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UK bank holidays 2026: how to more than double your annual leave in 2026
Strategically plan your annual leave next year around bank holidays and you’ll maximise your time off during Easter, summer and Christmas
With only the Christmas break left to come in 2025, we’re looking ahead at how to get 58 days off work, using only 25 days of annual leave. Or if you’re entitled to 28 days of annual leave, time it right and you could enjoy 63 days off in 2026.
Every UK full-time worker is entitled to paid annual leave to use throughout the year. But if you use those days wisely, by combining them with bank holidays and weekends, you can get more consecutive days off work.
For instance, take four days of leave over the August bank holiday and you'll get nine days off for a longer summer break (if you include adjoining weekends).
So, mark your calendars. We’ve outlined the 2026 bank holidays below (along with those remaining in 2025), and how best to use them.
For this, we've assumed you have 25 days of leave on top of bank holidays (though we’ve suggested an alternative for Christmas 2026 for those with more days to use up), so adjust the below if you have fewer or more paid days off.
Full list of dates to take off in 2026
To more than double your time away from work in the coming year, book off the following 25 dates:
New year Friday 2 January
Easter bank holiday Monday 30 March, Tuesday 31 March, Wednesday 1 April, Thursday 2 April, Tuesday 7 April, Wednesday 8 April, Thursday 9 April, Friday 10 April.
Spring bank holiday Tuesday 5 May, Wednesday 6 May, Thursday 7 May, Friday 8 May.
Late May bank holiday Tuesday 26 May, Wednesday 27 May, Thursday 28 May, Friday 29 May.
August bank holiday Tuesday 1 September, Wednesday 2 September, Thursday 3 September, Friday 4 September.
Christmas Thursday 24 December, Tuesday 29 December, Wednesday 30 December, Thursday 31 December.
Other dates to consider taking off, if you have more than 25 days’ leave, or if you’d like to prioritise a ‘bumper’ Christmas break in 2026:
Monday 21 December 2026, Tuesday 22 December 2026 and Wednesday 23 December 2026.
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When is the next UK bank holiday?
The next bank holiday is Christmas Day, on Thursday 25 December 2025. Boxing Day, on Friday 26 December, is also a bank holiday. But the first one of 2026 is Thursday 1 January.
How to extend the 2025 Christmas break into 2026
Christmas Day falls on a Thursday in 2025, and Boxing Day lands on a Friday; both are bank holidays. If you have enough leave left, book 29, 30 and 31 December off this year, plus 2 January in 2026 to get 11 days off in a row. And because three of those days of leave are part of your 2025 allowance, you only need to take one day from your 2026 leave.
Annual leave days needed One from your 2026 allowance, 4 in total (includes three from your 2025 allowance)
Actual days away from work 11
Dates for the diary Thursday 25 December – Sunday 4 January
Where to go for a Christmas break
Perhaps your Christmas plans involve simply kicking back in front of the TV with a box of mince pies. But with the potential to be off work for 11 days, you’ve also got plenty of time for a city break or beachy trip further afield. Look at our recommendations for where to go in December.
When are the Easter bank holidays 2026?
Good Friday falls on 3 April in 2026, while Easter Monday is on 6 April.
How to extend the Easter break
Take off the weekdays leading up to Good Friday as holiday (30-31 March and 1-2 April), and the four weekdays following Easter Monday (7-10 April) and you’ll create a much longer Easter break of 16 days (if you count the weekends before and after).
Annual leave days needed 8
Actual days away from work 16
Dates for the diary Saturday 28 March – Sunday 12 April
Where to go on holiday at Easter
With 16 days to play with, you could opt for a long-haul trip. Which? readers voted Kyoto as one of our top world destinations, and April is the perfect time to experience Japan’s famous cherry blossom season. Or if you want a shorter flight time, check out Which? members’ favourite European city break destinations.
When is the early May bank holiday 2026?
The early May bank holiday is on Monday 4 May 2026.
How to extend the early May bank holiday
To get a longer break in early May, take off an additional four days from Tuesday 5 May, giving yourself a decent break from the bank holiday weekend, throughout the week and into the following weekend. This means you can return to work refreshed on Monday 11 May, after more than a week off, but using only four days’ leave.
Annual leave days needed 4
Actual days away from work 9
Dates for the diary Saturday 2 May – Sunday 10 May
When is the spring bank holiday 2026?
The spring bank holiday takes place on Monday 25 May.
How to extend the spring/late May bank holiday 2026
Take off the days following the bank holiday Monday (ie Tuesday 26 May – Friday 29 May), and you’ll bridge together two weekends, leaving you with a decent nine days off work.
Annual leave days needed 4
Actual days away from work 9
Dates for the diary Saturday 23 May – Sunday 31 May
Where to go on holiday in May
Cape Town and Chicago – both great options for a trip in May – were rated within the top five best world holiday destinations by Which? members. If you prefer to stay somewhere in the UK, why not plan an escape to the countryside near one of the UK’s best national parks? Don't forget to pack some well-rated walking shoes if you're planning to check out some of the best UK walks as rated by Which? members.
When is the August bank holiday 2026?
The summer bank holiday takes place on Monday 31 August, and just like with the late May bank holiday, you can once again take four days’ leave following it and enjoy more than a week off before heading back to work on Monday 7 September.
How to extend the August bank holiday
Annual leave days needed 4
Actual days away from work 9
Dates for the diary Saturday 29 August – Sunday 6 September
Where to go on holiday in August
The Azores, Bilbao, and England’s own Beer, Devon, are among our recommendations of the best places to visit in August. Or take a look at the best Mediterranean seaside resorts.
Just ensure you book any overseas trips with a trustworthy package holiday provider.
When are the Christmas holidays 2026?
Christmas Day and Boxing Day are both bank holidays, falling on Friday 25 December and Saturday 26 December, respectively. Because Boxing Day falls on a weekend in 2026, you’ll get Monday 28 December off as the bank holiday substitute, so you shouldn’t have to book it off work.
But if you book off the run-up to Christmas from 21-24 December, along with 29, 30 and 31 December, you’ll enjoy more than two weeks off. New Year’s Day falls on a Friday in 2027, so it’s a ‘free’ day off.
How to get a longer Christmas break in 2026
Annual leave days needed 4 (all from your 2026 allowance)
Actual days away from work 11
Dates for the diary Thursday 24 December – Sunday 3 January
How to extend the Christmas break in 2026 if you have 28 days’ leave
If you add on 21, 22 and 23 December as holiday days, you’ll get a whopping 16 days off straight by taking just seven days of leave.
Annual leave days needed 7
Actual days away from work 16
Dates for the diary Saturday 19 December – Sunday 3 January
Where to go on holiday in December
Perhaps a cosy wintry break is top of your agenda over the new year. If so, be sure to book with a top-rated cottage company.
How many bank holidays are there in 2026?
England and Wales have eight bank holidays per year. Scotland has nine (unless local councils add extra), and Northern Ireland has 10 days per year. You can see the dates for each below.
When are the 2026 UK bank holidays in 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)
Scotland bank holidays 2026
- Thursday 1 January (New Year's Day)
- Friday 2 January (public holiday)
- Friday 3 April (Good Friday)
- Easter Monday isn’t a standard nationwide holiday, but some Scottish councils recognise it
- Monday 4 May (early May bank holiday)
- Monday 25 May (spring bank holiday)
- Monday 3 August (summer bank holiday)
- Monday 30 November (St Andrew's Day)
- Friday 25 December (Christmas Day)
- Monday 28 December (Boxing Day substitute)
Northern Ireland bank holidays 2026
- Thursday 1 January (New Year's Day)
- Tuesday 17 March (St Patrick'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 13 July (Battle of the Boyne/Orangemen's Day)
- Monday 31 August (summer bank holiday)
- Thursday 25 December (Christmas Day)
- Friday 26 December (Boxing Day)
Are there always eight bank holidays in UK?
In England and Wales, typically, yes. In recent years, we’ve seen bank holidays added to commemorate occasions such as royal coronations and jubilees, but these were one-off additions to the bank holiday calendar.
In Scotland there are typically nine, while the lucky Northern Irish get 10.
Why are UK bank holidays usually on a Monday?
This is thanks to a royal proclamation that means any bank holiday that falls on a weekend day should automatically become a Monday.
Are bank holidays a legal requirement in the UK?
No. Your employer can decide whether you can take off bank holidays, and whether or not these are included in your annual paid leave entitlement.
What's the difference between a public holiday and a bank holiday?
These words are sometimes used interchangeably to mean the same thing: a paid day off work.
Originally, ‘bank holiday’ has been used to describe a day during which banks and businesses are closed, whereas ‘public holiday’ is used to describe days such as Christmas Day in England and Wales. In short, the difference is historical and has no difference, practically speaking.
