UK Bank Holidays 2026

UK Bank Holidays April 2026

April 2026 is defined by Easter. Good Friday falls on 3 April and is a bank holiday throughout the UK. Easter Monday on 6 April is a bank holiday in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland — but not in Scotland. For most workers, this creates a four-day Easter weekend without touching annual leave. The Easter dates shift every year because the holiday follows a lunar calculation; in 2026 it arrives relatively early in the spring calendar.

April 2026 Bank Holiday Dates

DateDayHolidayRegion
3 April 2026FridayGood FridayEngland, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
6 April 2026MondayEaster MondayEngland, Wales, Northern Ireland

Key Holidays Explained

Good Friday 2026

Good Friday falls on Friday 3 April 2026 and is a statutory bank holiday across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland — one of only two bank holidays that apply simultaneously to all four UK nations (the other being Christmas Day). It marks the Friday before Easter Sunday. Most businesses close, though shops may open with reduced hours. There are no Sunday trading-style legal restrictions on Good Friday openings for large retailers.

Easter Monday 2026

Easter Monday falls on Monday 6 April 2026. It is a bank holiday in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, but not in Scotland. In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, Good Friday and Easter Monday together produce a four-day weekend (Friday 3 April to Monday 6 April) at no cost in annual leave — one of the most efficient breaks in the 2026 calendar. Easter Sunday (5 April) is not a statutory bank holiday but is treated as a public holiday by custom.

Regional Differences in April 2026

England and Wales

2 bank holidays in April 2026: Good Friday (3 April) and Easter Monday (6 April). No annual leave is required for the full four-day Easter weekend. The break runs from Friday 3 April to Monday 6 April inclusive.

Scotland

1 bank holiday in April 2026: Good Friday (3 April) only. Easter Monday is not a statutory bank holiday in Scotland. Scottish workers who want the full four-day Easter break must take Monday 6 April as annual leave. Some Scottish employers grant Easter Monday voluntarily, but it carries no legal entitlement.

Northern Ireland

2 bank holidays in April 2026: Good Friday (3 April) and Easter Monday (6 April), identical to England and Wales. The four-day Easter weekend applies in full without requiring annual leave.

Quick Summary – April 2026 Bank Holidays

  • England and Wales: 2 bank holidays — Good Friday 3 April, Easter Monday 6 April
  • Scotland: 1 bank holiday — Good Friday 3 April only
  • Northern Ireland: 2 bank holidays — Good Friday 3 April, Easter Monday 6 April
  • No annual leave needed for the Easter weekend in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland
  • Scottish workers must book Monday 6 April as annual leave to get the full four-day break

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Good Friday in 2026?

Good Friday 2026 is on Friday 3 April. It is a bank holiday throughout the UK. Easter’s date changes each year — it falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after 21 March, which is why Good Friday can land anywhere between late March and late April.

Is Easter Monday a bank holiday in Scotland?

No. Easter Monday is not a bank holiday in Scotland. Scotland observes Good Friday but not Easter Monday as a statutory public holiday. Workers in Scotland need to take Monday 6 April 2026 as annual leave to enjoy the same four-day Easter weekend that workers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland receive automatically.

How many bank holidays are there in April 2026?

April 2026 has 2 bank holidays in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (Good Friday and Easter Monday), and 1 bank holiday in Scotland (Good Friday only). There are no other bank holidays in April 2026.

What date is Easter Monday 2026?

Easter Monday 2026 is Monday 6 April. It is a statutory bank holiday in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Most shops and many businesses will be closed or operating reduced hours. Scotland does not observe Easter Monday as a public bank holiday.

Do I get a day off in lieu if Easter Monday falls on my normal day off?

There is no automatic statutory right to a substitute day if a bank holiday falls on a day you do not normally work. Whether you receive an alternative day or enhanced pay depends entirely on your employment contract. Part-time workers are entitled to a pro-rata share of bank holidays, so employers may offer an alternative arrangement.

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