Boxing Day 2026 is on Saturday 26 December. Because it falls on a weekend, the UK bank holiday moves to Monday 28 December, and that substitute day applies in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland alike.
That small shift matters if you run a shop, ship orders or plan social posts over the holidays. Christmas Day is a Friday this year, so many people will have a four-day break from Friday 25 to Monday 28 December.
Boxing Day bank holiday dates by nation
- England and Wales: Christmas Day Friday 25 December, Boxing Day substitute Monday 28 December, New Year's Day Friday 1 January 2027.
- Scotland: Christmas Day 25 December, Boxing Day Monday 28 December, New Year's Day Friday 1 January 2027, 2nd January Monday 4 January 2027.
- Northern Ireland: Christmas Day 25 December, Boxing Day Monday 28 December, New Year's Day 1 January 2027.
You can check the full list on the official UK bank holidays page. For a year-round view, see this guide to every UK bank holiday.
For shops and opening hours
Customers will want to know whether you're open on Saturday 26 December, the Monday after, or both. Decide early and say it clearly in more than one place: your website, your Google listing, your shop window and your social profiles. These holiday hours post ideas give you simple ways to share opening times without it looking like a dull notice.
If you're in Scotland, remember the extra Monday on 4 January 2027 when you set hours for the first week of the new year.
For deliveries and couriers
With a bank holiday on Monday 28 December and another on Friday 1 January, there are fewer working days between Christmas and New Year than usual. Check each courier's own holiday schedule rather than assuming, and tell customers when orders placed over the break will go out. A short note at checkout saves a lot of "where's my parcel?" messages.
For social posts and email replies
Schedule your Boxing Day post ahead, so it goes out on Saturday 26 December even if you're away. These Boxing Day captions for brands are a good starting point. Then set an out-of-office that names your return date. If you need wording, there are ready-made holiday auto-reply messages you can adapt.
If you have US customers, keep in mind that Boxing Day isn't a US federal holiday, so they may expect replies on the usual timetable.
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Boxing Day 2026: your questions
What day is Boxing Day 2026?
Boxing Day 2026 falls on Saturday 26 December. Because it's a weekend, the UK bank holiday moves to Monday 28 December.
Is Monday 28 December a bank holiday everywhere in the UK?
Yes. England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland all list Monday 28 December 2026 as the Boxing Day substitute bank holiday.
Does Scotland get an extra day in January 2027?
Yes. Scotland has a 2nd January bank holiday, and in 2027 it's on Monday 4 January. The rest of the UK goes back to normal after New Year's Day on Friday 1 January.
Is Boxing Day a holiday in the US?
No. The US federal holiday schedule lists Christmas Day on Friday 25 December 2026 and no federal holiday on 26 December, so US businesses usually run as normal that weekend.
Do employers have to give staff the substitute day off?
Not automatically. Whether staff get bank holidays off, or are paid extra for working them, depends on their contract and your own policy, so check those first.
