Millions of people across the United Kingdom will enjoy an extra bank holiday next month, just days after the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off. Buckingham Palace has officially confirmed the additional public holiday, which will apply exclusively to Scotland.
Scotland's Special Bank Holiday
In February, Buckingham Palace announced: "To mark the achievement of Scotland's men's football team competing at the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 28 years, we consider it desirable that Monday, the fifteenth day of June in the year 2026 should be a bank holiday in Scotland. Now, therefore, we, in pursuance of section 1(3) of the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, do hereby appoint Monday, the fifteenth day of June in the year 2026 to be a bank holiday in Scotland."
This special bank holiday will not apply to England, Wales, or Northern Ireland. For the majority of the UK, the next bank holidays fall in August. However, Northern Ireland observes the Battle of the Boyne bank holiday on Monday, July 13.
Upcoming Bank Holidays Across the UK
- Scotland: Monday, June 15 (extra holiday for World Cup), Monday, August 3 (Summer bank holiday), and Monday, November 30 (St Andrew's Day).
- Northern Ireland: Monday, July 13 (Battle of the Boyne) and Monday, August 31 (Summer bank holiday).
- England and Wales: Monday, August 31 (Summer bank holiday).
Later in the year, the whole of the UK will observe a bank holiday for Christmas Day on December 25, along with a substitute bank holiday for Boxing Day on Monday, December 28. This replacement date has been introduced because Boxing Day falls on a Saturday this year.
