Bank holiday dates differ across the four nations of the UK. The table below gives the 2026 dates for each. For the general rules on substitute days and regional variations, see What are the public holidays in the United Kingdom (UK)?
England and Wales — 8 bank holidays
Date | Day | 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 day) |
Scotland — 10 bank holidays
Date | Day | Holiday |
1 January | Thursday | New Year's Day |
2 January | Friday | 2nd January |
3 April | Friday | Good Friday |
4 May | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
25 May | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
15 June | Monday | World Cup bank holiday (one-off) |
3 August | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
30 November | Monday | St Andrew's Day |
25 December | Friday | Christmas Day |
28 December | Monday | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
Scotland's 15 June World Cup bank holiday is a one-off.
It applies to 2026 only and is not observed uniformly — some councils have opted out. Check with your Remote People HR contact if you are unsure whether it applies to you.
Note also that Easter Monday is not a bank holiday in Scotland, unlike the rest of the UK.
Northern Ireland — 10 bank holidays
Date | Day | Holiday |
1 January | Thursday | New Year's Day |
17 March | Tuesday | St Patrick'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 |
13 July | Monday | Battle of the Boyne (substitute day) |
31 August | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
25 December | Friday | Christmas Day |
28 December | Monday | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
Notes for 2026
Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, so the bank holiday moves to Monday 28 December across all four nations.
Public holidays are not deducted from your annual leave balance.
Source: GOV.UK. Questions about which nation's calendar applies to you — contact your Remote People HR contact.
