Bank holidays 2026

England and Wales have 8, Scotland has 10 and Northern Ireland has 10. Scotland adds 2nd January, World Cup bank holiday and St Andrew’s Day but has no Easter Monday. Northern Ireland adds St Patrick’s Day and Battle of the Boyne.

When a bank holiday falls on a weekend, a weekday becomes a bank holiday instead, normally the following Monday (GOV.UK). In 2026 that happens once in England and Wales: Boxing Day on Monday 28 December.

Yes, in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In 2026 Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, so the bank holiday moves to Monday 28 December. When it falls on a weekend, the replacement weekday is set by the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 (legislation.gov.uk) or by royal proclamation, and GOV.UK lists it.

No. In Scotland the Easter bank holiday is Good Friday only. Easter Monday is a bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971). When is Easter?

Scotland’s summer bank holiday is the first Monday in August, Monday 3 August in 2026. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland it’s the last Monday, Monday 31 August.

No. Your employer doesn’t have to give you paid leave on bank holidays (GOV.UK). Many do, and your contract says which applies to you.

They can. Full-time workers are entitled to at least 5.6 weeks’ paid holiday a year, which is 28 days for a five-day week, and employers can choose to include bank holidays in it (GOV.UK, Acas). Many office jobs give 25 days plus bank holidays instead. Our planner asks for your whole allowance, bank holidays included, so it works either way.

Part-time workers get holiday pro rata. If a bank holiday falls on a day you don’t work, your employer can’t make you use leave for it (Acas).

Yes. Most dates are set by the 1971 Act, but the King can add or move bank holidays by proclamation, as happened for coronations and jubilees. We check GOV.UK’s list every week.