When is Bonfire Night?
Bonfire Night, or Guy Fawkes Night, is 5 November every year. In 2026 it is Thursday 5 November, and in 2027 Friday 5 November. It is not a bank holiday, and fireworks may be set off until midnight that night rather than the usual 11pm.
Bonfire Night and the weekends either side
| Year | Bonfire Night | Saturday before | Saturday after |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Thursday 5 November | Saturday 31 October | Saturday 7 November |
| 2027 | Friday 5 November | Saturday 30 October | Saturday 6 November |
| 2028 | Sunday 5 November | Saturday 4 November | Saturday 11 November |
| 2029 | Monday 5 November | Saturday 3 November | Saturday 10 November |
| 2030 | Tuesday 5 November | Saturday 2 November | Saturday 9 November |
The clocks go back the week before, on the last Sunday in October (when the clocks change), so it is dark by the early evening.
The fireworks rules
- When you can set them off: not between 11pm and 7am, except until midnight on Bonfire Night, and until 1am on New Year’s Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year.
- When you can buy them: from registered sellers from 15 October to 10 November, from 26 to 31 December, and in the 3 days before Diwali and Chinese New Year; at other times only from licensed shops.
- Who can buy them: nobody under 18 can buy “adult” fireworks (categories 2 and 3).
- Breaking the rules can mean an unlimited fine and up to 6 months in prison, or an on-the-spot fine of £90.
From GOV.UK, read 16 October 2026 (Fireworks: the law). Scotland has its own fireworks law, with shorter hours: see gov.scot. Your council may have local rules too.
Questions
When is Bonfire Night 2026?
Thursday 5 November 2026. It is 5 November every year.
Is Bonfire Night a bank holiday?
No. It is not one of GOV.UK’s bank holidays in any part of the UK.
What time do fireworks have to stop on Bonfire Night?
Midnight. On other nights the cut-off is 11pm, or 1am on New Year’s Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year. (GOV.UK)
When can you buy fireworks?
From registered sellers from 15 October to 10 November, 26 to 31 December, and the 3 days before Diwali and Chinese New Year. (GOV.UK)
More dates: UK bank holidays · when the clocks change · Easter 2027 · Mother’s Day · Father’s Day · Pancake Day · Bonfire Night · 2027 calendar · working days calculator
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