Bank holidays in the UK in 2026

Whether you’re living in the UK or just visiting, it’s important to note the dates of the British public holidays – otherwise known as bank holidays. This is because many businesses and public places typically close or have reduced services on these days.

Here’s what you need to know:

An overview of bank holidays in the UK

Bank holidays came about in 1871, when Sir John Lubbock decided bankers deserved a break. Naturally, everyone else thought, “Well, if they’re off, we’re off too!” The name stuck, and now it’s an excuse for long weekends, pub trips, festivals, and pretending the weather will be nice.

It’s important to note that bank holidays are slightly different across the four countries of the UK. For example, Northern Ireland has two more holidays than England: St Patrick’s Day and the Anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. Scotland also has several holidays that only apply to certain regions.

When UK holidays fall on a weekend, the next weekday (often a Monday) usually becomes a substitute day off.

When are the UK bank holidays in 2025?

Below is a list of UK bank holidays that have been confirmed for 2025, but more may be announced at a later date.

Date	Weekday	Holiday
1 January	Wed	New Year’s Day
18 April	Fri	Good Friday
5 May	Mon	Early May bank holiday
26 May	Mon	Spring bank holiday
25 December	Thu	Christmas Day
26 December	Fri	Boxing Day

Local holidays in 2025

These bank holidays are only celebrated in certain UK regions:

Date	Weekday	Holiday	Region
2 January	Thu	Hogmanay	Scotland
17 March	Mon	St Patrick’s Day	Northern Ireland
21 April	Mon	Easter Monday	England, Northern Ireland, and Wales
12 July	Sat	Battle of the Boyne	Northern Ireland
4 August	Mon	Summer bank holiday	Scotland
25 August	Mon	Summer bank holiday	England and Wales
30 November Observed on Monday, 2 December, day off	Sun	St Andrew’s Day	Scotland

Other important dates in 2025

Alongside national and local holidays, you’ll want to make note of these other prominent dates in the UK:

Date	Weekday	Occasion
25 January	Sat	Burns Night (only Scotland)
29 January	Sat	Lunar New Year
28 February	Fri	Start of Ramadan
4 March	Tue	Shrove Tuesday – often referred to as Pancake Day
30 March	Sun	British Mother’s Day
30 March	Sun	Eid al-Fitr
15 June	Sun	King’s Birthday
15 June	Sun	Father’s Day
20 October	Mon	Diwali
5 November	Wed	Guy Fawkes Day – sometimes referred to as Bonfire Night
9 November	Sun	Remembrance Sunday
31 December	Wed	New Year’s Eve

When are the UK bank holidays in 2026?

Date	Weekday	Holiday
1 January	Thu	New Year’s Day
3 April	Fri	Good Friday
4 May	Mon	Early May bank holiday
25 May	Mon	Spring bank holiday
25 December	Fri	Christmas Day
26 December	Sat	Boxing Day
28 December	Mon	Bank holiday

Local holidays in 2026

Date	Weekday	Holiday	Region
2 January	Fri	Hogmanay	Scotland
17 March	Tue	St Patrick’s Day	Northern Ireland
6 April	Mon	Easter Monday	England, Northern Ireland, and Wales
12 July Observed on Monday, 13 July, day off	Sun	Battle of the Boyne	Northern Ireland
3 August	Mon	Summer bank holiday	Scotland
31 August	Mon	Summer bank holiday	England and Wales
30 November	Mon	St Andrew’s Day	Scotland

Other important dates in 2026

Date	Weekday	Occasion
25 January	Sun	Burns Night (only Scotland)
17 February	Sat	Lunar New Year
17 February	Sat	Start of Ramadan
17 February	Tue	Shrove Tuesday – often referred to as Pancake Day
15 March	Sun	British Mother’s Day
20 March	Fri	Eid al-Fitr
15 June	Mon	King’s Birthday
21 June	Sun	Father’s Day
5 November	Thu	Guy Fawkes Day – sometimes referred to as Bonfire Night
8 November	Sun	Diwali
8 November	Sun	Remembrance Sunday
31 December	Thu	New Year’s Eve

When were the UK bank holidays in 2024?

Date	Weekday	Holiday
1 January	Mon	New Year’s Day
29 March	Fri	Good Friday
6 May	Mon	Early May bank holiday
27 May	Mon	Spring bank holiday
25 December	Wed	Christmas Day
26 December	Thu	Boxing Day

Local holidays in 2024

Date	Weekday	Holiday	Region
2 January	Tue	Hogmanay	Scotland
17 March Observed on Monday, 18 March, day off	Sun	St Patrick’s Day	Northern Ireland
1 April	Mon	Easter Monday	England, Northern Ireland, and Wales
12 July	Fri	Battle of the Boyne	Northern Ireland
5 August	Mon	Summer bank holiday	Scotland
26 August	Mon	Summer bank holiday	England and Wales
30 November Observed on Monday, 2 December, day off	Sat	St Andrew’s Day	Scotland

Other important dates in 2024

Date	Weekday	Occasion
25 January	Thu	Burns Night (only Scotland)
10 February	Sat	Lunar New Year
13 February	Tue	Shrove Tuesday – often referred to as Pancake Day
10 March	Sun	British Mother’s Day
10 March	Sun	Start of Ramadan
10 April	Wed	Eid al-Fitr
15 June	Sat	King’s Birthday
16 June	Sun	Father’s Day
1 November	Fri	Diwali
5 November	Tue	Guy Fawkes Day – sometimes referred to as Bonfire Night
10 November	Sun	Remembrance Sunday
31 December	Tue	New Year’s Eve

When are the school holidays in the UK?

Wondering when your children have time off school? Learn more about school holidays in the UK.