England's 8 bank holidays in 2026 include an early Easter that places the spring bank holidays at the very start of April. Good Friday (3 April) and Easter Monday (6 April) give a four-day weekend. The Early May Bank Holiday on 4 May follows less than four weeks later.
The Spring Bank Holiday falls on 25 May. The Summer Bank Holiday is 31 August — the last Monday of August, as always.
Christmas Day (25 December) falls on a Friday in 2026 — meaning the festive break runs from Thursday 24 December (Christmas Eve, when many employers close early) through Sunday 27 December. Boxing Day (26 December) is a Saturday, so its substitute bank holiday is observed on Monday 28 December — giving England effectively a four-day bank holiday weekend over Christmas 2026. New Year's Day (1 January 2027) falls on a Friday — another automatic long weekend to end the festive season.
Nationwide Holidays 2026
8 holidays| Date | Day | Holiday Name | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2026 | Thu | New Year's Day | Nationwide |
| 3 Apr 2026 | Fri | Good Friday | Nationwide |
| 6 Apr 2026 | Mon | Easter Monday | Nationwide |
| 4 May 2026 | Mon | Early May Bank Holiday | Nationwide |
| 25 May 2026 | Mon | Spring Bank Holiday | Nationwide |
| 31 Aug 2026 | Mon | Summer Bank Holiday | Nationwide |
| 25 Dec 2026 | Fri | Christmas Day | Nationwide |
| 28 Dec 2026 | Mon | Boxing Day (substitute) | Nationwide |