2026 UK Public Holidays: Bank Holiday Dates & Long Weekends

The UK government has confirmed the list of 2026 public holidays, commonly called bank holidays, giving people across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland plenty of chances to rest, celebrate, and plan exciting trips. With a few clever leave hacks, you can turn 2026 into a year filled with long weekends, festive gatherings, and mini getaways. UK bank holidays vary by nation, with England and Wales sharing one calendar, while Scotland and Northern Ireland have additional dates.

List of 2026 UK Public Holidays

Here’s the official list of UK public holidays in 2026. Mark these dates in your calendar early to plan family visits, city breaks, countryside escapes, or festive holidays.

Source: GOV.UK Bank Holidays and Scottish Government bank holiday dates.

Plan Your Long Weekends in 2026: Leave Hacks for More Breaks

Want to make the most out of your holidays? By taking strategic annual leave, you can stretch single-day bank holidays into longer breaks.

• New Year in Scotland, 1–2 Jan, Thu–Fri → Enjoy a natural 4-day weekend.
• St Patrick’s Day in Northern Ireland, 17 Mar, Tue → Take leave on 16 Mar for a 4-day break.
• Easter weekend, 3–6 Apr, Fri–Mon → England, Wales, and Northern Ireland get a natural 4-day weekend.
• Early May bank holiday, 4 May, Mon → Enjoy a natural 3-day weekend.
• Spring bank holiday, 25 May, Mon → Perfect for a short UK getaway.
• Scotland World Cup bank holiday, 15 Jun, Mon → Scotland gets an extra 3-day weekend in 2026.
• Summer bank holiday, 3 Aug in Scotland / 31 Aug in England, Wales & Northern Ireland → Plan a late-summer trip.
• Christmas, 25 Dec, Fri + 28 Dec, Mon → Enjoy a natural 4-day festive break. Take leave from 29–31 Dec to extend your holiday into New Year.

When a bank holiday falls on a weekend, the UK usually gives a substitute weekday, which is why Boxing Day is observed on Monday, 28 December 2026.

How Many Public Holidays in the UK for 2026?

The UK does not have one single public holiday calendar. The number of bank holidays depends on where you live:

• England & Wales: 8 bank holidays
• Scotland: 10 bank holidays, including the one-off World Cup bank holiday
• Northern Ireland: 10 bank holidays

One important note: employers do not always have to give paid leave on bank or public holidays, so holiday entitlement depends on your employment contract.

New Year’s Day, 1 Jan

New Year’s Day marks the start of 2026, with fireworks, winter walks, family meals, and short city breaks across the UK. Scotland also observes 2 January as a bank holiday, giving people there an extra day to relax.

✅ Activity: Enjoy a winter staycation in Edinburgh, London, Bath, York, or the Cotswolds.

Easter Weekend, 3–6 Apr

Good Friday falls on 3 April, while Easter Monday falls on 6 April in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This creates one of the best long weekends of the year for spring travel.

✅ Activity: Visit gardens, museums, countryside towns, or coastal destinations as the weather starts to warm up.

Early May & Spring Bank Holidays, 4 May and 25 May

May is one of the best months for UK long weekends, with two Monday bank holidays. These are perfect for short breaks before the summer travel rush.

✅ Activity: Plan a trip to the Lake District, Cornwall, Brighton, Cambridge, Oxford, or the Scottish Highlands.

Scotland World Cup Bank Holiday, 15 Jun

Scotland has an extra bank holiday on Monday, 15 June 2026, to mark Scotland playing in the men’s football World Cup for the first time since 1998.

✅ Activity: Watch the match with family and friends, join local community celebrations, or enjoy a Scotland-only long weekend.

Summer Bank Holiday, 3 Aug / 31 Aug

Scotland celebrates the Summer bank holiday on 3 August, while England, Wales, and Northern Ireland observe it on 31 August. This is a great time for beach trips, hiking, festivals, and late-summer escapes.

✅ Activity: Explore national parks, seaside towns, or family-friendly attractions before autumn begins.

Christmas and Boxing Day, 25 & 28 Dec

Christmas Day falls on Friday, 25 December 2026. Since Boxing Day falls on Saturday, 26 December, the substitute bank holiday is Monday, 28 December. This gives much of the UK a natural 4-day festive weekend.

✅ Activity: Visit Christmas markets, enjoy festive lights, attend family gatherings, or plan a cosy winter break.

How to Make the Most of Your 2026 Holidays

Maximise long weekends by booking annual leave around Friday and Monday holidays. Book hotels, trains, and flights early because prices usually rise during school holidays and festive periods. Try UK staycations for shorter breaks, from national parks and seaside towns to cultural cities and countryside retreats. For family fun, choose activities that suit all ages, such as museums, nature trails, castles, theme parks, and seasonal markets.

Stay connected while travelling by considering a local SIM card or eSIM for easy communication, maps, and transport updates. With so many UK public holidays in 2026, it’s the perfect year to balance rest, travel, and celebration. Start planning early to make the most of every long weekend!