UK Bank Holidays 2025 to 2026: Your Essential Gov.uk Guide
Planning ahead for time off, travel, or business? Knowing the exact dates for bank holidays 2025 to 2026 is crucial. This guide pulls directly from official gov.uk sources, covering England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. Bank holidays aren’t universally the same across the UK—Scotland has unique dates like 2 January and St Andrew’s Day. We’ll break it all down, including substitutes when holidays fall on weekends.
Whether you’re booking holidays, scheduling events, or managing payroll, these dates ensure you’re prepared. Always cross-check with the official gov.uk bank holidays page for any last-minute changes, as they’re announced a year or so in advance.
What Are Bank Holidays?
Bank holidays in the UK are public holidays when banks, most businesses, and public services close. They’re not mandatory days off for everyone—many workers get them as paid leave via contracts, but check your employment terms. The term originates from the 19th century when banks closed, issuing notes for payments on the next working day.
There are typically 8 bank holidays per year in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, plus 9 in Scotland. Dates are fixed by law via the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, with royal proclamations for some. Easter-related ones shift annually based on the lunar calendar.
Key points:
- England, Wales, Northern Ireland (EWNI): Share most dates.
- Scotland: Adds 2 January and St Andrew’s Day; different summer holiday.
- Substitutes: If a holiday falls on Saturday, the next Monday is often a substitute (not always for all regions).
Regional Differences in Bank Holidays
The UK isn’t uniform—Scotland’s calendar diverges to reflect its heritage:
| Region | Unique Holidays |
|---|---|
| England, Wales, NI | Easter Monday, August Summer Bank Holiday |
| Scotland | 2 January, St Andrew’s Day (30 Nov or substitute), earlier Summer Bank Holiday |
Most dates align, like New Year, Good Friday, May, and Christmas. Use our lists below to plan regionally.
Bank Holidays 2025: Full List
Here’s every bank holiday in 2025, aligned with gov.uk announcements:
England, Wales, Northern Ireland
- New Year’s Day: Wednesday, 1 January 2025
- Good Friday: Friday, 18 April 2025
- Easter Monday: Monday, 21 April 2025
- Early May Bank Holiday: Monday, 5 May 2025
- Spring Bank Holiday: Monday, 26 May 2025
- Summer Bank Holiday: Monday, 25 August 2025
- Christmas Day: Thursday, 25 December 2025
- Boxing Day: Friday, 26 December 2025
Scotland (Additional to Common Dates)
- 2 January: Thursday, 2 January 2025
- Summer Bank Holiday: Monday, 4 August 2025
- St Andrew’s Day: Monday, 1 December 2025 (substitute for Sunday, 30 November)
No substitutes needed in 2025 for Christmas/Boxing as they fall midweek.
Bank Holidays 2026: Official Gov.uk Dates
Looking ahead to 2026? These are the confirmed dates per gov.uk style:
All UK
- New Year’s Day: Thursday, 1 January 2026
- Good Friday: Friday, 3 April 2026
- Early May Bank Holiday: Monday, 4 May 2026
- Spring Bank Holiday: Monday, 25 May 2026
England, Wales, Northern Ireland
- Easter Monday: Monday, 6 April 2026
- Summer Bank Holiday: Monday, 31 August 2026
- Christmas Day: Friday, 25 December 2026
- Boxing Day: Saturday, 26 December 2026 → Substitute: Monday, 28 December 2026
Scotland
- 2 January: Friday, 2 January 2026
- Summer Bank Holiday: Monday, 3 August 2026
- St Andrew’s Day: Monday, 30 November 2026
Note the Christmas/Boxing substitutes apply across the UK since Boxing Day falls on Saturday.
How Substitute Bank Holidays Work
When a bank holiday lands on a weekend:
- Saturday: Monday substitute (common for EWNI and Scotland).
- Sunday: Monday substitute.
Examples in our period:
- 2025 St Andrew’s (Scotland): 30 Nov Sunday → 1 Dec Monday.
- 2026 Boxing Day: 26 Dec Saturday → 28 Dec Monday.
Gov.uk specifies ‘where applicable’—always England/Wales/NI get substitutes for Christmas/Boxing; Scotland follows suit.
Planning Tips for Bank Holidays 2025-2026
Travel and Events
Long weekends are prime for getaways. Watch for ‘four-day weekends’:
- 2025: Easter (18-21 Apr), August (23-26 Aug).
- 2026: New Year (1-2 Jan, extended Fri-Tue in Scotland), Easter (3-6 Apr), May (1-4 & 22-25), Christmas (25-28 Dec).
Book trains/flights early—National Rail and airlines surge. Check gov.uk bank holiday traffic for road advice.
Work and Payroll
- Statutory pay: Bank holidays aren’t automatic paid leave; 5.6 weeks annual leave covers them for most.
- Zero-hours: No pay unless contracted.
- Businesses: Many close; plan rotas.
Businesses and Retail
Shops can open on bank holidays (except Easter Sunday rules). Use dates for promotions or closures.
Impacts on Services
- Post Office: Most close; Royal Mail delivers limited.
- GPs/Banks: Closed.
- Bins: Often collected; check local council.
- Schools: Term dates vary—Scotland differs from England.
In April 2026 context, Easter Monday (6 Apr) is fresh—perfect for post-holiday recovery before May’s Early May (4 May).
History of UK Bank Holidays
Originating in 1871, early holidays included Christmas and Easter. Modern additions: Spring (1971), August (1977). Scotland’s St Andrew’s became bank holiday in 2007. Gov.uk centralises info since 201x digital shift.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are bank holidays paid? Depends on contract—common but not statutory.
Do they affect pay if I work? Enhanced pay/time off often applies.
Scotland vs England? Yes, key diffs in January, August, November.
NI specifics? Aligns with England/Wales.
Updates? Gov.uk announces ~18 months ahead; 2027 expected late 2025.
Downloadable Calendar
Print or import these into Google/Outlook:
For SEO and accuracy, we’ve used gov.uk as primary source. Total words: ~1050. Stay updated—happy planning!