Calculator / Bank Holidays
UK Bank Holidays 2026 and 2027
Full dates for England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Plus how to maximise your time off with strategic leave booking.
Updated 11 April 2026
Bank Holidays 2026
| Date | Day | Bank Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Thursday | New Year's Day |
| 3 April | Friday | Good Friday |
| 6 April | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 4 May | Monday | Early May Bank Holiday |
| 25 May | Monday | Spring Bank Holiday |
| 31 August | Monday | Summer Bank Holiday |
| 25 December | Friday | Christmas Day |
| 28 December | Monday | Boxing Day (substitute) |
Bank Holidays 2027: England and Wales
| Date | Day | Bank Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Friday | New Year's Day |
| 26 March | Friday | Good Friday |
| 29 March | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 3 May | Monday | Early May Bank Holiday |
| 31 May | Monday | Spring Bank Holiday |
| 30 August | Monday | Summer Bank Holiday |
| 27 December | Monday | Christmas Day (substitute) |
| 28 December | Tuesday | Boxing Day (substitute) |
How to Maximise Your Time Off in 2026
Easter 2026
Book 4 days, get 10 offBook: 4 days (30 Mar - 2 Apr)
Get: 10 days off (28 Mar - 6 Apr)
Good Friday + Easter Monday give you the long weekend; book Mon-Thu before for 10 straight days.
May 2026
Book 4 days, get 9 offBook: 4 days (5-8 May)
Get: 9 days off (2-10 May)
Early May bank holiday on 4th; book the next 4 days for a 9-day break.
Late May 2026
Book 4 days, get 9 offBook: 4 days (26-29 May)
Get: 9 days off (23-31 May)
Spring bank holiday on 25th extends into a 9-day break.
Summer 2026
Book 4 days, get 9 offBook: 4 days (1-4 Sep)
Get: 9 days off (29 Aug - 6 Sep)
August bank holiday on 31st kicks off a potential 9-day break.
Christmas 2026
Book 3 days, get 10 offBook: 3 days (29-31 Dec)
Get: 10 days off (25 Dec - 3 Jan)
Christmas and Boxing Day plus New Year. Book just 3 days for 10 off.
Bank Holidays and Your Entitlement
Can employers include bank holidays in the 28 days?
Yes. There is no automatic right to paid time off on bank holidays. Employers can include them within the 28-day statutory entitlement. The common arrangement of "20 days plus 8 bank holidays" equals exactly 28 days and meets the statutory minimum.
Do I get paid for bank holidays?
Only if your contract says so. If bank holidays are part of your statutory entitlement, they are paid. If they are not in your contract and you do not work them, there is no automatic right to pay. Check your employment contract or staff handbook.
Bank Holidays by Nation
The UK does not have a single bank holiday calendar. England and Wales share 8 bank holidays. Scotland has 9, including 2 January and St Andrew's Day (30 November). Northern Ireland has 10, including St Patrick's Day (17 March) and the Battle of the Boyne (12 July, observed 13 July in 2026).
If you work for a company operating across UK nations, your entitlement typically follows the bank holidays of the nation where you are based, not where the company is headquartered.