As Brits return to their desks after the festive break, one pressing question dominates office chatter: when is the next bank holiday? While hopes for an extra day off to celebrate the Lionesses' Euros victory didn't materialise, the calendar for 2026 still offers plenty of opportunities for a long weekend.
When is the Next Bank Holiday in 2026?
The answer depends on where you live in the United Kingdom. Residents of Northern Ireland will be the first to enjoy a break, with a day off on Tuesday, 17 March for St Patrick's Day. For the rest of the UK – England, Scotland, and Wales – the next public holiday is Good Friday on 3 April.
This follows a year where the August bank holiday saw record-breaking heat, with temperatures hitting 29.1°C in Hawarden, Flintshire. An extra coronation bank holiday for King Charles III in 2023 was a recent bonus, but no additional nationwide holiday is expected for 2026, despite major sporting events like the Men's Football World Cup in the USA and the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo.
The Complete 2026 Bank Holiday Schedule
Here is the full list of confirmed dates to mark in your diary across the four nations of the UK.
England and Wales
The bank holidays for England and Wales in 2026 are as follows:
- Friday, 3 April - Good Friday
- Monday, 6 April - Easter Monday
- Monday, 4 May - Early May bank holiday
- Monday, 25 May - Spring bank holiday
- Monday, 31 August - Summer bank holiday
- Friday, 25 December - Christmas Day
- Monday, 28 December - Boxing Day (substitute day)
Scotland
Scotland's list includes its own traditional day, St Andrew's Day:
- Friday, 3 April - Good Friday
- Monday, 4 May - Early May bank holiday
- Monday, 25 May - Spring bank holiday
- Monday, 3 August - Summer bank holiday
- Monday, 30 November - St Andrew’s Day
- Friday, 25 December - Christmas Day
- Monday, 28 December - Boxing Day (substitute day)
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland enjoys the most bank holidays, including St Patrick's Day and the Battle of the Boyne:
- Tuesday, 17 March - St Patrick’s Day
- Friday, 3 April - Good Friday
- Monday, 6 April - Easter Monday
- Monday, 4 May - Early May bank holiday
- Monday, 25 May - Spring bank holiday
- Monday, 13 July - Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day) (substitute day)
- Monday, 31 August - Summer bank holiday
- Friday, 25 December - Christmas Day
- Monday, 28 December - Boxing Day (substitute day)
Planning Your Year Around the UK's Public Holidays
With the dates now confirmed, it's the perfect time to start planning your annual leave to maximise your time off. While an unexpected extra bank holiday seems unlikely this year, the existing schedule provides a solid framework for booking holidays, staycations, and family gatherings throughout 2026.
