Boxing Day 2026 date reminder as bank holiday moved this Christmas

The Boxing Day bank holiday will not fall on December 26 this year, as the date lands on a Saturday. Instead, a substitute bank holiday will take place on Monday 28 December, according to the Government's confirmed schedule for England and Wales.

Boxing Day is always celebrated the day after Christmas Day on December 26 each year, but the exact date of the bank holiday may change. If Christmas Day, Boxing Day, or New Year's Day lands on a weekend, the Government allocates what is known as a "substitute" bank holiday on a weekday, usually the following Monday.

Bank Holiday Counts and Past Extras

Every year across England and Wales there are eight recognised bank holidays, with Scotland recognising nine and Northern Ireland celebrating ten. There are exemptions to this on special occasions when extra bank holidays get added.

Back in 2022, the UK had two extra bank holidays, one on 3 June 2022 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee, and another on 19 September for her funeral. There was speculation last year that the UK might have had an extra bank holiday in 2025 to celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day on May 8, but this was not the case.

Upcoming Substitute Days

Next year, in 2027, both Christmas Day and Boxing Day land on a weekend, meaning there will be substitute bank holidays on Monday 27 December and Tuesday 28 December. With only eight recognised bank holidays in England, there is only one country in the world which celebrates fewer, which is Mexico with only seven official public holidays. Across the world, India has the most, with 21 days recognised as national holidays.