UK bank holidays
Each nation has its own list: England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. See all three side by side.
England and Wales
The next bank holiday in England and Wales is Christmas Day, Friday 25 December.
| Date | Day of the week | Bank holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | ||
| 25 December | Friday | Christmas Day |
| 28 December | Monday | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
| 2027 | ||
| 1 January | Friday | New Year's Day |
| 26 March | Friday | Good Friday |
| 29 March | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 3 May | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| 31 May | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| 30 August | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| 27 December | Monday | Christmas Day (substitute day) |
| 28 December | Tuesday | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
| 2028 | ||
| 3 January | Monday | New Year's Day (substitute day) |
| 14 April | Friday | Good Friday |
| 17 April | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 1 May | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| 29 May | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| 28 August | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| 25 December | Monday | Christmas Day |
| 26 December | Tuesday | Boxing Day |
Past bank holidays in England and Wales
Scotland
The next bank holiday in Scotland is St Andrew's Day, Monday 30 November.
| Date | Day of the week | Bank holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | ||
| 30 November | Monday | St Andrew's Day |
| 25 December | Friday | Christmas Day |
| 28 December | Monday | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
| 2027 | ||
| 1 January | Friday | New Year's Day |
| 4 January | Monday | 2nd January (substitute day) |
| 26 March | Friday | Good Friday |
| 3 May | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| 31 May | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| 2 August | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| 30 November | Tuesday | St Andrew's Day |
| 27 December | Monday | Christmas Day (substitute day) |
| 28 December | Tuesday | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
| 2028 | ||
| 3 January | Monday | New Year's Day (substitute day) |
| 4 January | Tuesday | 2nd January (substitute day) |
| 14 April | Friday | Good Friday |
| 1 May | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| 29 May | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| 7 August | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| 30 November | Thursday | St Andrew's Day |
| 25 December | Monday | Christmas Day |
| 26 December | Tuesday | Boxing Day |
Past bank holidays in Scotland
Northern Ireland
The next bank holiday in Northern Ireland is Christmas Day, Friday 25 December.
| Date | Day of the week | Bank holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | ||
| 25 December | Friday | Christmas Day |
| 28 December | Monday | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
| 2027 | ||
| 1 January | Friday | New Year's Day |
| 17 March | Wednesday | St Patrick's Day |
| 26 March | Friday | Good Friday |
| 29 March | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 3 May | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| 31 May | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| 12 July | Monday | Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day) |
| 30 August | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| 27 December | Monday | Christmas Day (substitute day) |
| 28 December | Tuesday | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
| 2028 | ||
| 3 January | Monday | New Year's Day (substitute day) |
| 17 March | Friday | St Patrick's Day |
| 14 April | Friday | Good Friday |
| 17 April | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 1 May | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| 29 May | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| 12 July | Wednesday | Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day) |
| 28 August | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| 25 December | Monday | Christmas Day |
| 26 December | Tuesday | Boxing Day |
Past bank holidays in Northern Ireland
Other dates in 2026, not bank holidays
- Sat 14 Feb Valentine's Day
- Sun 1 Mar St David's Day
- Sun 15 Mar Mothering Sunday (Mother's Day)
- Thu 23 Apr St George's Day
- Sun 21 Jun Father's Day
- Sat 31 Oct Halloween
- Thu 5 Nov Bonfire Night (Guy Fawkes Night)
- Sun 8 Nov Remembrance Sunday
- Thu 31 Dec New Year's Eve
How bank holidays work
When a bank holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the day off moves to a weekday, usually the Monday after. That weekday is the substitute day. If Christmas Day and Boxing Day both fall at the weekend, the substitute days are 27 and 28 December.
A bank holiday is not an automatic right to a day off. Your contract says whether you get it and whether it counts towards your annual leave, so check with your employer.
In Scotland, councils also set local holidays, such as Victoria Day in Edinburgh or the Glasgow Fair: see Scotland local holidays.