Not all UK nations will celebrate all four
Four bank holidays remain in the UK for 2026, though not all will be observed across every nation. The majority of workers are entitled to bank holidays off, with schools also closing on these dates. This year, a “substitute” bank holiday will be observed as Boxing Day “moves” due to the calendar.
As Boxing Day falls on a Saturday this year, on 26 December, the bank holiday will be shifted to Monday, 28 December instead. Next year, both the Christmas Day and Boxing Day bank holidays will also be “moved”, as they fall on a Saturday and Sunday respectively.
All four UK nations will benefit from a bank holiday this month, although the exact date varies depending on where you live. England, Wales, and Northern Ireland will observe the Summer bank holiday on Monday, August 31, reports the Express.
However, those living in Scotland already had their Summer bank holiday on Monday, August 3. Scotland will also exclusively celebrate a bank holiday for St Andrew’s Day on Monday, November 30.
Finally, all four UK nations will enjoy a bank holiday on Friday, December 25 for Christmas Day, followed by the substitute bank holiday on Monday, December 28 – the last bank holiday of 2026.
Full list of UK bank holidays still to come in 2026
- Monday, August 31 – Summer bank holiday (England, Wales, and Northern Ireland)
- Monday, November 30 – St Andrew’s Day (Scotland only)
- Friday, December 25 – Christmas Day (UK wide)
- Monday, December 28 – Boxing Day (substitute) (UK wide)
How many bank holidays will there be in 2027?
2027 will bring a grand total of eight bank holidays for England and Wales. Scotland will benefit from an extra bank holiday to celebrate St Andrew’s Day on November 30, while Northern Ireland will get two further bank holidays for St Patrick’s Day on March 17 and to mark the Battle of the Boyne on July 12.
The full list of bank holidays coming for England and Wales in 2027 includes:
- Friday, January 1 – New Year’s Day
- Friday, March 26 – Good Friday
- Monday, March 29 – Easter Monday
- Monday, May 3 – Early May Bank Holiday
- Monday, May 31 – Spring Bank Holiday
- Monday, August 30 – Summer Bank Holiday
- Monday, December 27 – Christmas Day (substitute)
- Tuesday, December 28 – Boxing Day (Substitute)
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