All the bank holidays still to come this year and changes

There are eight bank holidays in total in this year’s calendar

We all look forward to a few extra days off work to enjoy the Easter break in April or soak up the sun in August. And with Easter weekend running from Friday, April 3 to Monday, April 6 this year, it is noticeably earlier than 2025, when the dates fell between Friday, April 18 and Monday, April 21

This has an impact on the remaining bank holidays still to come this year, especially the ones we can look forward to over the Christmas period. This year’s calendar layout, where we can enjoy eight bank holidays in total, means that both of May’s Monday bank holidays will each land one day sooner. The first May bank holiday will happen on May 4 and the spring bank holiday will be three weeks later on May 25.

The summer bank holiday we can look forward to is earlier than normal. The August bank holiday usually occurs right before the beginning of the new school year. However, this year we can expect to enjoy this one almost a week earlier as it falls on August 25, reports the Mirror.

As we end the year, the shift in bank holidays takes a turn meaning that we gain a substitute day as this year, Boxing Day will take place over the weekend, falling on the Saturday, meaning the bank holiday will be replaced by the Monday after on December 28.

The Boxing Day bank holiday originated from the tradition of charity and service, and was traditionally a day off for servants and became a day when they received boxes of gifts from their employers. The Christmas Day bank holiday falls on Friday, December 25.

Bank holidays for England and Wales in 2026

• 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)