Aldi has confirmed it will close more than 1,000 of its UK stores for one day. The supermarket chain is giving store colleagues the chance to spend more time with family and friends after the festive rush by closing on Boxing Day this year.
The discount chain will also close on Christmas Day, while stores in Merseyside will shut on New Year's Day and reopen on Saturday, January 2, 2027. Opening times will vary locally in the days before Christmas, with many stores extending their hours to help customers pick up everything they need for the festive period.
Thanking colleagues
Rachel Geary, communications director at Aldi UK, said: "Christmas is a special time for our customers, but it is also one of the busiest periods of the year for our teams.
"Our colleagues work incredibly hard to ensure customers can pick up everything they need ahead of the big day.
"We never take that effort for granted. Closing our stores on Boxing Day is one way of saying thank you and giving colleagues a proper chance to rest, switch off and spend more time with the people closest to them."
Customers are encouraged to check the Aldi Store Finder nearer the time for the latest opening hours at their local store.
Home Bargains follows suit
The announcement comes after a similar one made by Home Bargains. The brand confirmed that all 600 of its stores across the UK, including 24 in Liverpool, will remain closed on Boxing Day and New Year's Day this year.
The discount retailer was the first major chain to officially confirm its Christmas trading arrangements, with others now following.
In previous years, Home Bargains has said the decision to close its stores is designed to give employees more time to spend with their families and friends during the festive period. The retailer has praised the dedication of its workforce and said it was "proud" to give staff additional time off over the holidays.
This is not the first time Home Bargains has taken the decision to close its stores during the festive season. In both 2023 and 2024, the retailer was among the first major chains to confirm it would not open on Boxing Day — traditionally a key date for retailers launching their post-Christmas sales.
