UK Bank Holidays 2026
Bank holidays in the UK vary between England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Below are the confirmed dates for 2026.
England and Wales
| Date | Day | Bank Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2026 | Thursday | New Year's Day |
| 3 April 2026 | Friday | Good Friday |
| 6 April 2026 | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 4 May 2026 | Monday | Early May Bank Holiday |
| 25 May 2026 | Monday | Spring Bank Holiday |
| 31 August 2026 | Monday | Summer Bank Holiday |
| 25 December 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day |
| 28 December 2026 | Monday | Boxing Day (substitute for 26 Dec, Saturday) |
Total: 8 bank holidays
Scotland
Scotland observes the same bank holidays as England and Wales, plus:
- 2 January 2026 (Friday): 2nd January
- 30 November 2026 (Monday): St Andrew's Day
Scotland does not observe Easter Monday. Total: 9 bank holidays
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland observes the same bank holidays as England and Wales, plus:
- 17 March 2026 (Tuesday): St Patrick's Day
- 13 July 2026 (Monday): Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day)
Total: 10 bank holidays
Bank Holiday Entitlement: Common Misconceptions
No Automatic Right to Time Off
Contrary to popular belief, there is no statutory right to take bank holidays off or to receive extra pay for working on them. Bank holiday entitlement depends entirely on the employment contract.
Employers can:
- Include bank holidays within the statutory 5.6 weeks (28 days for full-time) annual leave
- Give bank holidays as additional leave on top of statutory entitlement
- Require employees to work bank holidays (common in retail, hospitality, and healthcare)
Part-Time Workers
Part-time workers must not be treated less favourably than full-time workers under the Part-Time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000.
If full-time workers get 28 days plus 8 bank holidays (36 total), a part-timer working 3 days per week should get: (36 / 5) x 3 = 21.6 days total.
If a bank holiday falls on a day the part-timer does not normally work, they should receive the time back as leave on another day to avoid less favourable treatment.
Bank Holiday Pay
| Scenario | Pay Obligation |
|---|---|
| Employee does not work on bank holiday | Normal day's pay (if included in annual leave) |
| Employee works on bank holiday | Normal pay (unless contract specifies premium) |
| Enhanced bank holiday pay | Only if the contract states it (e.g. time-and-a-half) |
There is no legal right to enhanced pay for working on a bank holiday. Any premium rate must be set out in the employment contract.
Bank Holidays and Annual Leave Calculations
Holiday Year Start
If your holiday year starts on 1 January, bank holidays in 2026 are straightforward. If it starts on a different date (such as 1 April), you need to count bank holidays that fall within that specific period.
Carry-Over
Bank holidays included in the statutory 28-day entitlement follow the same carry-over rules as annual leave. The Working Time Regulations allow up to 8 days of carry-over in specific circumstances.
Planning Ahead
Several 2026 bank holidays create opportunities for extended breaks:
- Easter: Take 6-9 April off for a 10-day break (3 Apr to 12 Apr)
- May: Take 5-8 May off for a 9-day break (2 May to 10 May)
- Christmas: Take 21-24 Dec off for an 11-day break (19 Dec to 28 Dec)
Employers should plan for higher annual leave demand during these periods.
How Grove HR Helps
Grove HR includes pre-configured bank holiday calendars for all UK nations, automatically deducts bank holidays from annual leave (or adds them on top, depending on your policy), handles part-time pro-rata calculations, and lets managers see team availability across bank holiday periods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my employer make me work on a bank holiday?
Yes. There is no automatic right to take bank holidays off. It depends on your employment contract. Many sectors including retail, hospitality, healthcare, and emergency services routinely require staff to work bank holidays. Your contract should state your bank holiday arrangements.
Do I get paid double for working on a bank holiday?
Only if your employment contract says so. There is no legal requirement for enhanced pay on bank holidays. Some employers offer time-and-a-half or double time, but this is a contractual term, not a statutory right.
Are bank holidays the same across the whole UK?
No. England and Wales share the same 8 bank holidays. Scotland has 9 (adds 2nd January and St Andrew's Day, drops Easter Monday). Northern Ireland has 10 (adds St Patrick's Day and Battle of the Boyne). Employers with staff in multiple UK nations should account for these differences.