The public bank holidays and school breaks vary across the UK in 2026, 2027, and 2028. England and Wales typically observe eight bank holidays, Scotland nine, and Northern Ireland ten, alongside multiple school holiday periods annually, offering differing time-off patterns for families, workers, and planners nationwide.
Is today a bank holiday in the UK?
No, there is no bank holiday today in the United Kingdom.
Is it a bank holiday tomorrow?
There is no bank holiday in the United Kingdom tomorrow.
Is 1st January a bank holiday?
Yes, 1st January 2027 is a bank holiday across the UK, marking the start of the calendar year. After this, the next bank holiday is on 26 March 2027.
When is the next bank holiday in the UK?
The next bank holiday in the UK is on 25th May 2026, which is celebrated as Spring bank holiday.
| Date | Day of the week | Bank holiday |
| 25th May 2026 | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| 31st August 2026 | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| 25th December 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day |
| 28th December 2026 | Monday | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
When are the UK Bank Holidays for England and Wales in 2026?
| Date | Day of the week | Bank holiday |
| 25th May 2026 | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| 31st August 2026 | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| 25th December 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day |
| 28th December 2026 | Monday | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
When are the UK Past Bank Holidays for England and Wales?
| Date | Day of the Week | Bank Holiday |
| 1st January 2026 | Thursday | New Year’s Day |
| 3rd April 2026 | Friday | Good Friday |
| 6th April 2026 | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 4th May 2026 | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
When are the UK Bank Holidays for England and Wales in 2027?
| Date | Day of the Week | Bank Holiday |
| 1st January 2027 | Friday | New Year’s Day |
| 26th March 2027 | Friday | Good Friday |
| 29th March 2027 | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 3rd May 2027 | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| 31st May 2027 | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| 30th August 2027 | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| 27th December 2027 | Monday | Christmas Day (Substitute day) |
| 28th December 2027 | Tuesday | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
When are the UK Bank Holidays for England and Wales in 2028?
| Date | Day of the Week | Bank Holiday |
| 1st January 2028 | Saturday | New Year’s Day |
| 3rd January 2028 | Monday | New Year’s Day (substitute day) |
| 14th April 2028 | Friday | Good Friday |
| 17th April 2028 | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 1st May 2028 | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| 29th May 2028 | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| 28th August 2028 | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| 25th December 2028 | Monday | Christmas Day |
| 26th December 2028 | Tuesday | Boxing Day |
When are the UK Bank Holidays for Scotland in 2026?
| Date | Day of the Week | Bank Holiday |
| 25th May 2026 | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| 15th June 2026 | Monday | World Cup bank holiday |
| 3rd August 2026 | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| 30th November 2026 | Monday | St. Andrew’s Day |
| 25th December 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day |
| 28th December 2026 | Monday | Boxing Day |
When are the UK Past Bank Holidays for Scotland?
| Date | Day of the Week | Bank Holiday |
| 1st January 2026 | Thursday | New Year’s Day |
| 2nd January 2026 | Friday | 2nd January |
| 3rd April 2026 | Friday | Good Friday |
| 6th April 2026 | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 4th May 2026 | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
When are the UK Bank Holidays for Scotland in 2027?
| Date | Day of the Week | Bank Holiday |
| 1st January 2027 | Friday | New Year’s Day |
| 4th January 2027 | Monday | 2nd January (substitute Day) |
| 26th March 2027 | Friday | Good Friday |
| 3rd May 2027 | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| 31st May 2027 | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| 2nd August 2027 | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| 30th November 2027 | Tuesday | St. Andrew’s Day |
| 27th December 2027 | Monday | Christmas Day (Substitute day) |
| 28th December 2027 | Tuesday | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
When are the UK Bank Holidays for Scotland in 2028?
| Date | Day of the Week | Bank Holiday |
| 3rd January 2028 | Monday | New Year’s Day (Substitute day) |
| 4th January 2028 | Tuesday | 2nd January (Substitute day) |
| 14th April 2028 | Friday | Good Friday |
| 1st May 2028 | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| 29th May 2028 | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| 7th August 2028 | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| 30th November 2028 | Thursday | St. Andrew’s Day |
| 25th December 2028 | Monday | Christmas Day |
| 26th December 2028 | Tuesday | Boxing Day |
When are the UK Bank Holidays for Northern Ireland in 2026?
| Date | Day of the Week | Bank Holiday |
| 25th May 2026 | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| 13th July 2026 | Monday | Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day) (Substitute Day) |
| 31st August 2026 | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| 25th December 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day |
| 28th December 2026 | Monday | Boxing Day (Substitute Day) |
When are the UK Past Bank Holidays for Northern Ireland?
| Date | Day of the Week | Bank Holiday |
| 1st January 2026 | Thursday | New Year’s Day |
| 17th March 2026 | Tuesday | St Patrick’s Day |
| 3rd April 2026 | Friday | Good Friday |
| 6th April 2026 | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 4th May 2026 | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
When are the UK Bank Holidays for Northern Ireland in 2027?
| Date | Day of the Week | Bank holiday |
| 1st January 2027 | Friday | New Year’s Day |
| 17th March 2027 | Wednesday | St Patrick’s Day |
| 26th March 2027 | Friday | Good Friday |
| 29th March 2027 | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 3rd May 2027 | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| 31st May 2027 | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| 12th July 2027 | Monday | Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day) |
| 30th August 2027 | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| 27th December 2027 | Monday | Christmas Day (Substitute Day) |
| 28th December 2027 | Tuesday | Boxing Day (Substitute Day) |
When are the UK Bank Holidays for Northern Ireland in 2028?
| Date | Day of the Week | Bank holiday |
| 3rd January 2028 | Monday | New Year’s Day (Substitute Day) |
| 17th March 2028 | Friday | St Patrick’s Day |
| 14th April 2028 | Friday | Good Friday |
| 17th March 2028 | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 1st May 2028 | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| 29th May 2028 | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| 12th July 2028 | Wednesday | Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day) |
| 30 August 2028 | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| 25th December 2028 | Monday | Christmas Day |
| 26th December 2028 | Tuesday | Boxing Day |
UK Public Bank Holidays in 2026
Spring Bank Holiday 2026
Spring Bank Holiday 2026 (25th May) is celebrated across the UK, providing a long weekend at the end of May nationwide.
Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day) 2026 (Northern Ireland only)
The Battle of the Boyne anniversary, called Orangemen’s Day, commemorates the 1690 victory of William of Orange over King James II. In Northern Ireland, this public holiday is observed on 13 July 2026 (Monday), marked by parades, events, and historical remembrance.
Summer Bank Holiday 2026 (Scotland)
Summer Bank Holiday 2026 in Scotland falls on Monday, 3 August, offering a public holiday.
Summer Bank Holiday 2026 (England, Wales, Northern Ireland)
The Summer Bank Holiday 2026 in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland falls on Monday, 31 August, celebrated nationwide.
St Andrew’s Day 2026 (Scotland only)
St Andrew’s Day 2026, celebrated on Monday, 30 November, is Scotland’s national day honouring its patron saint. Festivities include traditional music, dancing, cultural events, and a celebration of Scottish heritage across the country.
Christmas Day 2026
Christmas Day 2026 falls on a Friday, 25 December, and is a widely celebrated public holiday. Families gather, exchange gifts, enjoy festive meals, and attend religious services, embracing joy, tradition, and seasonal celebrations.
Boxing Day 2026 (Substitute Day)
Boxing Day 2026 is observed on Monday, 28 December. Traditionally a public holiday in the UK, it involves festive celebrations, shopping sales, family gatherings, and sporting events nationwide.
UK School Holidays in 2026 & 2027
UK school holidays in 2026 and 2027 include Christmas, Easter, Summer, and Half-Term breaks, varying by England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, providing students nationwide with regular seasonal breaks.
UK Public Bank Holidays in 2027
New Year’s Day Bank Holiday 2027
New Year’s Day Bank Holiday 2027 marks a national public holiday celebrated on Friday, 1st January.
2nd of January Bank Holiday 2027 (Substitute day) (Scotland only)
The 2nd of January Bank Holiday 2027 is observed in Scotland only on Monday, 4 January, extending New Year celebrations nationwide for workers annually.
St. Patrick’s Day 2027 (Northern Ireland only)
St Patrick’s Day 2027 is a public holiday in Northern Ireland on Wednesday, 17 March, celebrating Irish culture, heritage, and patron saint traditions, nationwide.
Good Friday Bank Holiday 2027
Good Friday Bank Holiday 2027 is a public holiday observed across the UK on Friday, 26 March.
Easter Monday Bank Holiday 2027
Easter Monday Bank Holiday 2027 is observed in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland on Monday, 29 March, following the Easter weekend celebrations.
Early May Bank Holiday 2027
The Early May Bank Holiday 2027 is observed across the UK on Monday, 3 May, offering a long weekend celebrating spring nationwide annually.
School Holidays for the 2026 & 2027 academic year
| School Holiday | Start Date | End Date |
| Spring half-term 2026 | Monday 16th February 2026 | Friday 20 February 2026 |
| Easter 2026 | Monday 30th March 2026 | Friday 10th April 2026 |
| Summer half-term 2026 | Monday 25th May 2026 | Friday 29th May 2026 |
| Year 2026/2027 | ||
| Summer 2026 | Monday 20th July 2026 | Friday 4th September 2026 |
| Autumn half-term 2026 | Monday 26th October 2026 | Friday 30th October 2026 |
| Christmas 2026 | Monday 21st December 2026 | Friday 1st January 2027 |
| Spring half-term 2027 | Monday 15th February 2027 | Friday 19th February 2027 |
| Easter 2027 | Monday 29th March 2027 | Friday 9th April 2027 |
| Summer half-term 2027 | Monday 31st May 2027 | Friday 4th June 2027 |
| Summer 2027 | Monday 19th July 2027 | Friday 3rd September 2027 |
Spring Half-Term 2026
Spring Half-Term 2026 for UK schools falls in February, giving students a mid-term break for rest and family activities.
Easter Break 2026
Easter Break 2026 for UK schools runs from Monday, 30 March to Friday, 10 April.
Summer Half-Term 2026
Summer Half-Term 2026 for UK schools is scheduled from Monday, 25 May to Friday, 29 May.
Summer Holiday 2026
Summer Holiday 2026 for UK schools begins Monday, 20 July and ends Friday, 4 September.
Autumn Half-Term 2026
Autumn Half-Term 2026 for UK schools is from Monday, 26 October to Friday, 30 October, providing a mid-term break.
Christmas Break 2026
Christmas Break 2026 for UK schools runs from Monday, 21 December 2026 to Friday, 1 January 2027.
Spring Half-Term 2027
Spring Half-Term 2027 for UK schools takes place from Monday, 15 February to Friday, 19 February 2027.
Easter Break 2027
Easter Break 2027 for UK schools is from Monday, 29 March to Friday, 9 April, providing a two-week holiday.
Summer Half-Term 2027
Summer Half-Term 2027 for UK schools is from Monday, 31 May to Friday, 4 June, providing a mid-term break.
Summer Holiday 2027
Summer Holiday 2027 for UK schools begins on Monday, 19 July and ends on Friday, 3 September.
FAQs
In 2026, the UK observes a total of eight standard bank holidays, with some variations in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and across England and Wales.
Yes, the UK will have an extra bank holiday in 2026 to mark the King’s official birthday, celebrated on Monday, 8 June.
Yes, in May 2026, the UK will have three bank holidays: the Early May Bank Holiday, the Spring Bank Holiday, and Northern Ireland’s special holiday.
