England & Wales — 2026 bank holidays
Eight standard bank holidays apply in England and Wales for 2026.
| Holiday | Date | Day | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 1 January 2026 | Thursday | |
| Good Friday | 3 April 2026 | Friday | |
| Easter Monday | 6 April 2026 | Monday | |
| Early May Bank Holiday | 4 May 2026 | Monday | |
| Spring Bank Holiday | 25 May 2026 | Monday | |
| Summer Bank Holiday | 31 August 2026 | Monday | |
| Christmas Day | 25 December 2026 | Friday | |
| Boxing Day | 28 December 2026 | Monday | Substitute (25 Dec fell on Friday) |
Boxing Day is observed on 28 December because 26 December falls on a Saturday in 2026.
Count working days around these holidays
Use the calculator to check how many business days fall between any two dates — automatically excluding UK bank holidays and weekends.
Scotland — additional holidays
Scotland observes all England & Wales holidays plus 2 January as a bank holiday (in addition to 1 January).
| Holiday | Date | Day | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 January | 2 January 2026 | Friday | Scotland only |
When 2 January falls on a weekend, the substitute day is usually the following Monday.
Northern Ireland — different dates
Northern Ireland has two substitute holidays in place of Easter Monday and the Spring Bank Holiday, and adds St Patrick's Day and the Battle of the Boyne.
| Holiday | Date | Day | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 1 January 2026 | Thursday | |
| St Patrick's Day | 17 March 2026 | Tuesday | NI only |
| Good Friday | 3 April 2026 | Friday | |
| Easter Tuesday | 7 April 2026 | Tuesday | NI substitute for Easter Monday |
| Early May Bank Holiday | 4 May 2026 | Monday | |
| Battle of the Boyne | 12 July 2026 | Sunday | NI only; observed 13 July |
| Spring Bank Holiday | 26 May 2026 | Tuesday | NI substitute (25 May is Spring Bank Holiday in E&W) |
| Summer Bank Holiday | 31 August 2026 | Monday | |
| Christmas Day | 25 December 2026 | Friday | |
| Boxing Day | 28 December 2026 | Monday | Substitute (25 Dec fell on Friday) |
Northern Ireland substitutes Easter Monday with Easter Tuesday. The Spring Bank Holiday substitute is 26 May because the standard 25 May falls too close to the Battle of the Boyne period.
Summary: how many bank holidays in 2026?
Frequently asked questions
How many bank holidays are there in the UK in 2026?
England and Wales have 8 bank holidays in 2026. Scotland has 9 (extra 2 January). Northern Ireland has 10 (St Patrick's Day and Battle of the Boyne replace two spring holidays).
Do bank holidays count as business days?
Usually no. When public holidays are excluded from a business day calculation, bank holidays are skipped along with weekends.
Are bank holidays the same across the whole UK?
No. Scotland has an extra January holiday and Northern Ireland observes St Patrick's Day (17 March) and the Battle of the Boyne (12 July) instead of some of the Easter/spring holidays.
Can I calculate working days around UK bank holidays?
Yes. Select United Kingdom in the calculator, enable holiday exclusion, and enter your start and end dates. Weekends and UK bank holidays are automatically skipped.
What happens when a bank holiday falls on a weekend?
A substitute weekday is usually designated. For example, Boxing Day 2026 is 28 December because 26 December falls on a Saturday.