UK bank holidays 2026
England and Wales have eight bank holidays in 2026, Scotland ten and Northern Ireland ten. The first is New Year’s Day on Thursday 1 January 2026; the last in England and Wales is Boxing Day on Monday 28 December 2026.
From GOV.UK’s bank holidays data, read 15 October 2026. Calendar files open in Outlook, Apple Calendar and Google Calendar.
England and Wales: 8 bank holidays in 2026
| Date | Bank holiday |
|---|---|
| Thursday 1 January 2026 | New Year’s Day |
| Friday 3 April 2026 | Good Friday |
| Monday 6 April 2026 | Easter Monday |
| Monday 4 May 2026 | Early May bank holiday |
| Monday 25 May 2026 | Spring bank holiday |
| Monday 31 August 2026 | Summer bank holiday |
| Friday 25 December 2026 | Christmas Day |
| Monday 28 December 2026 | Boxing Day Substitute day |
Scotland: 10 bank holidays in 2026
| Date | Bank holiday |
|---|---|
| Thursday 1 January 2026 | New Year’s Day |
| Friday 2 January 2026 | 2nd January |
| Friday 3 April 2026 | Good Friday |
| Monday 4 May 2026 | Early May bank holiday |
| Monday 25 May 2026 | Spring bank holiday |
| Monday 15 June 2026 | World Cup bank holiday |
| Monday 3 August 2026 | Summer bank holiday |
| Monday 30 November 2026 | St Andrew’s Day |
| Friday 25 December 2026 | Christmas Day |
| Monday 28 December 2026 | Boxing Day Substitute day |
Northern Ireland: 10 bank holidays in 2026
| Date | Bank holiday |
|---|---|
| Thursday 1 January 2026 | New Year’s Day |
| Tuesday 17 March 2026 | St Patrick’s Day |
| Friday 3 April 2026 | Good Friday |
| Monday 6 April 2026 | Easter Monday |
| Monday 4 May 2026 | Early May bank holiday |
| Monday 25 May 2026 | Spring bank holiday |
| Monday 13 July 2026 | Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day) Substitute day |
| Monday 31 August 2026 | Summer bank holiday |
| Friday 25 December 2026 | Christmas Day |
| Monday 28 December 2026 | Boxing Day Substitute day |
Working days in 2026, month by month
Monday to Friday, less each nation’s bank holidays. Need it for your own dates? The working days calculator counts between any two, or finds the date a number of working days away.
| Month | England and Wales | Scotland | Northern 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 |
| 2026 | 253 | 251 | 251 |
Questions
How many bank holidays are there in 2026?
England and Wales: 8. Scotland: 10. Northern Ireland: 10. The dates are GOV.UK’s.
When is the Easter bank holiday in 2026?
Good Friday is Friday 3 April 2026, and Easter Monday is Monday 6 April 2026. Easter Monday is not a bank holiday in Scotland.
How many working days are there in 2026?
England and Wales: 253. Scotland: 251. Northern Ireland: 251, counting Monday to Friday and leaving out that nation’s bank holidays. The working days calculator counts any two dates.
What is a substitute day?
When a bank holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, a weekday is given instead, usually the Monday after. In 2026: Boxing Day, Monday 28 December 2026 (England and Wales); Boxing Day, Monday 28 December 2026 (Scotland); Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day), Monday 13 July 2026 (Northern Ireland); Boxing Day, Monday 28 December 2026 (Northern Ireland).
How do I put the bank holidays in my calendar?
Download the calendar file for your nation from this page and open it: Outlook, Apple Calendar and Google Calendar all import it. Each is an all-day event that does not show you as busy.
Bank holiday dates: GOV.UK, Open Government Licence, read 15 October 2026. Other years: 2027, 2028 · all UK bank holidays.
The bank holiday is in the calendar. Is the work?
A bank holiday takes a working day out of the week your deadline lands in. Radar puts every deadline on one radar and checks the free hours left before each, bank holidays and all.