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United Kingdom Public Holidays

United Kingdom observes a mix of public, national, and regional holidays throughout the year.

Overview

United Kingdom observes a mix of public, national, and regional holidays throughout the year.

Some holidays are observed nationwide, while others may apply only to specific regions or communities.

Explore the holiday calendar for United Kingdom by year below.

2026 holidays

A quick look at upcoming holidays in United Kingdom.

DateDayHoliday
Jan 1ThursdayNew Year's Day
Jan 2Friday2 January
Mar 17TuesdaySaint Patrick's Day
Apr 3FridayGood Friday
Apr 6MondayEaster Monday
May 4MondayEarly May Bank Holiday
May 25MondaySpring Bank Holiday
Jul 13MondayBattle of the Boyne
Aug 3MondaySummer Bank Holiday
Aug 31MondaySummer Bank Holiday
Nov 30MondaySaint Andrew's Day
Dec 25FridayChristmas Day
Dec 28MondaySt. Stephen's Day

Holiday calendar by year

Years are listed in ascending order.

About public holidays in the United Kingdom

HolidayCalendar lists public holidays for the United Kingdom by calendar year. From this hub you can open a full year view with every dated entry, or jump to individual holiday pages for more context.

Public holidays are official days when many workplaces and schools close or operate on a reduced schedule. For how we separate public holidays from awareness observances on this site, see public holidays and country calendars.

Some entries in our United Kingdom listing reflect holidays observed in particular nations or regions (for example Saint Patrick's Day or Saint Andrew's Day). Open a year calendar for the full dated list.

Major public holidays in 2026

These are widely recognized anchor holidays in our 2026 United Kingdom calendar. Open each link for dates in other years and related calendar details.

Additional 2026 public holidays in our data include 2 January, Saint Patrick's Day, Battle of the Boyne, and Saint Andrew's Day. See the 2026 holiday table for exact dates.

  • New Year's Day1 January 2026. Opens the calendar year and is often used for short breaks after the winter holiday period.
  • Good Friday3 April 2026. A key Easter-related public holiday and a common anchor for spring long weekends.
  • Easter Monday6 April 2026. Follows Easter Sunday and extends the Easter break for many workers and schools.
  • Early May Bank Holiday4 May 2026. The first May bank holiday, often used for events and travel.
  • Spring Bank Holiday25 May 2026. The late-May bank holiday before summer.
  • Summer Bank Holiday3 August 2026 and 31 August 2026 in our 2026 data. Two dated entries share this name; open the entity page or 2026 calendar for both dates.
  • Christmas Day25 December 2026. The main year-end public holiday.
  • St. Stephen's Day28 December 2026 in our calendar (observed substitute date). Often grouped with the Christmas period for time off.

Planning around holidays

Use the year calendars on this hub when you schedule time off, travel, or staffing. Pick a year from the buttons above to see every dated public holiday.

  • Spring: Easter-related public holidays often fall close together and can create longer weekends. Check your chosen year calendar for exact dates.
  • May: Spring bank holidays may affect travel demand and staffing plans. Dates vary each year.
  • Summer: Summer bank holidays and school holiday periods can increase travel activity. Compare months on a year calendar for August and nearby weeks.
  • Year-end: Christmas-period public holidays often create extended breaks. Substitute or observed dates may apply when holidays fall on a weekend—confirm on the year view.

Plan Your Year Around GB Holidays

Calendar Tool

View United Kingdom holidays in calendar mode

Explore public holidays in a visual calendar layout and plan ahead more easily.

Frequently asked questions