Bank holidays in England — 2026
All eight English bank holidays for 2026, with exact dates, the day of the week, plus what’s open and closed. Updated for the year ahead.
Bank holidays in England — 2026 at a glance
England observes eight bank holidays each year — the same eight as Wales, with the dates set under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 (which replaced the original 1871 Bank Holidays Act). They mark the year’s main civic and religious milestones, from New Year’s Day in January to Boxing Day at the end of December.
In 2026 the only schedule quirk is at Christmas: with 26 December falling on a Saturday, Boxing Day moves to Monday 28 December as a substitute day. Easter falls relatively late, on 5 April, giving England its first long weekend of the spring season.
Full 2026 calendar
All bank holidays for the year, in chronological order. Past dates appear faded.
| Date | Holiday | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 01Jan |
New Year’s Day
|
Thursday |
| 03Apr |
Good Friday
|
Friday |
| 06Apr |
Easter Monday
|
Monday |
| 04May |
Early May Bank Holiday
|
Monday |
| 25May |
Spring Bank Holiday
|
Monday |
| 31Aug |
Summer Bank Holiday
|
Monday |
| 25Dec |
Christmas Day
|
Friday |
| 28Dec |
Boxing Day (substitute)Substitute
|
Monday |
About these holidays
How English bank holidays differ from the other UK nations
England’s eight days are identical to Wales. Compared to Scotland, England does not observe 2 January or St Andrew’s Day, but Scotland in turn does not officially observe Easter Monday and uses the first Monday of August instead of the last. Northern Ireland shares all eight English holidays plus St Patrick’s Day (17 March) and the Battle of the Boyne (12 July, substitute Monday 13 July in 2026).
Other UK regions
Bank holidays vary across the four nations. See how this calendar compares.
Common questions
How many bank holidays does England have in 2026?
England has eight bank holidays in 2026 — the same as Wales. They are: New Year’s Day (1 Jan), Good Friday (3 Apr), Easter Monday (6 Apr), Early May (4 May), Spring (25 May), Summer (31 Aug), Christmas Day (25 Dec) and Boxing Day substitute (Mon 28 Dec).
Is Easter Monday 2026 a bank holiday in England?
Yes. Easter Monday 2026 falls on Monday 6 April and is a statutory bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland is the only UK nation where Easter Monday is not officially designated a bank holiday.
Why is Boxing Day moved in 2026?
Because 26 December 2026 is a Saturday, the Boxing Day bank holiday is moved (a ‘substitute day’) to Monday 28 December 2026. This is automatic UK-wide.
Are England and Wales bank holidays the same?
Yes. The eight statutory dates are identical. Wales does not have an additional holiday for St David’s Day, despite long-running campaigns. See our Wales page for the full Welsh calendar.