays Work in the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom does not have one identical bank holiday calendar covering England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The official UK Government bank holiday calendar publishes separate schedules for England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Several holidays are shared across the UK, while others apply only to certain regions. Scotland, for example, has 2nd January and St Andrew’s Day in its calendar. Northern Ireland includes St Patrick’s Day and the Battle of the Boyne. England and Wales have their own summer bank holiday date and observe Easter Monday.
Why Do Some UK Holiday Dates Appear More Than Once?
Some dates appear more than once in the VisaBoards table because the holiday records for England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland are maintained as separate regional entries.
For example, New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Christmas Day and several other bank holidays occur in multiple UK regional calendars. Each regional occurrence is retained so that the schedule accurately represents the official holiday system rather than incorrectly treating every bank holiday as one uniform nationwide entitlement.
Bank Holidays in England and Wales in 2026
England and Wales share the same official bank holiday schedule. There are eight bank holiday dates in the 2026 calendar.
The schedule includes New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, the Early May bank holiday, the Spring bank holiday, the Summer bank holiday, Christmas Day and a substitute day for Boxing Day.
The summer bank holiday in England and Wales falls on the final Monday in August. In 2026, this is Monday, August 31.
Bank Holidays in Scotland in 2026
Scotland has a separate bank holiday calendar from England and Wales. The Scottish Government bank holiday schedule lists ten dates for 2026.
Scotland’s calendar includes 2nd January and St Andrew’s Day, which are not part of the England and Wales schedule. Scotland also has an earlier summer bank holiday, falling on Monday, August 3 in 2026.
Easter Monday is not listed as a Scottish bank holiday in the official 2026 calendar.
Scotland’s World Cup Bank Holiday in 2026
Monday, June 15, 2026 was officially designated as an additional bank holiday in Scotland to mark the Scotland men’s national football team participating in the FIFA World Cup finals for the first time since 1998.
The Scottish Government confirmed the World Cup bank holiday on February 5, 2026 after the proposal was approved by His Majesty The King through Royal Proclamation.
The World Cup bank holiday applied to Scotland rather than the entire United Kingdom. As with other Scottish bank holidays, the declaration did not legally require every bank, employer or other business to close.
Bank Holidays in Northern Ireland in 2026
Northern Ireland has its own official bank holiday calendar. It includes several holidays also observed in England and Wales, along with additional dates specific to Northern Ireland.
St Patrick’s Day is a Northern Ireland bank holiday. The Battle of the Boyne, also identified by GOV.UK as Orangemen’s Day, is another Northern Ireland bank holiday.
In 2026, July 12 falls on a Sunday. Monday, July 13 is therefore listed as the substitute bank holiday for the Battle of the Boyne.
England and Wales vs Scotland vs Northern Ireland Bank Holidays
| Region | 2026 Bank Holiday Entries | Notable Differences |
|---|---|---|
| England and Wales | 8 | Easter Monday and an August 31 summer bank holiday are included. |
| Scotland | 10 | Includes 2nd January, the World Cup bank holiday, St Andrew’s Day and an August 3 summer bank holiday. |
| Northern Ireland | 10 | Includes St Patrick’s Day and the Battle of the Boyne holiday. |
These figures count the entries in each regional calendar separately. They should not be added together and described as 28 different UK-wide public holidays because many dates are shared between regions.
What Happens When a UK Bank Holiday Falls on a Weekend?
If a bank holiday falls on a weekend, a substitute weekday normally becomes the official bank holiday. GOV.UK states that the substitute day is usually the following Monday.
This affects Boxing Day in 2026. Boxing Day falls on Saturday, December 26, so Monday, December 28 is the substitute bank holiday.
Northern Ireland also has a substitute holiday in July 2026. The Battle of the Boyne falls on Sunday, July 12, so the official bank holiday is observed on Monday, July 13.
Long Weekends in the UK in 2026
Several UK bank holidays create useful long weekends for people who normally work Monday to Friday. The opportunities differ according to the regional bank holiday calendar.
England and Wales
- Easter: Good Friday and Easter Monday create a four-day weekend.
- Early May: The Monday bank holiday creates a three-day weekend.
- Spring bank holiday: The Monday holiday creates a three-day weekend.
- Summer bank holiday: Monday, August 31 creates a three-day weekend.
- Christmas: Christmas Day on Friday and the Boxing Day substitute holiday on Monday create an extended four-day break for many Monday-to-Friday workers.
Scotland
- New Year: New Year’s Day on Thursday and 2nd January on Friday are followed by the weekend.
- Good Friday: The Friday holiday creates a three-day weekend.
- Early May: The Monday bank holiday creates a three-day weekend.
- Spring: The Monday bank holiday creates a three-day weekend.
- World Cup: Monday, June 15 creates a three-day weekend.
- Summer: Monday, August 3 creates a three-day weekend.
- St Andrew’s Day: Monday, November 30 creates a three-day weekend.
- Christmas: Christmas Day on Friday and the Boxing Day substitute holiday on Monday create an extended break.
Northern Ireland
- Easter: Good Friday and Easter Monday create a four-day weekend.
- Early May: The Monday bank holiday creates a three-day weekend.
- Spring: The Monday bank holiday creates a three-day weekend.
- Battle of the Boyne: The substitute holiday on Monday, July 13 creates a three-day weekend.
- Summer: Monday, August 31 creates a three-day weekend.
- Christmas: Christmas Day on Friday and the Boxing Day substitute day on Monday create an extended break.
These examples assume a standard Monday-to-Friday working week. They do not mean every employee automatically receives the full period as paid leave.
Are UK Bank Holidays Paid Days Off?
No. A bank or public holiday does not automatically give every employee a legal right to paid leave.
GOV.UK states that employers do not necessarily have to provide paid leave on bank or public holidays. Whether an employee receives the day off, receives holiday pay, or has the date deducted from annual leave depends on the terms of employment and the employer’s holiday policy.
Do Businesses Have to Close on UK Bank Holidays?
No. A bank holiday does not automatically require every shop, bank, restaurant, office or other business to close.
Opening arrangements vary by organisation and sector. The Scottish Government specifically states that there is no law requiring banks or other businesses in Scotland to close on bank holidays.
Anyone planning to visit a business or service on a bank holiday should check its individual opening hours.
Are Schools Closed on UK Bank Holidays?
Schools are generally closed when a bank holiday applies in their area, but school term dates and additional closures are determined through the relevant education and local authority systems.
Families should check the calendar published by their school or local authority, particularly in Scotland where local public holidays can vary between council areas.
Are Government Offices Closed on Bank Holidays?
Many government offices and public services close or operate reduced services on relevant bank holidays. However, arrangements can vary by organisation, region and service.
Essential and emergency services may continue operating, while opening hours for individual public offices should be checked directly.
Local Public Holidays in Scotland
Scottish bank holidays are the same across Scotland, but local public holidays are a separate concept. The Scottish Government explains that local public holidays can be set by local councils and may vary between different areas.
Local holidays should therefore not automatically be treated as nationwide Scottish bank holidays or added to the main UK holiday calendar unless their regional scope is clearly identified.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the next public holiday in the United Kingdom?
The next listed holiday changes throughout the year and may depend on whether the holiday applies to England and Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland. Use the live Next Public Holiday section near the top of this page and check the relevant regional calendar.
How many public holidays are there in the United Kingdom in 2026?
There is no single useful UK-wide total because the official bank holiday calendars differ by region. England and Wales have eight bank holiday entries in 2026, Scotland has ten, and Northern Ireland has ten. Shared holidays appear in more than one regional calendar.
Why does the VisaBoards UK holiday table contain repeated dates?
The table combines separate regional holiday records for England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. If the same bank holiday applies in multiple regional calendars, the date may appear more than once.
Are UK bank holidays the same everywhere?
No. England and Wales share one schedule, while Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own official bank holiday calendars.
Is Easter Monday a bank holiday in Scotland in 2026?
No. Easter Monday is included in the 2026 calendars for England and Wales and Northern Ireland, but it is not listed in Scotland’s official 2026 bank holiday schedule.
Was June 15, 2026 a UK-wide bank holiday?
No. Monday, June 15, 2026 was an additional World Cup bank holiday in Scotland. It did not apply as a bank holiday across England, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Why is Boxing Day observed on December 28 in 2026?
Boxing Day falls on Saturday, December 26 in 2026. Monday, December 28 is therefore the substitute bank holiday.
Do employees automatically get bank holidays off?
No. Employers do not automatically have to provide paid leave on bank or public holidays. The employee’s contract and workplace holiday policy determine how bank holidays are handled.
Can Scotland have additional local public holidays?
Yes. Local councils in Scotland can determine local public holidays. These may vary between areas and are separate from the national Scottish bank holiday calendar.
Official Sources for Public Holidays in United Kingdom
- UK Government Bank Holidays — official schedules for England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, including substitute-day information.
- Scottish Government Bank Holiday Dates — official 2026 Scotland bank holiday calendar and information about Scottish and local holidays.
- Scottish Government World Cup Bank Holiday Confirmation — official confirmation of Monday, June 15, 2026 as an additional bank holiday in Scotland.
