Six of England and Wales’ 2026 bank holidays will not land where you expect, nudging paydays, school clubs and travel windows. The changes stem from Easter’s moving date, May’s Monday rules, August’s position, and Boxing Day falling on a weekend.
What is changing and why
There will be eight bank holidays in England and Wales in 2026. Two sit immovably on their dates: New Year’s Day and Christmas Day. The other six either arrive earlier or later than in 2025, or shift to a substitute Monday because they fall at the weekend.
Easter drives the first big change. In 2026, Good Friday is on 3 April and Easter Monday is on 6 April. That is roughly a fortnight earlier than in 2025. A different spring full moon moves Easter each year, so the school break and church services move with it.
May’s two long weekends also slide. Early May and the Spring bank holiday always fall on Mondays. In 2026, both land a day earlier in the month than they did in 2025, because of the way the calendar turns.
The late summer getaway drifts too. The August bank holiday sits on the last Monday of the month, which in 2026 lands on 31 August, one week later than in 2025.
Finally, Boxing Day falls on a Saturday in 2026. When that happens, the public holiday moves to a “substitute day” on the following Monday, which will be 28 December.
Six dates shift in 2026: Good Friday 3 April, Easter Monday 6 April, Early May 4 May, Spring 25 May, Summer 31 August, Boxing Day’s substitute 28 December.
The six movers at a glance
| Holiday | 2025 date | 2026 date | What changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good Friday | Friday 18 April | Friday 3 April | About two weeks earlier |
| Easter Monday | Monday 21 April | Monday 6 April | About two weeks earlier |
| Early May bank holiday | Monday 5 May | Monday 4 May | One day earlier |
| Spring bank holiday | Monday 26 May | Monday 25 May | One day earlier |
| Summer bank holiday | Monday 25 August | Monday 31 August | One week later |
| Boxing Day public holiday | Friday 26 December | Monday 28 December | Moves to a substitute Monday |
All 2026 bank holidays for England and Wales
- Thursday 1 January – New Year’s Day
- Friday 3 April – Good Friday
- 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
- Monday 28 December – Boxing Day (substitute day)
Eight chances to down tools in 2026, with four clustered in spring and two in the final week of December.
How the shifts could affect you
Annual leave plans will need an early rethink. The earlier Easter changes the timing of popular “book four days, get ten off” tricks. Schools and nurseries will mirror the shift, which affects wraparound care and club bookings. August’s later bank holiday pushes some summer returns back by a week.
Smart leave hacks for maximum time off
- Easter stretch: take Tuesday 7 to Friday 10 April as leave. You get 10 consecutive days off from Friday 3 to Sunday 12 April.
- Early May stretch: take Tuesday 5 to Friday 8 May. You get nine days off from Saturday 2 to Sunday 10 May.
- Spring bank stretch: take Tuesday 26 to Friday 29 May. You get nine days off from Saturday 23 to Sunday 31 May.
- Late summer stretch: take Tuesday 1 to Friday 4 September. You get nine days off from Saturday 29 August to Sunday 6 September.
- Festive stretch: take Tuesday 29 to Wednesday 30 December. You get six days off from Friday 25 to Wednesday 30 December.
What the substitute day means
When a bank holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the public holiday usually moves to the next working day. In 2026, that affects Boxing Day only. Shops might alter hours across the Saturday and the Monday. Transport services often run to weekend timetables on the Saturday and reduced timetables on the substitute Monday.
If you are scheduled to work on the substitute Monday, your rights depend on your contract. There is no automatic right to paid time off on bank holidays. Many contracts include bank holidays within the 28 days of statutory annual leave for full‑time staff. Others grant them on top. Check how substitute days are treated in your terms.
Pay, rotas and childcare
Bank holiday pay rates vary by employer. Some offer premium pay or time off in lieu. Confirm any uplift and how it applies on substitute days. Casual and part‑time staff should check how leave entitlement is pro‑rated across bank holidays.
Parents will want to note the earlier Easter. Many school holiday clubs follow council term dates, which move with Easter. Book early if you need childcare on the Tuesday to Friday after Easter Monday. Summer activities could also slide, given the later August date.
Travel and events
Airports and motorways get busy around the long weekends. The earlier Easter may catch travellers out. Prices can spike on the Thursday before Good Friday and the Sunday before Easter Monday. Flexible returns and early departures reduce costs. Consider rail engineering works, which often coincide with bank holidays.
Events organisers will pivot too. Spring runs, fairs and festivals may move two weeks earlier than last year’s editions. August’s late bank holiday could push some gatherings into September. Check refund policies before booking.
Why Scotland and Northern Ireland differ
The dates above apply to England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland follow different patterns. Scotland usually has 2 January and St Andrew’s Day as public holidays, and its summer bank holiday falls earlier. Northern Ireland adds St Patrick’s Day and the Battle of the Boyne. If you live near a border, verify local dates.
Key takeaways for planners
- Mark the six shifting dates now to avoid rota clashes and missed bookings.
- Align leave requests around Easter and late August for longer breaks with fewer days off.
- Confirm contract terms for bank holiday pay and substitute days well ahead of December.
- Coordinate childcare with earlier spring dates and later summer wrap‑ups.
If you manage a team, map staffing to peak travel days and the substitute Monday. Forecast demand, plan cover and communicate early. If you work in retail or hospitality, expect busy trade on Saturday 26 December and footfall dips on Monday 28 December.
If you freelance or run a small business, invoice schedules might slip over the long weekends. Build buffers into delivery dates around April, May and late August. Direct debits sometimes process later after a bank holiday, which can affect cash flow.
