United Kingdom Public Holidays 2026
United Kingdom has 9 public holiday dates in 2026.
Last updated: 8 November 2026
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| Thu 1 Jan | New Year's Day |
| Fri 3 Apr | Good Friday |
| Mon 6 Apr | Easter Monday |
| Mon 4 May | May Day |
| Mon 25 May | Spring Bank Holiday |
| Mon 31 Aug | Late Summer Bank Holiday |
| Fri 25 Dec | Christmas Day |
| Sat 26 Dec | Boxing Day |
| Mon 28 Dec | Boxing Day (observed) |
2026 holiday calendar — United Kingdom
- Public holiday
- Suggested day off
- Weekend
Tap a coloured date to see the holiday.
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Long weekends and best days to take off in United Kingdom in 2026
Best use of leave in 2026: take Fri 2 Jan off around New Year's Day for 4 days off in a row (Thu 1 – Sun 4 Jan).
| Break | Dates | Take leave on | Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day leave → 4 days off best value | Thu 1 – Sun 4 Jan | Fri 2 Jan | New Year's Day |
| 4 days leave → 10 days off | Sat 28 Mar – Mon 6 Apr | Mon 30 Mar – Thu 2 Apr | Good Friday, Easter Monday |
| 4 days off | Fri 3 – Mon 6 Apr | No leave needed | Good Friday, Easter Monday |
| 3 days off | Sat 2 – Mon 4 May | No leave needed | May Day |
| 3 days off | Sat 23 – Mon 25 May | No leave needed | Spring Bank Holiday |
| 3 days off | Sat 29 – Mon 31 Aug | No leave needed | Late Summer Bank Holiday |
| 4 days leave → 10 days off | Sat 19 – Mon 28 Dec | Mon 21 – Thu 24 Dec | Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Boxing Day (observed) |
| 4 days off | Fri 25 – Mon 28 Dec | No leave needed | Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Boxing Day (observed) |
Calculated from the national holidays above with a Saturday–Sunday weekend. Company rules, shift work and regional holidays can change the result.
United Kingdom holidays in 2026 at a glance
United Kingdom has 9 public holiday dates in 2026, from Thu 1 Jan to Mon 28 Dec. 1 of them fall on a Saturday or Sunday, so the substitute rules matter.
Compare with United Kingdom public holidays 2027, which are checked against the official list, or browse all countries for 2026.
Frequently asked questions
- How many public holidays does United Kingdom have in 2026?
- 9 dates are listed on this page.
- Are the 2026 dates official?
- Yes, they follow the published list for that year.
- Are regional holidays included?
- No. Only holidays that apply nationwide are listed.
Sources: GOV.UK – UK bank holidays · python-holidays – open holiday rules