The August bank holiday will be one of the last remaining normal bank holidays for the remainder of the year. Afterwards, the final bank holiday will shift to a substitute day, due to falling on a weekend.
The summer bank holiday (Monday, August 31) will fall as normal, with some businesses and schools closed to mark the occasion. However, the last bank holiday of the year will shift from its normal calendar place to one day in the future.
Boxing Day moves to December 28
Bank holiday dates vary from year to year, with Boxing Day set to change from the typical December 26 date. At present, there are no plans to introduce any additional UK-wide bank holidays, meaning England and Wales are expected to have the usual eight bank holidays in 2027.
The next bank holiday in England and Wales is the Summer Bank Holiday tomorrow, Monday, August 31, followed by Christmas Day on Friday, December 25. This year, Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, which means a substitute bank holiday will be created on Monday, December 28.
Remaining bank holidays in 2026
Workers can make the most of the remaining bank holidays by planning annual leave in advance, potentially extending weekends into longer breaks.
- Monday, August 31 – Summer Bank Holiday
- Friday, December 25 – Christmas Day
- Monday, December 28 – Boxing Day (substitute day)
2027 changes and government guidance
There will be major changes to bank holidays in 2027 as there will be longer breaks for UK workers due to a weekend clash. In 2027, Christmas Day will land on a Saturday, and Boxing Day, December 26, will be a Sunday. This means December 27 and December 28 will be substitute bank holidays. New Year's Day 2028 will fall on a Saturday, meaning instead of January 1 being a bank holiday, there will be a bank holiday on Monday, January 3, 2028.
This means another long weekend for many workers. Other bank holidays will be as expected. The Easter 2027 bank holidays will be on Good Friday and Easter Monday as usual.
Guidance from the UK government states: "If a bank holiday is on a weekend, a 'substitute' weekday becomes a bank holiday, normally the following Monday. Your employer does not have to give you paid leave on bank or public holidays. Bank holidays might affect how and when your benefits are paid."
