In 2026, residents of England and Wales can look forward to seven upcoming bank holidays. Christmas Day and Boxing Day, falling on December 25 and 26 respectively, are typically observed as bank holidays. However, as Boxing Day falls on a Saturday this year, a substitute bank holiday will be observed on Monday, December 28. The dates of bank holidays are not solely determined by weekends, as the variable Easter date also plays a role.
Throughout 2026, England and Wales are scheduled to have a total of eight bank holidays. The year kicked off with New Year’s Day on January 1. Good Friday is set for April 3, followed by Easter Monday on April 6, earlier than the dates in 2025. The pair of May bank holidays will fall on Mondays, with the Early May bank holiday on May 4 and the Spring bank holiday on May 25.
The summer bank holiday is slated for Monday, August 31, slightly later than the previous year. Closing out the year, the Christmas Day bank holiday will be on Friday, December 25. In line with the calendar, Boxing Day on December 26 will be observed as a substitute bank holiday on Monday, December 28.