What is a “bank holiday” in the United Kingdom?
Public holidays are more commonly referred to as “bank holidays” within the UK. This dates back to the “Bank Holidays Act of 1871” which stipulated specific public holidays where banks would be closed.
Are bank holidays paid in the UK?
There is no obligation for employers to provide paid leave on bank holidays in the UK; however, many companies in the private sector include the dates in the annual holiday entitlement awarded to employees.
Are public holidays on non-working days substituted?
If a bank holiday falls on a weekend in the UK, a substitute weekday, typically the following Monday, will be the observed date.
Are there regional variances within the UK?
It is important to note that the observed dates and holidays differ across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. There are 8 observed public holidays in England and Wales, 9 in Scotland and 10 in Northern Ireland. In Scotland, local councils are also able to declare additional public holiday dates.
What is the UK's statutory annual leave entitlement?
Full-time employees in the UK are entitled to a minimum of 5.6 weeks (28 days) of paid annual leave each year under the Working Time Regulations 1998. Employers can choose whether to include bank holidays within this 28-day allowance or grant them on top. There is no automatic legal right to take a bank holiday as paid leave — the entitlement depends on the employment contract.
England, Wales and Northern Ireland
2026 Public Holiday Dates
- New Year's Day: Thursday 1 January
- Good Friday: Friday 3 April
- Easter Monday: Monday 6 April
- Early May Bank Holiday: Monday 4 May
- Spring Bank Holiday: Monday 25 May
- Summer Bank Holiday: Monday 31 August
- Christmas Day: Friday 25 December
- Boxing Day (substitute): Monday 28 December
Boxing Day falls on Saturday 26 December in 2026, so the substitute bank holiday moves to Monday 28 December.
2027 Public Holiday Dates
- New Year's Day: Friday 1 January
- Good Friday: Friday 26 March
- Easter Monday: Monday 29 March
- Early May Bank Holiday: Monday 3 May
- Spring Bank Holiday: Monday 31 May
- Summer Bank Holiday: Monday 30 August
- Christmas Day (substitute): Monday 27 December
- Boxing Day (substitute): Tuesday 28 December
Christmas Day falls on Saturday and Boxing Day on Sunday in 2027 — both substitutes are observed the following week.
Northern Ireland — additional holidays
In addition to the dates above, Northern Ireland observes two further bank holidays:
2026
- St. Patrick's Day: Tuesday 17 March
- Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day): Monday 13 July (12 July falls on a Sunday; substitute observed on Monday)
2027
- St. Patrick's Day: Wednesday 17 March
- Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day): Monday 12 July
Scotland
2026 Public Holiday Dates
- New Year's Day: Thursday 1 January
- 2nd January: Friday 2 January
- Good Friday: Friday 3 April
- Early May Bank Holiday: Monday 4 May
- Spring Bank Holiday: Monday 25 May
- Summer Bank Holiday: Monday 3 August
- St. Andrew's Day: Monday 30 November
- Christmas Day: Friday 25 December
- Boxing Day (substitute): Monday 28 December
Note: Easter Monday is not a bank holiday in Scotland. Scotland's Summer Bank Holiday falls on the first Monday in August, not the last Monday as in the rest of the UK.
2027 Public Holiday Dates
- New Year's Day: Friday 1 January
- 2nd January (substitute): Monday 4 January (2 January falls on a Saturday)
- Good Friday: Friday 26 March
- Early May Bank Holiday: Monday 3 May
- Spring Bank Holiday: Monday 31 May
- Summer Bank Holiday: Monday 2 August
- St. Andrew's Day: Tuesday 30 November
- Christmas Day (substitute): Monday 27 December
- Boxing Day (substitute): Tuesday 28 December
If you have employees in the UK, don’t forget to add these key dates to your diaries and be aware of the public holidays your employees may be celebrating in their country.
