It’s almost the August Bank Holiday (you can tell as it’s raining as I write this), the last one before Christmas.
So it’s time to look forward to the Bank Hols in 2025 and 2026. And here is the full list, correct at the time of publication.
Please note if a bank holiday is on a weekend, the following weekday becomes a public holiday which is the case for Boxing Day 2026.
Bank Holidays for 2025
| Date | Day of Week | Occasion |
| 01 January 2025 | Wednesday | New Year’s Day |
| 18 April 2025 | Friday | Good Friday |
| 21 April 2025 | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 05 May 2025 | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| 26 May 2025 | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| 25 August 2025 | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| 25 December 2025 | Thursday | Boxing Day |
| 26 December 2025 | Friday | Christmas Day |
Bank Holidays for 2026
| Date | Day of Week | Occasion |
| 01 January 2026 | Thursday | New Yearโs Day |
| 03 April 2026 | Friday | Good Friday |
| 16 April 2026 | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 04 May 2026 | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| 25 May 2026 | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| 31 August 2026 | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| 25 December 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day |
| 28 December 2026 | Monday | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
A bank holiday is a public holiday during which banks and many other businesses are closed, and employees are typically given a day off work. The term originated in the United Kingdom, where such holidays were originally established by the Bank Holidays Act of 1871. These days were intended to give workers a chance to rest, as well as to align with certain key dates and festivities, such as Christmas and Easter.
Explanation of Each Holiday
- New Yearโs Day marks the start of the new calendar year, often celebrated with fireworks and parties.
- Good Friday and Easter Monday bookend the Easter weekend, a key period in the Christian calendar celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- Early May Bank Holiday is often associated with Labour Day celebrations and spring festivals.
- Spring Bank Holiday signals the approach of summer, with many taking advantage of the long weekend to travel.
- Summer Bank Holiday is the last public holiday before the autumn and is popular for late summer getaways.
- Christmas Day and Boxing Day are central to the festive season, celebrated with family gatherings and gift-giving.
Bank holidays in England and Wales are typically set by the government. Some holidays, such as Easter, are based on the lunar calendar and therefore shift each year, while others are fixed dates like Christmas.
Scotland and Northern Ireland have different bank holidays from England and Wales.
