When Is the Next Bank Holiday – Full UK 2026 and 2027 Dates
Planning around public holidays in the United Kingdom requires knowing exactly when the next bank holiday falls, whether you are in England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland. The official government schedule provides the most reliable reference, but regional differences and future-year dates can add complexity. This guide uses authoritative sources to answer the key question: when is the next bank holiday?
Bank holidays in the UK are set by legislation and royal proclamation, and their dates vary both by year and by region. While most holidays are shared across the country, Scotland and Northern Ireland observe additional days that are not recognised elsewhere. For anyone planning travel, work schedules, or family events, understanding these distinctions is essential.
The information below covers the next upcoming holiday, full calendars for 2026 and 2027, seasonal patterns, and a detailed breakdown of regional variations. All dates are drawn from official government listings and corroborated by independent sources.
When is the next bank holiday in the UK?
The next bank holiday in England and Wales is the Summer bank holiday on 31 August 2025. In Scotland, the next bank holiday is the Summer bank holiday on 4 August 2025 (the first Monday in August), followed by St Andrew’s Day on 30 November 2025. In Northern Ireland, the next bank holiday is also the Summer bank holiday on 31 August 2025, but the next distinctive holiday after that is St Patrick’s Day on 17 March 2026.
Upcoming bank holidays at a glance
- England & Wales: 31 August 2025 – Summer bank holiday
- Scotland: 4 August 2025 – Summer bank holiday
- Northern Ireland: 31 August 2025 – Summer bank holiday
- All UK: 1 January 2026 – New Year’s Day
Key insights about the next bank holiday
- The next bank holiday in England and Wales is 31 August 2025 (Summer bank holiday).
- In Scotland, the next bank holiday after August 2025 is 30 November 2025 (St Andrew’s Day) – a day that is not a public holiday in England.
- Northern Ireland’s next additional bank holiday is 17 March 2026 (St Patrick’s Day).
- All UK regions share the same dates for New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.
- Scotland does not observe Easter Monday as a standard nationwide holiday.
- Northern Ireland has the highest number of annual bank holidays at ten.
Regional snapshot: next holiday and annual count
| Region | Next holiday (2025–2026) | Annual bank holiday count |
|---|---|---|
| England & Wales | 31 August 2025 – Summer bank holiday | 8 |
| Scotland | 4 August 2025 – Summer bank holiday | 9 |
| Northern Ireland | 31 August 2025 – Summer bank holiday | 10 |
What are the bank holiday dates for 2026 and 2027?
Planning for future years is straightforward thanks to the fixed or movable pattern of most bank holidays. Below are the confirmed dates for 2026 and 2027, broken down by region.
2026 bank holidays by region
England & Wales: 1 January, 3 April (Good Friday), 6 April (Easter Monday), 4 May (Early May bank holiday), 25 May (Spring bank holiday), 31 August (Summer bank holiday), 25 December (Christmas Day), 28 December (Boxing Day substitute).
Scotland: 1 January, 2 January, 3 April (Good Friday), 4 May (Early May bank holiday), 25 May (Spring bank holiday), early August (Summer bank holiday – first Monday), 30 November (St Andrew’s Day), 25 December, 28 December.
Northern Ireland: 1 January, 17 March (St Patrick’s Day), 3 April (Good Friday), 6 April (Easter Monday), 4 May, 25 May, 13 July (Battle of the Boyne / Orangemen’s Day), 31 August, 25 December, 26 December (Boxing Day).
When a fixed-date bank holiday like New Year’s Day or Christmas Day falls on a weekend, the following Monday (or Tuesday) is usually designated as the official holiday. This explains why Boxing Day appears on 26 December in Northern Ireland but on 28 December in England, Wales, and Scotland for 2026 – because 26 December 2026 is a Saturday.
2027 bank holidays (England & Wales style)
The 2027 calendar for England and Wales follows the standard pattern: 1 January, 26 March (Good Friday), 29 March (Easter Monday), 3 May (Early May bank holiday), 31 May (Spring bank holiday), 30 August (Summer bank holiday), 27 December (Christmas Day substitute – 25 Dec is Saturday), 28 December (Boxing Day substitute – 26 Dec is Sunday).
Scotland and Northern Ireland will have their own variants for 2027, but those full lists are not yet published in the same detail. The England and Wales set aligns with the pattern confirmed by the UK Debt Management Office calendar.
When is the August bank holiday and are there September bank holidays?
The August bank holiday is one of the most anticipated long weekends of the year. Its date and even its name vary depending on where you live.
August bank holiday dates
In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the Summer bank holiday falls on the last Monday in August. In 2025 that is 25 August; in 2026 it is 31 August; in 2027 it is 30 August. In Scotland, the Summer bank holiday is observed on the first Monday in August, so in 2025 it is 4 August, in 2026 it will be 3 August, and in 2027 it will be 2 August.
Are there bank holidays in September?
No bank holidays are scheduled in September in any part of the United Kingdom. The next bank holiday after the August break is St Andrew’s Day (30 November) in Scotland, or Christmas Day (25 December) in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. September remains a standard working month without statutory public holidays.
Because the Scottish August holiday occurs earlier in the month, travellers crossing the border should check regional calendars. The last Monday in August is not a holiday in Scotland, and the first Monday in August is not a holiday in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
How do bank holidays differ between England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland?
The United Kingdom does not have a single uniform set of bank holidays. Each jurisdiction has its own schedule, rooted in history and local observance. Understanding these differences is crucial for anyone arranging events or travel across the country.
Scotland
Scotland has nine bank holidays each year, one more than England and Wales. It observes 2 January and St Andrew’s Day (30 November) as holidays, but does not normally include Easter Monday as a standard nationwide holiday. The summer bank holiday in Scotland is the first Monday in August, not the last Monday. This means that while England and Wales get a break on the last Monday of August, Scottish workers and schools are back at work that week.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland has the most bank holidays of any UK region, with ten per year. It adds St Patrick’s Day (17 March) and Orangemen’s Day / Battle of the Boyne (13 July) to the standard UK list. Easter Monday is observed, and the summer bank holiday follows the English pattern (last Monday in August). Boxing Day is listed as 26 December rather than the substitute Monday that applies in England, Wales, and Scotland when Christmas falls on a weekend.
A holiday that applies in one region may not apply in another. For example, St Andrew’s Day is a bank holiday in Scotland but not in England. If you are planning a trip across the border, always verify the local bank holiday calendar to avoid unexpected closures.
Upcoming bank holidays: a timeline from 2025 to 2027
The following ordered list shows the sequence of bank holidays across all UK regions from August 2025 through December 2027, based on confirmed official dates.
- 4 August 2025 – Summer bank holiday (Scotland)
- 31 August 2025 – Summer bank holiday (England, Wales, Northern Ireland)
- 30 November 2025 – St Andrew’s Day (Scotland)
- 1 January 2026 – New Year’s Day (all UK)
- 17 March 2026 – St Patrick’s Day (Northern Ireland)
- 3 April 2026 – Good Friday (all UK)
- 6 April 2026 – Easter Monday (England, Wales, Northern Ireland; not Scotland)
- 4 May 2026 – Early May bank holiday (all UK)
- 25 May 2026 – Spring bank holiday (all UK)
- 3 August 2026 – Summer bank holiday (Scotland)
- 31 August 2026 – Summer bank holiday (England, Wales, Northern Ireland)
- 25–28 December 2026 – Christmas and Boxing Day (all UK, with substitute days as needed)
What is certain and uncertain about UK bank holidays?
Most bank holidays are fixed by law or determined by a predictable rule, but some uncertainty remains around additional holidays and substitute days.
| Established information | Information that remains unclear |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Day is always 1 January; if it falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday becomes the holiday. | Additional one-off bank holidays may be announced by royal proclamation for state occasions (e.g., a coronation or jubilee). No such holiday is currently scheduled for 2025–2027. |
| Good Friday and Easter Monday are movable, calculated from the ecclesiastical lunar calendar. | The full 2027 schedules for Scotland and Northern Ireland are not yet available in official published lists; the England and Wales 2027 dates are confirmed. |
| Scotland has nine bank holidays per year; Northern Ireland has ten; England and Wales have eight. | Whether an employer allows time off on a bank holiday is at the employer’s discretion – there is no legal right to paid leave on these days. |
For more details on other movable holiday dates, see our guide on When Is Mothers Day UK – 2026, 2027 Dates & Why It Changes.
Why does the UK have bank holidays and why do they vary by region?
The concept of statutory bank holidays originated with the Bank Holidays Act of 1871, which established a set of days when banks and financial institutions could close. Over time, these days became widely adopted as public holidays, though they have never carried a universal legal right to time off work.
Regional variations emerged from historical and cultural differences. Scotland’s inclusion of 2 January and St Andrew’s Day reflects its own traditions and legal history, while Northern Ireland’s observance of St Patrick’s Day and Orangemen’s Day acknowledges the unique heritage of the region. Movable holidays such as Easter follow the ecclesiastical calendar, which is the same across the UK.
Understanding this background helps explain why a holiday in one part of the country may not be observed in another, and why the total number of bank holidays differs.
Where can I find the official bank holiday dates?
The most authoritative source for UK bank holiday dates is the official government website. For England and Wales, the GOV.UK bank holidays page provides a searchable list by year and region. Scotland’s holidays are published by the Scottish Government, and Northern Ireland’s by nidirect.gov.uk. Independent sources such as the Visit London guide and Which? offer additional confirmation for specific years.
“The official GOV.UK bank holidays page is the primary source for the UK-wide schedule.”
– UK Government, Bank Holidays
For the most up-to-date information, especially if a new bank holiday is announced, users should check the government site directly. Regional pages such as nidirect for Northern Ireland and gov.scot for Scotland provide the relevant local lists.
When is the next bank holiday? A quick recap
For most of the UK, the next bank holiday is the Summer bank holiday on 31 August 2025 (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) or 4 August 2025 (Scotland). After that, Scotland enjoys St Andrew’s Day on 30 November, while the rest of the country waits until Christmas. Planning ahead for 2026 and 2027 is straightforward thanks to the predictable pattern of most holidays. For a full list of non-bank holiday observances, you may also find the When Is Mothers Day UK – 2026, 2027 Dates & Why It Changes guide useful.
Frequently asked questions about UK bank holidays
When does summer start?
Meteorological summer starts on 1 June; astronomical summer begins on the summer solstice (around 21 June). Neither is a bank holiday.
When is pancake day 2026?
Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday) falls on 17 February 2026. It is not a bank holiday.
When is Mother’s Day UK 2026?
Mother’s Day (Mothering Sunday) in the UK is on 22 March 2026. It is not a bank holiday.
When does summer end?
Meteorological summer ends on 31 August; astronomical summer ends on the autumnal equinox (around 22 September).
Is there a bank holiday in September?
No. The UK has no bank holidays in September. The next holiday after August is St Andrew’s Day (30 November) in Scotland, or Christmas Day in the rest of the UK.
When is the next bank holiday in Scotland?
After the Summer bank holiday on 4 August 2025, the next bank holiday in Scotland is St Andrew’s Day on 30 November 2025.
When is the next bank holiday in Northern Ireland?
After the Summer bank holiday on 31 August 2025, the next bank holiday in Northern Ireland is St Patrick’s Day on 17 March 2026.
Do all bank holidays give a legal right to time off?
No. There is no automatic legal right to paid leave on bank holidays. Whether an employer includes them in annual leave entitlement is a matter of contract.
What happens when a bank holiday falls on a weekend?
A substitute weekday (usually Monday, or Tuesday for Christmas) is declared as the official bank holiday. This is called a “substitute day” or “in lieu” holiday.
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