Countdown to the early May bank holiday
A live countdown to the early May bank holiday, the first Monday of May, across the UK.
Good to know
The early May bank holiday falls on the first Monday of May in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It was first created in 1978 and is the first of two bank holidays in the month.
The countdown targets midnight at the start of the Monday in UK time. By early May the UK is already on British Summer Time, so the target is one hour ahead of UTC.
Because it follows soon after Easter in many years, the early May holiday can create a run of long weekends in spring, and travel companies often report heavy demand on the roads and railways. Ticket and train timetables for the weekend are published in UK local time.
On rare occasions the holiday is moved. In 2020 it was shifted to Friday 8 May to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day, and in 2023 an extra bank holiday was added for the coronation. Dates for the next few years are listed below.
Dates for the next few years
- 2026: Monday, 4 May 2026
- 2027: Monday, 3 May 2027
- 2028: Monday, 1 May 2028
- 2029: Monday, 7 May 2029
- 2030: Monday, 6 May 2030
Frequently asked questions
When is the early May bank holiday?
It falls on the first Monday of May every year. The exact dates for the next five years are listed on this page.
Is the early May bank holiday the same across the UK?
Yes. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland all observe it on the first Monday of May.
Clock change guides
- What Is Daylight Saving Time (DST)? A Plain-English GuideWhat daylight saving time is, how it works in the UK, Europe and the US, why it exists, its history, who uses it and the argument over scrapping it.
- Why Do the Clocks Go Back in October? The Real ReasonThe clocks go back in autumn to return the UK to GMT, so winter mornings are lighter. The history, the rule, what time it happens and what changes for you.
- When Do the Clocks Go Forward Again After Going Back?When the UK clocks go forward again after the autumn change, how long the UK stays on GMT, when evenings get lighter and how to remember to reset your clocks.