Public holidays in United Kingdom (2026)

Last reviewed: 7 November 2026

In short: Bank holidays differ by nation: 8 in England and Wales, 10 in Scotland and 10 in Northern Ireland in 2026. Employers do not have to give them as paid leave. A bank holiday on a weekend is replaced by a weekday, normally the following Monday.

RuleWhat applies
National public holidaysPublic holidaysBank holidays differ by nation. England and Wales, 2026: 1 January, 3 April (Good Friday), 6 April (Easter Monday), 4 May, 25 May, 31 August, 25 December and 28 December (Boxing Day, substitute day). Scotland: 1 and 2 January, 3 April, 4 May, 25 May, 15 June (World Cup bank holiday), 3 August, 30 November (St Andrew's Day), 25 December and 28 December. Northern Ireland: 1 January, 17 March, 3 April, 6 April, 4 May, 25 May, 13 July (Battle of the Boyne, substitute day), 31 August, 25 December and 28 December. [1]
Number of national public holidaysPublic holidaysIn 2026 there are 8 bank holidays in England and Wales, 10 in Scotland and 10 in Northern Ireland. [1]
Working on a public holidayPublic holidaysBank or public holidays do not have to be given as paid leave. An employer can choose to count bank holidays as part of a worker's statutory annual leave. [2]
Shop opening on public holidaysPublic holidays⚠ Not yet verified
Holiday falling on a weekendPublic holidaysIf a bank holiday is on a weekend, a substitute weekday becomes a bank holiday, normally the following Monday. [1]

Notes

  • No single UK rule was found. The Sunday Trading Act 1994 applies to England and Wales only: large shops (over 280 square metres) have a six-hour Sunday window that does not apply on Easter Day, and large shops may not open on Christmas Day under the Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004. Scotland and Northern Ireland were not checked.

Sources

  1. GOV.UK: UK bank holidays (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
  2. GOV.UK: Holiday entitlement (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources

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General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.