The next UK bank holiday is St Andrew's Day on Monday 30 November in Scotland, then Christmas Day on Friday 25 December and the Boxing Day substitute on Monday 28 December across England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, as of Nov 2026. When a bank holiday falls on a weekend, a substitute weekday, normally the following Monday, becomes the bank holiday.
The UK doesn't have one list of bank holidays. England and Wales share one, Scotland has its own and Northern Ireland has another, so the days off depend on where you live and work. Here are the dates GOV.UK lists for the rest of 2026, for 2027 and for 2028, plus the rules on substitute days and paid leave.
Remaining bank holidays in 2026
| Bank holiday | England and Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Andrew's Day | Not a bank holiday | 30 November (Monday) | Not a bank holiday |
| Christmas Day | 25 December (Friday) | 25 December (Friday) | 25 December (Friday) |
| Boxing Day (substitute day) | 28 December (Monday) | 28 December (Monday) | 28 December (Monday) |
Boxing Day falls on a Saturday in 2026, which is why the bank holiday moves to Monday 28 December in every part of the UK.
Bank holidays in 2027
| Bank holiday | England and Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 1 January (Friday) | 1 January (Friday) | 1 January (Friday) |
| 2nd January (substitute day) | Not a bank holiday | 4 January (Monday) | Not a bank holiday |
| St Patrick's Day | Not a bank holiday | Not a bank holiday | 17 March (Wednesday) |
| Good Friday | 26 March (Friday) | 26 March (Friday) | 26 March (Friday) |
| Easter Monday | 29 March (Monday) | Not a bank holiday | 29 March (Monday) |
| Early May bank holiday | 3 May (Monday) | 3 May (Monday) | 3 May (Monday) |
| Spring bank holiday | 31 May (Monday) | 31 May (Monday) | 31 May (Monday) |
| Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day) | Not a bank holiday | Not a bank holiday | 12 July (Monday) |
| Summer bank holiday | 30 August (Monday) | 2 August (Monday) | 30 August (Monday) |
| St Andrew's Day | Not a bank holiday | 30 November (Tuesday) | Not a bank holiday |
| Christmas Day (substitute day) | 27 December (Monday) | 27 December (Monday) | 27 December (Monday) |
| Boxing Day (substitute day) | 28 December (Tuesday) | 28 December (Tuesday) | 28 December (Tuesday) |
That gives England and Wales 8 bank holidays in 2027, Scotland 9 and Northern Ireland 10. Christmas Day and Boxing Day both fall on a weekend in 2027, so both move to the following Monday and Tuesday.
Bank holidays in 2028
| Bank holiday | England and Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day (substitute day) | 3 January (Monday) | 3 January (Monday) | 3 January (Monday) |
| 2nd January (substitute day) | Not a bank holiday | 4 January (Tuesday) | Not a bank holiday |
| St Patrick's Day | Not a bank holiday | Not a bank holiday | 17 March (Friday) |
| Good Friday | 14 April (Friday) | 14 April (Friday) | 14 April (Friday) |
| Easter Monday | 17 April (Monday) | Not a bank holiday | 17 April (Monday) |
| Early May bank holiday | 1 May (Monday) | 1 May (Monday) | 1 May (Monday) |
| Spring bank holiday | 29 May (Monday) | 29 May (Monday) | 29 May (Monday) |
| Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day) | Not a bank holiday | Not a bank holiday | 12 July (Wednesday) |
| Summer bank holiday | 28 August (Monday) | 7 August (Monday) | 28 August (Monday) |
| St Andrew's Day | Not a bank holiday | 30 November (Thursday) | Not a bank holiday |
| Christmas Day | 25 December (Monday) | 25 December (Monday) | 25 December (Monday) |
| Boxing Day | 26 December (Tuesday) | 26 December (Tuesday) | 26 December (Tuesday) |
How Scotland and Northern Ireland differ
Scotland's list swaps Easter Monday for 2 January and St Andrew's Day, and its Summer bank holiday comes at the start of August rather than the end. Northern Ireland follows the England and Wales pattern and adds two of its own: St Patrick's Day in March and the Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day) in July.
Extra one-off bank holidays turn up too. GOV.UK's past lists include the Platinum Jubilee bank holiday on 3 June and the Bank Holiday for the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on 19 September in 2022, the bank holiday for the coronation of King Charles III on 8 May in 2023, and a World Cup bank holiday in Scotland on Monday 15 June in 2026.
When a bank holiday lands on a weekend
GOV.UK's rule is simple: if a bank holiday is on a weekend, a 'substitute' weekday becomes a bank holiday, normally the following Monday. That's why so many of the dates above say substitute day. When two fall on the same weekend, as Christmas Day and Boxing Day do in 2027, the second one moves to the Tuesday.
Your employer doesn't have to give you the day off with pay
This surprises a lot of people. GOV.UK says your employer doesn't have to give you paid leave on bank or public holidays. Whether bank holidays are paid, or count towards your holiday allowance, comes down to your contract. GOV.UK also notes that bank holidays might affect how and when your benefits are paid, so check payment dates around Christmas and Easter.
If you employ people, it's worth setting out how you treat bank holidays in writing from day one. This guide to employment law situations for UK small business owners covers the wider picture, and if a bank holiday trip goes wrong in the air, here's how flight delay compensation in the UK works.
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My advice on planning around bank holidays
Add the GOV.UK calendar file for your part of the UK to your diary now: GOV.UK offers one for England and Wales, one for Scotland and one for Northern Ireland, and they carry the substitute days for you. If you run a business across borders, plan around all three lists, not just the one where you're based.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next UK bank holiday?
As of Nov 2026, the next is St Andrew's Day on Monday 30 November in Scotland. In England and Wales and in Northern Ireland, the next is Christmas Day on Friday 25 December.
What happens if a bank holiday falls on a weekend?
A substitute weekday becomes a bank holiday, normally the following Monday. Boxing Day in 2026 falls on a Saturday, so the bank holiday is Monday 28 December.
Is Easter Monday a bank holiday in Scotland?
No. Easter Monday isn't on Scotland's bank holiday list. Scotland has 2 January and St Andrew's Day instead.
Does my employer have to give me bank holidays off with pay?
No. GOV.UK says your employer doesn't have to give you paid leave on bank or public holidays. Check your contract.
How many bank holidays are there in 2027?
Going by GOV.UK's lists, England and Wales have 8, Scotland 9 and Northern Ireland 10.
Which bank holidays are only in Northern Ireland?
St Patrick's Day in March and the Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day) in July.
