Public holidays in England and Wales 2026

8 public holidays: none on a weekend, 1 moved to a working day, 1 bridge day

When a holiday falls on a weekend, it moves to the next working day.

ICSPublic holidays

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Public holiday
Bridge day
today
Vacation day
Adjacent day off

Public holidays in England and Wales

8 public holidays, 6 of them observed nationwide

1 JanNew Year's Day · Thursday
3 AprGood Friday · Friday
6 AprEaster Monday · Monday
4 MayEarly May bank holiday · Monday
25 MaySpring bank holiday · Monday
31 AugSummer bank holiday · Monday
25 DecChristmas Day · Friday
28 DecBoxing Day (substitute day) · Monday

Bridge days in England and Wales

One day of leave, four days off — outlined in dashed red in the calendar.

2 January 2026Fridaythe day after New Year's Day

When to take leave in England and Wales

What one, two or three days of leave get you:

1 day of leave5 days off2 April – 6 April 2026
2 days of leave6 days off1 April – 6 April 2026
3 days of leave7 days off31 March – 6 April 2026

Bank holidays and school term schedules in England and Wales

In England and Wales, public bank holidays are established under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971.
Over the August Bank Holiday weekend, London hosts the Notting Hill Carnival, Europe's largest street celebration of Caribbean culture. In Wales, Saint David's Day (Dydd Gŵyl Dewi, 1 March) is celebrated as a cultural national day (though not a statutory bank holiday), while August brings the National Eisteddfod of Wales (Eisteddfod Genedlaethol), celebrating Welsh language, literature, and music.
School terms follow a three-term academic year (Autumn, Spring, Summer) with half-term breaks in October, February, and May, set by local education authorities and individual academies.