Here’s the latest on May Bank Holiday in 2026 for the UK.
- Early May Bank Holiday 2026: Monday 4 May. This is the first May bank holiday of the year.
- Spring Bank Holiday 2026: Monday 25 May. The second May bank holiday sits on the last Monday in May.
- Boxing Day and Christmas: The typical year-end bank holidays fall in December, with an extra substitute day if Boxing Day weekend shifts (in 2026, Boxing Day is a Saturday, so there is a substitute bank holiday on Monday 28 December in many parts of the UK).
Notes:
- Northern Ireland sometimes has additional or different holiday dates (e.g., St. Patrick’s Day in March), but the two May bank holidays listed above apply to England and Wales (and largely to the UK as a whole for the May dates).[1][8]
- If you’re planning around these dates, you can typically combine them with a few days of annual leave to create longer breaks, especially around the May weekends.[3][4]
Would you like me to pull a concise, day-by-day calendar for England & Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland for 2026, or tailor a plan based on your location in Marseille for travel around these holidays? I can also provide tips on maximizing time off with surrounding leave.[4][1]
Sources
Full list of UK bank holidays for 2026 in England and Wales. See dates, days of the week and plan your time off around public holidays.
www.officesimplify.comWondering how to maximise bank holidays in 2026? Strategically plan your annual leave and you’ll maximise your time off during Easter, summer and Christmas
www.which.co.ukIt’s good to know what to expect.
www.moneywellness.comOops. Our website is temporarily unavailable in your location. We are working hard to get it back online.
www.express.co.ukOther bank holidays include: Monday, 6 April (Easter Monday), Monday, 4 May (Early May bank holiday), Monday, 25 May (Spring bank holiday), Monday, 31 August (Summer bank holiday), Friday, 25 December (Christmas Day) and Monday, 28 December (Boxing Day - substitute day) For people in Northern Ireland, there will be a bank holiday on 17 March for St Patrick's Day. For people in Scotland, their summer bank holiday will be on Monday, 3 August and they will also have a day off on Monday, 30...
www.independent.co.ukWhile Northern Ireland can expect a bank holiday in March, the rest of the UK will have to wait until April for Good Friday
www.independent.co.ukMake the most of UK Bank Holidays 2026! From New Year’s to Spring Bank, enjoy 3 long weekends in the first half of the year. Try Long holiday Planner with Calendar.
banksholidays.ukGet your bank holiday plans in order after discovering all of the upcoming UK bank holidays for 2025, 2026 & 2027 with our UK bank holidays guide.
www.sykescottages.co.ukAs 2026 gets underway, smart holiday planning can help you make the most of your annual leave. Bank holidays are ideal for squeezing in long weekends or extended breaks without dipping too heavily into your...
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