UK Bank Holidays 2026
This page lists all official UK bank holidays for 2026. Bank holidays in the United Kingdom are days when most businesses, banks, and schools are closed. The dates vary slightly between England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Summary
TL;DR: The UK has between 8 and 10 bank holidays in 2026, depending on the region. England and Wales have 8, Scotland has 9, and Northern Ireland has 10. Key dates include New Year’s Day (1 January), Good Friday (3 April), Easter Monday (6 April), the early May and spring bank holidays (4 May and 25 May), summer bank holiday (3 August in Scotland, 31 August elsewhere), Christmas Day (25 December), and Boxing Day substitute (28 December).
What are UK Bank Holidays?
Bank holidays are public holidays in the United Kingdom established by the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971. On these days, banks are closed, and most workers are entitled to a day off, though this depends on their employment contract. Bank holidays do not automatically grant employees a day off; entitlement depends on the terms of employment.
Complete List of UK Bank Holidays 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Thursday | New Year’s Day | All UK |
| 2 January | Friday | 2nd January | Scotland only |
| 17 March | Tuesday | St Patrick’s Day | Northern Ireland only |
| 3 April | Friday | Good Friday | All UK |
| 6 April | Monday | Easter Monday | England, Wales, Northern Ireland |
| 4 May | Monday | Early May Bank Holiday | All UK |
| 25 May | Monday | Spring Bank Holiday | All UK |
| 13 July | Monday | Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day) | Northern Ireland only |
| 3 August | Monday | Summer Bank Holiday | Scotland only |
| 31 August | Monday | Summer Bank Holiday | England, Wales, Northern Ireland |
| 30 November | Monday | St Andrew’s Day | Scotland only |
| 25 December | Friday | Christmas Day | All UK |
| 28 December | Monday | Boxing Day (substitute) | All UK |
Bank Holiday Counts by Region
| Region | Number of Bank Holidays |
|---|---|
| England | 8 |
| Wales | 8 |
| Scotland | 9 |
| Northern Ireland | 10 |
Regional Bank Holiday Pages
For detailed information specific to your region, visit these pages:
- England and Wales bank holidays 2026
- Scotland bank holidays 2026
- Northern Ireland bank holidays 2026
Substitute Days
When a bank holiday falls on a weekend, a substitute weekday is given. In 2026, Boxing Day (26 December) falls on a Saturday, so the substitute bank holiday is Monday 28 December.