Bank holidays in Wales — 2026 at a glance

Wales observes the same eight bank holidays as England. Despite long-running campaigns to grant St David’s Day (1 March) statutory bank holiday status, it remains a celebrated patron-saint day rather than an official public holiday — Welsh Government employees and many schools observe it informally, but UK-wide statutory rules do not include it.

The 2026 Welsh calendar mirrors England’s exactly, including the Boxing Day substitute on Monday 28 December (because 26 December is a Saturday).

Full 2026 calendar

All bank holidays for the year, in chronological order. Past dates appear faded.

About these holidays

St David’s Day — the unofficial Welsh national holiday

St David’s Day on 1 March is the patron saint’s day of Wales and a major cultural celebration, with eisteddfods, daffodil pin-wearing and Welsh language events across the country. It is not a statutory bank holiday, however, despite a 2007 petition to the UK Parliament that gathered cross-party Welsh support. In 2026, 1 March falls on a Sunday.

What’s open and closed in Wales on bank holidays

Welsh law follows UK statutory rules. Banks, post offices and most public-sector offices close. Cardiff and Swansea high-street shops generally open, but with restricted hours under the Sunday Trading Act rules where applicable.

Other UK regions

Bank holidays vary across the four nations. See how this calendar compares.

Common questions