Workers across England and Wales can start planning their time off for 2026, as the official bank holiday calendar reveals a subtle but welcome shift for the festive season. The year's structure of public holidays will largely follow a familiar pattern, but the placement of Christmas offers a bonus long weekend.
Key Bank Holiday Dates for 2026
The 2026 bank holiday schedule, as confirmed on the UK Government's official website, mirrors much of the 2025 line-up. The year begins with New Year's Day on Thursday, 1 January.
In early April, the Easter break provides a four-day weekend. Good Friday falls on 3 April, with Easter Monday on 6 April.
The spring and summer months offer the usual trio of days off:
- The early May bank holiday is on Monday, 4 May.
- The late May bank holiday follows on Monday, 25 May.
- The summer bank holiday is scheduled for Monday, 31 August.
The Christmas 2026 Arrangement
The most notable change for 2026 centres on the festive period. Christmas Day falls on a Friday. This means Boxing Day lands on a Saturday.
As bank holiday rules ensure workers receive a guaranteed day off when a public holiday falls on a weekend, a substitute day is created. Therefore, the bank holiday for Boxing Day will roll over to Monday, 28 December 2026.
This creates an automatic long weekend for many, with Friday the 25th and Monday the 28th off, bookending the weekend.
A Look Ahead to 2027
The Government calendar also outlines plans for 2027, which features another advantageous Christmas setup. With Christmas Day on a Saturday and Boxing Day on a Sunday, two substitute days will apply.
This means bank holidays will be observed on Monday, 27 December and Tuesday, 28 December 2027, granting households a four-day break to end the year.
Other confirmed 2027 dates include New Year's Day on Friday 1 January, Good Friday on 26 March, Easter Monday on 29 March, with bank holidays on 3 May, 31 May and 30 August.
With these dates now confirmed, employees and families have ample time to strategise annual leave, potentially extending these statutory breaks into longer holidays. The 2026 calendar offers a straightforward and favourable layout, with the festive period providing a perfect opportunity for a winter getaway or extended family time without dipping heavily into leave allowances.
