UK Bank Holidays 2026 to 2028 (England and Wales)
Bank holidays in England and Wales are fixed by rule, so the dates move around. These are the dates for the next three years.
Dates by year
2026: New Year's Day, Thursday 1 January; Good Friday, Friday 3 April; Easter Monday, Monday 6 April; Early May bank holiday, Monday 4 May; Spring bank holiday, Monday 25 May; Summer bank holiday, Monday 31 August; Christmas Day, Friday 25 December; Boxing Day, Monday 28 December.
2027: New Year's Day, Friday 1 January; Good Friday, Friday 26 March; Easter Monday, Monday 29 March; Early May bank holiday, Monday 3 May; Spring bank holiday, Monday 31 May; Summer bank holiday, Monday 30 August; Christmas Day, Monday 27 December; Boxing Day, Tuesday 28 December.
2028: New Year's Day, Monday 3 January; Good Friday, Friday 14 April; Easter Monday, Monday 17 April; Early May bank holiday, Monday 1 May; Spring bank holiday, Monday 29 May; Summer bank holiday, Monday 28 August; Christmas Day, Monday 25 December; Boxing Day, Tuesday 26 December.
How the dates are set
Easter holidays move with Easter, the early May and spring holidays are the first and last Mondays of May, and the summer holiday is the last Monday of August. When New Year's Day, Christmas Day or Boxing Day falls on a weekend, a substitute weekday is given.
Scotland and Northern Ireland have slightly different bank holidays, such as 2 January and the first Monday of August in Scotland, and 17 March and 12 July in Northern Ireland. One-off holidays, such as for a coronation, are announced separately.
Frequently asked questions
Are bank holidays the same across the UK?
Not exactly. England and Wales share the same list, while Scotland and Northern Ireland each have some different days.
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.