Everyone loves a bank holiday. These glorious free days off should be firm fixtures in everyone’s calendar. They can make a city break last a little longer or mean a two week holiday only requires eight days of annual leave, rather than ten. So knowing when bank holidays are coming up, and planning your time off accordingly, are great ways of maximising your holiday allowances every year.
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Bank holiday dates for 2026
Public holidays in the United Kingdom - England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Thursday 1st January 2026: New Year’s Day
Friday 2nd January 2026: New Year's Holiday* - Scotland only
Tuesday 17th March 2026: St Patrick's Day* - Northern Ireland only
Friday 3rd April 2026: Good Friday Monday 6th April 2026: Easter Monday* (excluding Scotland)
Monday 4th May 2026: Early May Bank Holiday Monday 25th May 2026: Late May Bank Holiday
Monday 13th July 2026: Battle of the Boyne* - Northern Ireland only
Monday 3rd August 2026: Summer Bank Holiday* - Scotland only
Monday 31st August 2026: August Bank Holiday* (excluding Scotland)
Friday 25th December 2026: Christmas Day Monday 28th December 2026: Boxing Day (substitute day)
*Holidays not observed in all nations.
How to book around a Bank Holiday
You can make your time off go even further this year with some handy holiday hacks. Planning your annual leave around the bank holidays means you’ll have plenty of time for all those trips you want to take, whether they’re long weekends away, or exciting long haul adventures.
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Here’s how to maximise your bank holiday weekends in 2026
The first opportunity for an extended break in 2026 is around the Easter bank holidays, with Good Friday (3rd April) and Easter Monday (6th April), falling either side of the weekend. By taking four days off from the 7th to the 10th of April, you can enjoy a 10-day holiday while using only four days of annual leave.
Moving into May, the Early May Bank Holiday on Monday 4th May, can serve as a springboard for a long weekend escape. Taking the preceding Friday (1st May) off would extend your break, making room for a four-day long weekend.
The Late May or Spring Bank Holiday on Monday 25th May, is another cornerstone for holiday planning. Positioned right at the end of the month, booking off the 26th to the 29th of May will give you a nine-day holiday stretch, using only four days of leave.
The Summer Bank Holiday on Monday 31st August in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (with Scotland celebrating on Monday 3rd August), signals the peak of summer. Extending this weekend by taking off the four days following the bank holiday can amplify the summer’s last hurrah into a full-blown nine-day holiday.
Christmas Day in 2026 falls on a Friday (25th December), and therefore Boxing Day will be observed on the following Monday 28th December. This 4-day weekend already provides a splendid backdrop for a festive holiday escape. By taking leave from the 21st to the 24th of December, you can turn the break into a 10-day festive retreat (from Saturday 19th through to Monday 28th).
Combining these holidays with New Year's Day, which welcomes 2027 on a Friday (1st January), further prolongs the holiday period into the new year. Using just 3 days of annual leave would give you 10 days off. Or, tagging on to the pre-Christmas dates could get you a full two-weeks holiday. What a way to end the year!
This period is ideal for those looking to experience Christmas markets in Europe, get some winter sun in more exotic locations, or simply enjoy a festive staycation.
Here’s what you need to know about bank holiday weekends in the UK
We’ve been enjoying UK bank holidays for nearly 150 years now. They were introduced by the Bank Holidays Act of 1871 - but at that time there was only four days - as Good Friday (Easter) and Christmas had always been considered as days when the country took time out.
Due to cultural differences Scotland and Northern Ireland have slightly different days off. As Hogmanay (New Years) was traditionally a bigger deal than Christmas in Scotland, they get an extra New Year’s Holiday on the 2nd of January, as well as New Year's Day (1st January) off. They also have an early August Bank Holiday (first Monday in August) but don’t get the late August Bank Holiday off like the rest of the UK. If you’re booking your trip from Scotland, don’t forget St Andrew’s Day (30th November) which is usually taken on the nearest Monday to that date.
In Northern Ireland you also get days off for St Patrick’s Day (17th March) and the Battle of the Boyne (12th July).
Where to go for the UK Bank Holidays in 2026
Now you have all the dates, the next question surely must be where’s the best place to go? To start, we’ve pulled together our favourite Easter Bank Holiday deals for you to consider.
Looking for somewhere to visit over the May Bank Holiday? These top May holiday destinations should give you something to think about for when the weather is warmer. The August Bank Holiday is a great way to finish off the summer with plenty of hot destinations in August.
And when you're looking ahead for December deals on Christmas and New Year holidays, don't miss our pick of the Christmas markets or top places for some Winter Sun.
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