Public Holidays in United Kingdom [2026]

Are you living in the UK or going on holiday there? Here’s a list of the public holidays and bank holidays you need to know in 2026, plus the already published dates for 2027 and 2028. In the UK, these days are usually called bank holidays, and the exact list depends on whether you are in England and Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland.

Whether you live in the UK or are just visiting, it helps to note these dates in advance. On some bank holidays, offices, banks, and public services may close or run reduced hours. GOV.UK also notes that a bank holiday does not automatically mean paid leave for every worker, because that depends on the employment contract.

How many public holidays are there in the UK?

There is no single UK-wide total that applies equally everywhere. In 2026, England and Wales have 8 bank holidays, while Scotland has 10 and Northern Ireland also has 10. The differences come from extra holidays such as 2 January and St Andrew’s Day in Scotland, and St Patrick’s Day and the Battle of the Boyne in Northern Ireland.

It is also worth remembering that when a bank holiday falls on a weekend, a substitute weekday usually becomes the official holiday instead, normally the following Monday.

Public Holidays in the United Kingdom in 2026

The table below combines the official 2026 dates published on GOV.UK for England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

The most popular public holidays in the UK

The best-known public holidays across the UK are New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, the May bank holidays, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. Scotland and Northern Ireland also have their own additional holidays that do not apply everywhere in the UK.

What are public holidays and bank holidays in the UK?

New Year’s Day

New Year’s Day is a bank holiday across the UK. Scotland also has an additional holiday on 2 January in many years, including 2026.

St Patrick’s Day

This holiday applies in Northern Ireland only. In 2026 it falls on Tuesday, 17 March.

Good Friday

Good Friday is observed across England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

Easter Monday

Easter Monday is a bank holiday in England and Wales and Northern Ireland, but it is not part of Scotland’s national bank holiday list on GOV.UK.

Early May Bank Holiday

This holiday applies across all UK nations and falls on Monday, 4 May 2026.

Spring Bank Holiday

Spring Bank Holiday is observed across the UK and falls on Monday, 25 May 2026.

World Cup bank holiday

Scotland’s official GOV.UK list includes a World Cup bank holiday on Monday, 15 June 2026.

Battle of the Boyne / Orangemen’s Day

This holiday applies in Northern Ireland only. In 2026, the official holiday is observed on Monday, 13 July as a substitute day.

Summer Bank Holiday

The date is different depending on the region. In Scotland, it falls on 3 August 2026, while in England and Wales and Northern Ireland, it falls on 31 August 2026.

St Andrew’s Day

St Andrew’s Day is a Scottish bank holiday. In 2026 it falls on Monday, 30 November.

Christmas Day and Boxing Day

These holidays apply across the UK. In 2026, Christmas Day falls on Friday, 25 December, and Boxing Day is observed on Monday, 28 December as a substitute day.

Public Holidays in the United Kingdom in 2027

These dates are already listed on GOV.UK for 2027.

Public Holidays in the United Kingdom in 2028

These dates are also published on GOV.UK for 2028.

Conclusion

If you live in the UK or are planning a trip, it is best to check holidays by nation rather than assuming the whole country follows the same calendar. England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland share many bank holidays, but they do not have identical holiday schedules.

Last Updated on 04/01/2026