The government has confirmed the bank holiday dates for 2026 – but the long summer gap has prompted calls for an extra day to be added
The government has released bank holiday dates for 2026 – but faces calls to “change them”. In a statement on X, it outlined the days designated as public holidays. People in Wales and England are allocated eight specified days. Meanwhile, those in Scotland receive nine while those in Northern Ireland enjoy 10.
The dates typically encompass well-known celebrations including Christmas Day and Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and Easter. Yet Scotland benefits from an additional break on January 2, while Northern Ireland gains two further days to honour St Patrick’s Day and commemorate the Battle of the Boyne.
Nevertheless, certain dates have drawn criticism for creating excessively long gaps between time off. Northern Ireland inhabitants typically receive a holiday for the Battle of the Boyne, customarily on July 12, whilst Scotland enjoys a break at the start of August.
However, residents of Wales and England must endure a stretch from late May until late August. Sharing his dismay on X, previously Twitter, Paul called for reconsideration, reports Devon Live.
He stated: “Please arrange a bank holiday in summer. Nothing between the end of May and the end of August is ludicrous.”
Meanwhile St David’s Day, which falls on March 1 each year, is not marked by a bank holiday despite repeated calls for it to become one.
A WalesOnline poll conducted in March revealed that 80% of our readers believe it should be a bank holiday. England’s St George’s Day is also not a bank holiday.
Bank holidays have existed since 1871 in the UK when parliamentary legislation permitted banks to shut on these occasions, giving the time off its designation.
Originally, all nations observed a holiday on the first Monday in August, but in 1971, fresh legislation officially shifted it to the final Monday of the month everywhere except Scotland.
Residents of Wales and England enjoy fewer public holidays than nearly any other place worldwide. Only Mexico fares worse in terms of annual days off, with its citizens receiving a mere seven.
Wales and England
- Thursday, January 1 – New Year’s Day
- Friday, April 3 – Good Friday
- Monday, April 6 – Easter Monday
- Monday, May 4 – Early May Bank Holiday
- Monday, May 25 – Spring Bank Holiday
- Monday, August 31 – Summer Bank Holiday
- Friday, December 25 – Christmas Day
- Monday, December 28 – Boxing Day (substitute day)
Scotland
- Thursday, January 1 – New Year’s Day
- Friday, January 2 – 2nd January
- Friday, April 3 – Good Friday
- Monday, May 4 – Early May Bank Holiday
- Monday, May 25 – Spring Bank Holiday
- Monday, August 3 – Summer Bank Holiday
- Monday, November 30 – St Andrew’s Day
- Friday, December 25 – Christmas Day
- Monday, December 28 – Boxing Day (substitute day)
Northern Ireland
- Thursday, January 1 – New Year’s Day
- Tuesday, March 17 – St Patrick’s Day
- Friday, April 3 – Good Friday
- Monday, April 6 – Easter Monday
- Monday, May 4 – Early May Bank Holiday
- Monday, May 25 – Spring Bank Holiday
- Monday, July 13 – Battle of the Boyne (substitute day)
- Monday, August 31 – Summer Bank Holiday
- Friday, December 25 – Christmas Day
- Monday, December 28 – Boxing Day (substitute day)
Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here.
We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice
