England and Wales have 8 bank holidays in 2027, Scotland 9, and Northern Ireland 10. The first is New Year’s Day on Friday, January 1, 2027, and Easter comes early, with Good Friday on March 26 and Easter Monday on March 29.
This page lists every 2027 date for each nation, the next bank holiday, and the Christmas 2026 dates.
Key takeaways
- England and Wales have 8 bank holidays in 2027; Scotland has 9, and Northern Ireland has 10.
- Both Easter bank holidays fall in March 2027, for the first time since 2016.
- Christmas Day and Boxing Day 2027 fall on a weekend, so the bank holidays move to Monday, December 27, and Tuesday, December 28.
- The next bank holiday in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland is Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, 2026. In Scotland, it is St Andrew’s Day, Monday, November 30, 2026.
Table of Contents
UK bank holidays 2027 at a glance
| Bank holiday | 2027 date | England and Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Friday, January 1 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2nd January (substitute day) | Monday, January 4 | No | Yes | No |
| St Patrick’s Day | Wednesday, March 17 | No | No | Yes |
| Good Friday | Friday, March 26 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Easter Monday | Monday, March 29 | Yes | No | Yes |
| Early May bank holiday | Monday, May 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Spring bank holiday | Monday, May 31 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day) | Monday, July 12 | No | No | Yes |
| Summer bank holiday (Scotland) | Monday, August 2 | No | Yes | No |
| Summer bank holiday (August bank holiday) | Monday, August 30 | Yes | No | Yes |
| St Andrew’s Day | Tuesday, November 30 | No | Yes | No |
| Christmas Day (substitute day) | Monday, December 27 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Boxing Day (substitute day) | Tuesday, December 28 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Total | 8 | 9 | 10 |
When is the next bank holiday in 2026?
The next bank holiday in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland is Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, 2026.
In Scotland, the next bank holiday is St Andrew’s Day, Monday, November 30, 2026.
Bank holidays in England and Wales 2027
England and Wales have 8 bank holidays in 2027. They share one list, and Wales has no extra bank holiday of its own; St David’s Day on March 1 is not a bank holiday.
| Date | Bank holiday |
|---|---|
| Friday, January 1 | New Year’s Day |
| Friday, March 26 | Good Friday |
| Monday, March 29 | Easter Monday |
| Monday, May 3 | Early May bank holiday |
| Monday, May 31 | Spring bank holiday |
| Monday, August 30 | Summer bank holiday |
| Monday, December 27 | Christmas Day (substitute day) |
| Tuesday, December 28 | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
With 261 weekdays in 2027 and all 8 bank holidays falling on weekdays, England and Wales have 253 working days in 2027, by our count.
The longest stretch without a bank holiday runs 119 days, from the August bank holiday on August 30 to December 27.
Bank holidays in Scotland 2027
Scotland has 9 bank holidays in 2027. Scotland adds 2 January and St Andrew’s Day, holds its summer bank holiday on the first Monday of August, and has no Easter Monday bank holiday.
| Date | Bank holiday |
|---|---|
| Friday, January 1 | New Year’s Day |
| Monday, January 4 | 2nd January (substitute day) |
| Friday, March 26 | Good Friday |
| Monday, May 3 | Early May bank holiday |
| Monday, May 31 | Spring bank holiday |
| Monday, August 2 | Summer bank holiday |
| Tuesday, November 30 | St Andrew’s Day |
| Monday, December 27 | Christmas Day (substitute day) |
| Tuesday, December 28 | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
January 2, 2027, falls on a Saturday, so Scotland’s 2nd January bank holiday moves to Monday, January 4.
That gives Scotland a 4-day New Year weekend from Friday, January 1, to Monday, January 4. Many Scottish councils also set local holidays, which vary by area.
Bank holidays in Northern Ireland 2027
Northern Ireland has 10 bank holidays in 2027, the most in the UK. It has the same 8 as England and Wales, plus St Patrick’s Day and the Battle of the Boyne.
| Date | Bank holiday |
|---|---|
| Friday, January 1 | New Year’s Day |
| Wednesday, March 17 | St Patrick’s Day |
| Friday, March 26 | Good Friday |
| Monday, March 29 | Easter Monday |
| Monday, May 3 | Early May bank holiday |
| Monday, May 31 | Spring bank holiday |
| Monday, July 12 | Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day) |
| Monday, August 30 | Summer bank holiday |
| Monday, December 27 | Christmas Day (substitute day) |
| Tuesday, December 28 | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
In 2027, St Patrick’s Day falls on a Wednesday and the Battle of the Boyne on a Monday, so neither needs a substitute day.
The Republic of Ireland sets its own public holidays, which differ from Northern Ireland’s.
Easter bank holidays 2027
The Easter bank holidays are Good Friday, March 26, 2027, and Easter Monday, March 29, 2027.
Good Friday is a bank holiday across the UK, while Easter Monday is a bank holiday everywhere except Scotland.
By our count, 2027 is the first year since 2016 that both Easter bank holidays fall in March.
The next time is 2032. Easter Sunday 2027 is March 28; the full date rule is on the Easter page.
May and August bank holidays 2027
The early May bank holiday is Monday, May 3, 2027, and the spring bank holiday is Monday, May 31, 2027, across the UK.
The August bank holiday is Monday, August 30, 2027, in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and Monday, August 2, 2027, in Scotland.
Christmas 2026 and New Year bank holidays
The Christmas 2026 bank holidays are Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, 2026, and Boxing Day (substitute day), Monday, December 28, 2026, across the UK.
Boxing Day falls on a Saturday in 2026, so the bank holiday moves to Monday.
| Date | Day | Bank holiday? |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, December 24, 2026 | Christmas Eve | No |
| Friday, December 25, 2026 | Christmas Day | Yes, UK-wide |
| Saturday, December 26, 2026 | Boxing Day | Weekend; substitute on Monday |
| Monday, December 28, 2026 | Boxing Day (substitute day) | Yes, UK-wide |
| Thursday, December 31, 2026 | New Year’s Eve | No |
| Friday, January 1, 2027 | New Year’s Day | Yes, UK-wide |
| Monday, January 4, 2027 | 2nd January (substitute day) | Scotland only |
How to get the most days off in 2027
Booking 3 or 4 days of leave next to a bank holiday weekend can give you 9 or 10 days off in a row.
These examples use the England and Wales dates.
| Holiday | Book these days off | Days of leave | Time off in a row |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas 2026 | Tuesday, December 29 – Thursday, December 31, 2026 | 3 | 10 days: December 25, 2026 – January 3, 2027 |
| Easter 2027 | Tuesday, March 30 – Friday, April 2 | 4 | 10 days: March 26 – April 4 |
| Early May 2027 | Tuesday, May 4 – Friday, May 7 | 4 | 9 days: May 1–9 |
| Spring 2027 | Tuesday, June 1 – Friday, June 4 | 4 | 9 days: May 29 – June 6 |
| August 2027 | Tuesday, August 31 – Friday, September 3 | 4 | 9 days: August 28 – September 5 |
| Christmas 2027 | Wednesday, December 29 – Friday, December 31 | 3 | 9 days: December 25, 2027 – January 2, 2028 |
Christmas 2027 becomes 10 days if Monday, January 3, 2028, is confirmed as the New Year’s Day substitute, as expected, because January 1, 2028, is a Saturday.
Every 2027 weekday and week number is in the 2027 calendar and the 2027 week numbers list.
How UK bank holidays work
A bank holiday is a public holiday when banks and most offices close. The first four were created by the Bank Holidays Act 1871, and today’s dates are set by the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 and by royal proclamation each year.
- Substitute days: when a bank holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the bank holiday moves to the next weekday that is not already a bank holiday.
- Proclamations: some dates, including New Year’s Day and the early May bank holiday in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, are appointed by royal proclamation. The 2027 proclamation was made on July 8, 2026.
- Time off is not automatic: employers do not have to give bank holidays as paid leave. Workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks of paid holiday a year, and an employer can include bank holidays in that total (GOV.UK).
- One-off bank holidays: the government can add extra days for national events, such as the coronation of King Charles III on May 8, 2023. None has been announced for 2027.
UK bank holidays 2028 (expected)
The 2028 dates below follow the usual rules but have not all been confirmed by GOV.UK or royal proclamation yet.
We will update them when they are.
| Bank holiday | Expected 2028 date | Where |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day (substitute day) | Monday, January 3 | UK-wide |
| 2nd January (substitute day) | Tuesday, January 4 | Scotland |
| St Patrick’s Day | Friday, March 17 | Northern Ireland |
| Good Friday | Friday, April 14 | UK-wide |
| Easter Monday | Monday, April 17 | England, Wales, Northern Ireland |
| Early May bank holiday | Monday, May 1 | UK-wide |
| Spring bank holiday | Monday, May 29 | UK-wide |
| Battle of the Boyne | Wednesday, July 12 | Northern Ireland |
| Summer bank holiday | Monday, August 7 | Scotland |
| Summer bank holiday | Monday, August 28 | England, Wales, Northern Ireland |
| St Andrew’s Day | Thursday, November 30 | Scotland |
| Christmas Day | Monday, December 25 | UK-wide |
| Boxing Day | Tuesday, December 26 | UK-wide |
Frequently asked questions
How many bank holidays are there in 2027?
England and Wales have 8 bank holidays in 2027, Scotland has 9, and Northern Ireland has 10.
When is the August bank holiday 2027?
The August bank holiday 2027 is Monday, August 30, in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, the summer bank holiday is Monday, August 2, 2027.
Is Christmas Eve a bank holiday?
No, Christmas Eve is not a bank holiday anywhere in the UK. In 2026, it falls on Thursday, December 24, and is a normal working day unless your employer gives it off.
Is Boxing Day a bank holiday?
Yes, Boxing Day is a bank holiday across the UK. In 2026, Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, so the bank holiday is Monday, December 28.
Is New Year’s Eve a bank holiday?
No, New Year’s Eve is not a bank holiday. New Year’s Day, Friday, January 1, 2027, is a bank holiday across the UK.
Are Halloween and Black Friday bank holidays?
No, neither Halloween nor Black Friday is a bank holiday in the UK. Shops and banks open as normal on both days.
Is St George’s Day a bank holiday in England?
No, St George’s Day on April 23 is not a bank holiday in England, and St David’s Day on March 1 is not a bank holiday in Wales.
Do I get paid for bank holidays?
Not automatically. Your employer can count bank holidays as part of your 5.6 weeks of paid leave, so check your employment contract.
