Public Holidays in United Kingdom, 2026
The United Kingdom observes 6 nationwide public holidays in 2026, 1 of which falls on the weekend. The table below lists every date the holiday calendar records, including the regional ones that are working days elsewhere in the country.
- Public holidays
- 6
- On a weekend
- 1
- Regional only
- 8
- Business days 2026
- 256
Nationwide
United Kingdom holiday calendar 2026
Dates marked nationwide are days off across the United Kingdom. Entries showing a region count, or an observance type, are not deducted from business day calculations.
| Date | Day | Holiday | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2026 | Thursday | New Year's Day | Nationwide |
| 2 January 2026 | Friday | 2 January | 1 region: GB-SCT |
| 17 March 2026 | Tuesday | Saint Patrick's Day | 1 region: GB-NIR |
| 3 April 2026 | Friday | Good Friday | Nationwide |
| 6 April 2026 | Monday | Easter Monday | 3 regions: GB-ENG, GB-NIR, GB-WLS |
| 4 May 2026 | Monday | Early May Bank Holiday | Nationwide |
| 25 May 2026 | Monday | Spring Bank Holiday | Nationwide |
| 15 June 2026 | Monday | World Cup Bank Holiday | 1 region: GB-SCT |
| 12 July 2026 | Sunday(weekend) | Battle of the Boyne | 1 region: GB-NIR |
| 3 August 2026 | Monday | Summer Bank Holiday | 1 region: GB-SCT |
| 31 August 2026 | Monday | Summer Bank Holiday | 3 regions: GB-ENG, GB-NIR, GB-WLS |
| 30 November 2026 | Monday | Saint Andrew's Day | 1 region: GB-SCT |
| 25 December 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day | Nationwide |
| 26 December 2026 | Saturday(weekend) | St. Stephen's Day | Nationwide |
Which holidays actually give a day off in 2026?
5 of United Kingdom's 6 nationwide public holidays land on a working day in 2026, so those are the ones that shorten the working year. The remaining 1 fall on Saturday and Sunday: St. Stephen's Day (26 December 2026).
The United Kingdom rests on Saturday and Sunday, and most of its public holidays are bank holidays fixed to a Monday.
After removing weekends and holidays, 2026 leaves 256 business days in the United Kingdom.
Count business days in United Kingdom
Need the number of working days between two specific dates rather than the holiday list?