England and Wales: Eight Days, One Substitute
The Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 sets eight common law and statutory days for England and Wales in 2026.
| Date | Day | Break |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Thursday | New Year's Day |
| 3 April | Friday | Good Friday |
| 4 May | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| 25 May | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| 25 December | Friday | Christmas Day |
| 26 December | Saturday | Boxing Day |
| 28 December | Monday | Boxing Day (substitute) |
Good Friday is not a statutory creation. It has been a common law observance for centuries. The substitute day on 28 December replaces the Saturday Boxing Day, giving workers a three-day weekend.
Scotland: 2 January and St Andrew's Day
Scotland runs a different calendar. Two dates stand out: 2 January and St Andrew's Day (30 November).
| Date | Day | Break |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Thursday | New Year's Day |
| 2 January | Friday | 2 January |
| 3 April | Friday | Good Friday |
| 4 May | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| 25 May | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| 3 August | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| 30 November | Monday | St Andrew's Day |
| 25 December | Friday | Christmas Day |
| 26 December | Saturday | Boxing Day |
| 28 December | Monday | Boxing Day (substitute) |
Scotland skips the late August break that England and Wales use. Instead, the summer day falls on the first Monday in August. St Andrew's Day is a bank holiday, though employers are not required to give it as a paid day off.
Northern Ireland: St Patrick's Day and the Twelfth
Northern Ireland adds two days not seen in England and Wales: St Patrick's Day (17 March) and the Battle of the Boyne anniversary (12 July).
| Date | Day | Break |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Thursday | New Year's Day |
| 17 March | Tuesday | St Patrick's Day |
| 3 April | Friday | Good Friday |
| 4 May | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| 25 May | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| 12 July | Monday | Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day) |
| 25 December | Friday | Christmas Day |
| 26 December | Saturday | Boxing Day |
| 28 December | Monday | Boxing Day (substitute) |
The 12 July date commemorates the Battle of the Boyne (1690). In 2026 it falls on a Monday, creating a long weekend without a substitute.
Substitute Days: When a Date Lands on a Weekend
When a bank holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, a substitute weekday becomes the official day. The Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 sets this rule.
In 2026, only Boxing Day triggers a substitute. Christmas Day is a Friday, so no substitute is needed.
- Boxing Day: Saturday 26 December → substitute on Monday 28 December 2026.
The substitute day is the legal bank holiday for employment, financial markets, and school terms. Check your workplace policy: some employers give both days off.
Which 2026 UK Bank Holidays Create Long Weekends?
Christmas and New Year 2026-2027 create an unusual pattern. Christmas Day (Friday) and the Boxing Day substitute (Monday) give a four-day break for many workers. New Year's Day 2027 is a Friday, meaning another long weekend just days later.
| Period | Days off |
|---|---|
| Christmas 2026 | Friday 25 Dec, Monday 28 Dec |
| New Year 2027 | Friday 1 Jan, Sunday 3 Jan |
The early May bank holiday (Monday 4 May) and spring bank holiday (Monday 25 May) both create three-day weekends. Good Friday (Friday 3 April) gives a four-day weekend if your workplace also closes Easter Monday, though Easter Monday is not a bank holiday in the UK.
For complete details on what makes a bank holiday and how the rules vary, read UK Bank Holidays Explained. For 2027 dates, see UK Bank Holidays 2027.