UK bank holidays 2027 leave planner
Every 2027 bank holiday by nation and the leave you need.
Dates & time · Christmas 2026
Christmas bank holidays 2026
The Christmas bank holidays in 2026 are Friday 25 December (Christmas Day) and Monday 28 December (Boxing Day, a substitute day because 26 December is a Saturday), then New Year’s Day on Friday 1 January 2027. Scotland also has Monday 4 January 2027 for 2 January. Taking 3 days’ leave gives a 10-day break.
28 DecBoxing Day bank holiday (Monday, substitute day)
GOV.UK
Christmas and New Year bank holidays, 2026 to 2027
From the GOV.UK bank holidays list, checked 30 October 2026. GOV.UK: UK bank holidays.
| Bank holiday | Date | England and Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | Note | Days left |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Day | Friday 25 December 2026 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 56 days left | |
| Boxing Day | Monday 28 December 2026 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Substitute day: 26 December is a Saturday | 59 days left |
| New Year’s Day | Friday 1 January 2027 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 63 days left | |
| 2nd January | Monday 4 January 2027 | No | Yes | No | Substitute day: 2 January is a Saturday | 66 days left |
Leave planner
Longest Christmas break for the leave you take
Assumes you normally work Monday to Friday and have every weekend and bank holiday off. Counted day by day from the dates above.
| Leave taken | England and Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| No extra leave | 4 days (25 December to 28 December) | 4 days (25 December to 28 December) | 4 days (25 December to 28 December) |
| 3 days’ leave: 29, 30 and 31 December | 10 days (25 December to 3 January) | 11 days (25 December to 4 January) | 10 days (25 December to 3 January) |
| 4 days’ leave: 24, 29, 30 and 31 December | 11 days (24 December to 3 January) | 12 days (24 December to 4 January) | 11 days (24 December to 3 January) |
| 8 days’ leave: 21 to 24 and 29 to 31 December, plus 4 January | 17 days (19 December to 4 January) | 17 days (19 December to 4 January) | 17 days (19 December to 4 January) |
Related
Related dates and tools.
Days until Christmas
Live countdown to Friday 25 December 2026, with working days left.
Royal Mail last posting dates 2026
2nd Class Friday 18 December, 1st Class Monday 21 December, with days left.
Christmas 2026 benefit payment dates
When UC, PIP, State Pension and Child Benefit are paid over Christmas.
Helpful answers
Christmas bank holiday FAQs.
Is Boxing Day a bank holiday in 2026?
Yes, but on Monday 28 December 2026. Boxing Day (26 December) falls on a Saturday, so GOV.UK lists Monday 28 December as the substitute bank holiday in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
When is the New Year bank holiday?
Friday 1 January 2027 across the UK. Scotland also has a bank holiday for 2 January, moved to Monday 4 January 2027 because 2 January is a Saturday.
How many days off can I get over Christmas 2026?
With 3 days’ leave on 29, 30 and 31 December you get 10 days off in a row in England and Wales, from Friday 25 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, counting weekends and bank holidays.
Do I get paid for bank holidays?
There is no automatic legal right to paid time off on bank holidays; they can be counted as part of your statutory annual leave. Your contract sets out whether you work them. See GOV.UK’s holiday entitlement guidance.