United Kingdom Public Holidays 2026
United Kingdom has 8 national public holidays in 2026, starting with New Year's Day on January 1, 2026 and ending with Boxing Day on December 26, 2026, observed on Monday December 28, 2026. 0 of them fall on a Saturday or Sunday this year, so the number of extra days away from the desk depends on the calendar.
| Holiday | Date | Weekday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | January 1, 2026 | Thursday | Public holiday |
| Good Friday | April 3, 2026 | Friday | Public holiday |
| Easter Monday | April 6, 2026 | Monday | Public holiday |
| Early May bank holiday | May 4, 2026 | Monday | Public holiday |
| Spring bank holiday | May 25, 2026 | Monday | Public holiday |
| Summer bank holidayScotland takes its Summer bank holiday on the first Monday in August instead, so the date differs inside the UK. | August 31, 2026 | Monday | Public holiday |
| Christmas Day | December 25, 2026 | Friday | Public holiday |
| Boxing Day | December 28, 2026in lieu of December 26, 2026 | Monday | Public holidayMoved |
The busiest stretch is April (2 holidays), a good window to plan around if you rely on offices, banks or schools being open. One holiday is moved this year because the calendar date falls on a weekend, and it is listed once, on the day actually taken off, rather than twice. Below you will find the full 2026 list for United Kingdom, sorted by date, with the weekday marked for quick planning. The list is the national one, and United Kingdom also has sub-national calendars that differ from it, so check the note above the table before you rely on a single date.
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does United Kingdom have in 2026?
United Kingdom has 8 national public holidays in 2026. The first is New Year's Day on January 1, 2026 and the last is Boxing Day on December 26, 2026, observed on Monday December 28, 2026.
What is the first public holiday of 2026 in United Kingdom?
The first public holiday of 2026 is New Year's Day, which falls on January 1, 2026.
When is New Year celebrated in United Kingdom in 2026?
In 2026, New Year's Day in United Kingdom is on January 1, 2026.
Which 2026 holidays in United Kingdom are moved to another day?
One is: Boxing Day, which falls on December 26, 2026 but is taken on Monday December 28, 2026. A moved holiday is one holiday with a shifted day off, not two holidays, so it is counted once here. Sites that list both the weekend date and its replacement report a higher total than the official calendar does.
Are regional holidays included for United Kingdom?
No. This calendar lists national public holidays only, so it stays consistent across countries. Holidays that apply to just part of United Kingdom are listed separately on the United Kingdom holiday hub, together with the nations and jurisdictions that observe them.
Do the United Kingdom holiday dates change from 2026 to the next year?
Some of them do. 5 of the 8 holidays in 2026 sit on a moving rule (linked to easter and set weekday of the month), so their date has to be recalculated for every year. The rest keep the same calendar date and only change weekday. Moving ones this year include Good Friday on April 3, 2026, Easter Monday on April 6, 2026 and Early May bank holiday on May 4, 2026, plus 2 more.
How far ahead is the United Kingdom calendar actually fixed?
Through 2027. The holidays are set in law rather than announced year by year, so the dates repeat predictably. What can still change is a law amendment, a one-off holiday declared for a national event, and the exact day of any holiday on the Islamic calendar, which is confirmed by moon sighting. This table also applies 1 correction to the underlying open dataset, each checked against the legislation. The full list with sources is on the United Kingdom holiday hub.
Which United Kingdom holidays are regional, and which move?
The table above is the national calendar for 2026. Some holidays keep the same date every year while others are tied to Easter, to a lunar calendar or to a named weekday, and some parts of the country add their own days off. The United Kingdom holiday hub breaks that down: which holidays are fixed, which move and why, and which ones are observed in certain regions only. To compare United Kingdom with other countries in the same year, see the 2026 worldwide overview.
Other years for United Kingdom
Planning further ahead or looking back? Compare the United Kingdom public holiday calendar across years: