Boxing Day will move in 2026, as will some other bank holidays
We’ve just had the final bank holidays of 2025 (December 25 and 26), and with the New Year very nearly here, it won’t be long before we’re welcoming in more in 2026. There will be eight bank holidays for England and Wales next year, with many dates to change in the coming 12 months.
This year, Boxing Day falls on a Friday. However, next year, Boxing Day lands on a Saturday, which means the bank holiday will be ‘on the move’. Because of this, the substitute bank holiday is scheduled to take place on Monday, December 28.
It’s worth noting that it’s not just weekends that determine when bank holidays take place, as the constantly changing date of Easter also plays a part. As things stand, there are eight bank holidays planned across England and Wales in 2026, beginning with New Year’s Day on January 1.
Good Friday will occur on for Friday, April 3, with Easter Monday following on April 6 – slightly earlier than the 2025 dates of Friday, April 18, and Monday, April 21. Due to calendar variations, May’s two bank holidays will each shift a day earlier, consistently guaranteeing a long weekend.
In 2026, the Early May bank holiday occurs on May 4, whilst the Spring bank holiday arrives on May 25. The summer bank holiday, typically signalling the close of the school summer holidays, is set for Monday, August 31, marginally later than this year’s date of August 25.
To conclude the year, the Christmas Day bank holiday remains unwavering, falling on Friday, 25 December. As mentioned earlier, Boxing Day this year falls on Saturday, 26 December, leading to a substitute bank holiday on Monday, 28 December.
Bank holidays for England and Wales in 2026 – full list
- 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)
