Also on Bank Holidays UK: How Many Bank Holidays Are There in the UK? · Are Schools Closed on Bank Holidays? UK Term Dates · Parking on Bank Holidays — Free or Paid?
Wondering when the next UK bank holiday falls? Today, on Wednesday 6 May 2026, the answer is the Spring Bank Holiday on Monday 25 May 2026 — exactly 19 days away. Below you will find a live countdown, every remaining bank holiday this year, what shuts and what stays open, plus how to plan a long weekend off the back of it.
On this page
- Next bank holiday — date & live countdown
- All remaining UK bank holidays in 2026
- Differences between England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland
- Substitute days & weekend rules
- What's open and closed on the next bank holiday
- Turn it into a long weekend with one day off
- First bank holidays of 2027
- Frequently asked questions
Next bank holiday — date and live countdown
The next UK bank holiday is the Spring Bank Holiday, falling on Monday 25 May 2026. It is observed across all four UK nations — England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland — so the entire country gets the day off work in one synchronised pause.
The countdown above updates in real time and uses British Summer Time (BST, UTC+1) which is in force until the clocks go back on Sunday 25 October 2026. So if you are reading this from abroad, the holiday begins at 00:00 BST on 25 May — that is 23:00 UTC on the night of the 24th, or 19:00 EDT in New York.
Date: Monday 25 May 2026 · Type: Statutory bank holiday · Created by: Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 · Region: All four UK nations · Linked tradition: late-May "Whitsun" weekend (originally tied to Pentecost).
All remaining UK bank holidays in 2026
Here are every UK bank holiday left in 2026, in chronological order from today's date (Wednesday 6 May 2026). The next one is highlighted; this list is for England and Wales — see the regional table further down for Scottish and Northern Irish variations.
| Holiday | Date | Day | Days from now |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEXT Spring Bank Holiday | 25 May 2026 | Monday | 19 days |
| Summer Bank Holiday | 31 August 2026 | Monday | 117 days |
| Christmas Day | 25 December 2026 | Friday | 233 days |
| Boxing Day (substitute) | 28 December 2026 | Monday | 236 days |
That is four bank holidays still to come in 2026 for England and Wales. Combined with the four already taken in the year (New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday and the Early May Bank Holiday), this gives the standard total of eight English/Welsh bank holidays per calendar year.
Differences between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
The Spring Bank Holiday on 25 May is one of the few that is observed identically across the entire UK. Most other UK bank holidays differ by region — so if you live in Edinburgh or Belfast, your "next" holiday after May may not match what someone in London sees.
| Region | Spring BH (25 May) | Next regional holiday after |
|---|---|---|
| England | Yes — bank holiday | Summer Bank Holiday — Mon 31 Aug 2026 |
| Wales | Yes — bank holiday | Summer Bank Holiday — Mon 31 Aug 2026 |
| Scotland | Yes — bank holiday | Summer Bank Holiday (Scotland) — Mon 3 Aug 2026 |
| Northern Ireland | Yes — bank holiday | Battle of the Boyne — Mon 13 Jul 2026 |
Note the two Scottish quirks: the Summer Bank Holiday in Scotland falls on the first Monday of August (3 August 2026), almost four weeks earlier than south of the border, where it is observed on the last Monday of August. Northern Ireland adds the unique Battle of the Boyne public holiday on 13 July, sometimes called Orangemen's Day.
Substitute days and the weekend rule
UK bank holidays are governed by the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971. A peculiarity of the Act is the substitute day rule: when a fixed-date holiday lands on a Saturday or Sunday, it is "moved" to the next working weekday. In 2026, this is exactly why Boxing Day is observed on Monday 28 December rather than the actual 26 December (a Saturday).
The Spring Bank Holiday itself never needs a substitute because it is statutorily defined as the last Monday of May, so it always falls on a Monday. The same logic protects the Early May, August, and Boxing Day Mondays from substitute-day complications — except in years like 2026, when 26 December slips onto a Saturday.
What is open and what is closed on the next bank holiday?
Closed (or operating with major changes)
On Monday 25 May 2026, expect the following to be closed or running a Sunday-style service:
| Service | Status on 25 May |
|---|---|
| High-street bank branches | Closed |
| Most government offices & council services | Closed |
| Royal Mail post and Parcelforce delivery | No collections or deliveries (full Royal Mail bank holiday timings) |
| Most household bin collections | Delayed by 1 working day (check your council) |
| State schools (England & Wales) | Closed (often part of half-term) |
| NHS GP surgeries | Closed — use 111 or A&E |
Open as normal (or with bank-holiday hours)
| Service | Status on 25 May |
|---|---|
| Online banking, mobile apps, ATMs | Available 24/7 |
| Faster Payments (instant transfers) | Process normally |
| Supermarkets & large shops | Open, often shorter Sunday-style hours |
| Pubs, restaurants, cafés | Open — busy |
| Public transport (TfL, National Rail) | Sunday/holiday timetable |
| NHS hospitals (A&E, urgent care) | Open 24/7 |
Turn it into a long weekend with one day off
The Spring Bank Holiday is one of the easiest UK bank holidays to extend into a longer break, because schools in England and Wales typically take their May half-term in the same week. Here are three popular ways to stretch 25 May into a longer trip without using too much annual leave.
| Configuration | Days off work | Days off in total |
|---|---|---|
| Sat 23 → Mon 25 May (default) | 0 | 3 |
| Sat 23 → Tue 26 May (1 day taken Tue) | 1 | 4 |
| Fri 22 → Mon 25 May (1 day taken Fri) | 1 | 4 |
| Sat 23 → Sun 31 May (Tue–Fri taken) | 4 | 9 |
The four-for-nine option is especially efficient: book Tuesday 26 to Friday 29 May off and you get nine consecutive days of holiday for just four days of paid leave — coinciding with school half-term, ideal for family travel. See our full guide to 2026 UK long weekends for similar tricks across the year.
First bank holidays of 2027
If you are planning further ahead, here are the first three UK bank holidays of 2027:
| Holiday | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day 2027 | 1 January 2027 | Friday |
| Good Friday 2027 | 26 March 2027 | Friday |
| Easter Monday 2027 | 29 March 2027 | Monday |
For the full picture see our UK Bank Holidays 2027 calendar.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next UK bank holiday?
As of Wednesday 6 May 2026, the next UK bank holiday is the Spring Bank Holiday on Monday 25 May 2026. It applies in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
How many bank holidays are there left in 2026?
Four — the Spring Bank Holiday (25 May), the Summer Bank Holiday (31 August), Christmas Day (25 December) and the Boxing Day substitute (28 December). Scotland and Northern Ireland have additional regional holidays in this period.
Will the next bank holiday cause a Direct Debit to fail?
No. If a Direct Debit is scheduled for 25 May, your provider will simply collect it on the next working day (Tuesday 26 May 2026). You do not need to take any action and you will not be charged a missed-payment fee for a bank-holiday delay.
Are shops open on the next bank holiday?
Yes — most shops open. Large supermarkets in England and Wales operate under the Sunday Trading Act 1994 rules, meaning stores over 280 m² open for a maximum of six continuous hours (typically 10:00–16:00 or 11:00–17:00). Smaller shops may open longer.
Why is the Spring Bank Holiday on 25 May this year?
By statute, the Spring Bank Holiday is fixed as the last Monday of May. In 2026 that is the 25th. The date moves between 25 and 31 May depending on the year — for example, in 2027 it falls on Monday 31 May.
Do I get paid extra for working on the next bank holiday?
It depends entirely on your contract. UK employment law does not require enhanced pay for bank-holiday working — see our bank holiday pay guide for what your contract should say and how time-off-in-lieu works.
Is the next bank holiday the same in Scotland?
Yes. The Spring Bank Holiday on 25 May 2026 is observed in Scotland too. The next Scottish-specific divergence is the Summer Bank Holiday, which Scotland celebrates on Monday 3 August 2026 — almost four weeks earlier than England and Wales.