Christmas Day 2026 falls on Friday 25 December. That gives most people a long weekend, and in England and Wales Boxing Day moves to a substitute bank holiday on Monday 28 December because the 26th lands on a Saturday.
New Year's Day 2027 is also a Friday, so the festive break this year is neatly framed by two long weekends.
December 2026 and early January dates in one list
- Thursday 24 December: Christmas Eve
- Friday 25 December: Christmas Day (US federal holiday, UK bank holiday)
- Saturday 26 December: Boxing Day
- Monday 28 December: substitute bank holiday for Boxing Day in England and Wales
- Thursday 31 December: New Year's Eve
- Friday 1 January 2027: New Year's Day (US federal holiday, UK bank holiday)
The US dates are on the OPM federal holidays page, and the UK ones on the gov.uk bank holidays list. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own lists, so check yours if you trade there. Our UK bank holidays guide has the full year.
What a Friday Christmas means for a small business
A Friday Christmas changes the rhythm of the last fortnight. Here are three things to schedule now.
- Set your last order date early. With Christmas on a Friday, most people will want parcels by Wednesday 23 December at the latest. Work back from your courier's cut-off and tell customers clearly, more than once.
- Post your closing hours in advance. If you close from Thursday 24 December to Monday 28 December, say so in one simple post and pin it. These closing announcement ideas and holiday hours posts for Instagram make it quick.
- Schedule your social posts and email replies. Plan the month with a Christmas social media calendar, then set up an out-of-office auto reply so nobody feels ignored over the break.
Christmas 2026 questions people ask
What day is Christmas 2026?
Christmas Day 2026 is on Friday 25 December.
Is Boxing Day 2026 a bank holiday?
Boxing Day falls on Saturday 26 December 2026, so in England and Wales the bank holiday moves to the substitute day, Monday 28 December.
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Is New Year's Day 2027 a holiday?
Yes. New Year's Day is Friday 1 January 2027, a bank holiday in the UK and a federal holiday in the US.
What day is Christmas Eve 2026?
Christmas Eve 2026 is on Thursday 24 December. It isn't a federal or bank holiday, though many businesses close early.
My verdict: plan around the 28th
The date most people forget this year is Monday 28 December. In England and Wales it's a bank holiday, so banks, couriers and many suppliers will be shut. Treat Christmas Eve to the 28th as one block, put your last orders, closing notice and auto reply in place before the 24th, and enjoy the break.
