UK Bank Holidays 2025/26 – Everything You Need to Know

Who doesn’t love a day off thanks to a bank holiday? A quiet morning lie-in, a road trip to the coast, or catching up on DIY projects, bank holidays are a well-earned breather in the calendar. But while most of us are happy to circle them in our diaries, there’s a bit more to them than just an extra day off.

Do you get paid for bank holidays? Are they counted in your annual leave? How do they affect your tax or benefits? And what about the differences between England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – why do some people get more days off than others?

Here’s everything you need to know about UK bank holidays for 2025 and 2026 – including the full list by region, how they work, quirky traditions, and the answers to all those questions about rights, pay, and tax. 

What are bank holidays and why do we have them?

Bank holidays are public holidays in the UK when banks, government offices, and many businesses close for the day. 

But their origin is more specific than just a day off. The term "bank holiday" comes from the Bank Holidays Act 1871, introduced by Liberal politician and banker Sir John Lubbock.

He wanted to give workers in the banking sector a few guaranteed days of rest, which quickly caught on with the public.

Over time, the idea evolved. Today, bank holidays are enshrined in UK law and government custom, and they combine both religious observances (like Easter and Christmas) and secular or seasonal ones (like the early May and August holidays). 

While the name suggests they’re only for banks, the reality is that many industries and workers across the UK benefit from the break.

Bank holidays aren't uniform across the UK, though. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own unique traditions and customs, reflecting local religious, cultural, and historical influences. That’s why someone in Glasgow might have a day off when a friend in London does not.

They’ve also come to serve another role, which is marking the seasons:

So, while they may have originated as a legislative favour to bank workers, bank holidays are now deeply embedded in British cultural life. They are moments to pause, celebrate, and sometimes even protest or commemorate, depending on the significance of the date.

UK Bank holidays 2025 and 2026 – Full list by region

Not all bank holidays are created equal. Depending on where you live in the UK, you may get more (or fewer) days off throughout the year. 

Here's a full breakdown by region for 2025 and 2026, along with some quick notes about substitute days and regional differences.

Why do bank holiday dates sometimes change?

In the UK, if a bank holiday falls on a weekend, it is usually observed on the following Monday. 

This is known as a “substitute day.” For example, in 2026, Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, so the official day off is moved to Monday, 28 December. This system ensures workers don’t lose their day off due to how the calendar falls.

Understanding these substitute days is helpful when planning time off, scheduling childcare, or managing payroll if you run a business. 

Do you get paid for bank holidays?

Bank holidays might feel like a given, but whether you’re paid for them or even entitled to take them off depends on your employment contract.

Paid bank holidays: Are they guaranteed?

Not exactly. There is no automatic legal right in the UK for workers to have paid leave on a bank holiday. It all depends on your employment terms:

📎 Example: If your contract states you receive “28 days including bank holidays,” and you take time off at Christmas, it counts towards your total. If it says “28 days plus bank holidays,” those are truly extra days.

What if you work on a bank holiday?

📎 Example: If you work in a supermarket on Easter Monday, your pay may be standard or enhanced depending on your employer’s policy.

Bank holidays and annual leave

Bank holidays don’t affect your statutory minimum of 5.6 weeks’ paid holiday a year. But your employer can choose how they’re counted:

It’s always best to check your contract or staff handbook.

Self-employed and freelancers

Bank holidays don’t apply unless you choose to take them off (and can afford to do so). If you invoice clients per project or day, a bank holiday might just be another Monday.

How do bank holidays affect benefits, universal credit, and tax?

Bank holidays can temporarily change when and how benefits or tax credits are paid—but they don’t usually affect the amount you receive.

Universal credit and other benefits

When a bank holiday falls on or near your usual payment date, DWP may pay your benefit early. This applies to:

📎 Example: If your payment date is Monday, 25 August 2025 (Summer Bank Holiday), you might receive your benefit on Friday, 22 August instead.

Always check your payment schedule on your online account or contact your benefit office in advance.

Tax and HMRC deadlines

HMRC does not collect payments or send out refunds on bank holidays. If your Self Assessment deadline, VAT return, or any corporation tax submission falls on a bank holiday, you should submit by the next working day.

📎 Example: If 31 August is a deadline but falls on a bank holiday Monday, you have until Tuesday, 1 September to submit.

Also, if your payment to HMRC is due on a holiday, make sure your bank clears it the working day before to avoid late payment penalties.

Banking and direct debits

Banks are closed on bank holidays, which may delay:

It’s smart to plan any big payments or transactions around this. Employers often run payroll early when a holiday is approaching.

How do Brits spend bank holidays? Fun traditions, quirky events, and local favourites

While the practical side of bank holidays involves pay, contracts, and deadlines, for most people, it’s really about how they spend the time. Across the UK, bank holidays are often packed with tradition, community events, getaways, and (sometimes) a lot of rain.

Fairs, festivals, and village greens

In England and Wales, it’s common to see Maypole dancing, village fetes, and street fairs during the early May or August bank holidays. Communities organise outdoor events, complete with cake stalls, bouncy castles, and local bands.

📍 Example: The Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling event in Gloucestershire is an infamous (and slightly bonkers) tradition held on the late May bank holiday.

Picnics, parks, and family BBQs

For families, bank holidays mean day trips, visits to grandparents, or simply a picnic in the park. Many flock to national parks, beaches, or historical sites, though traffic jams on the M25 are a British tradition in their own right.

📍 Tip: Book ahead if you're planning to visit popular destinations like Stonehenge, the Lake District, or the Cornish coast.

DIY and garden overhauls

Retailers see a spike in DIY supplies and gardening tools right before a bank holiday. For many Brits, it’s the perfect excuse to repaint the hallway, fix that leaky tap, or finally mow the lawn.

📍 Fun fact: B&Q and Homebase report some of their highest footfall on spring and summer bank holiday weekends.

Unique events in Scotland and Northern Ireland

In Scotland, the August bank holiday is often quieter than the May one, but cities like Edinburgh come alive during the Fringe Festival, which runs throughout August and overlaps with the long weekend.

In Northern Ireland, Orangemen’s Day (Battle of the Boyne) on 14 July is both a public holiday and a major cultural event, with parades, music, and some road closures.

Chill time and catch-up days

Not everyone hits the road or joins a crowd. For many, a bank holiday is simply a chance to breathe. 

Binge-watch a new series, declutter the wardrobe, get ahead on reading, or just sleep in. And honestly? That’s a valid tradition, too.

Final thoughts

From historical roots to modern-day traditions, bank holidays in the UK are more than just a day off. They’re cultural bookmarks, each one with its own rhythm, rules, and quirks. Whether you're tracking payment dates, booking a holiday, or planning a DIY blitz, a little forward-thinking can help you make the most of these precious extra days.

But if you’re running a business, keeping up with tax deadlines and payroll, even on a long weekend, can be a real stress. That’s where ANNA +Taxes can help.

It’s a single subscription that gives you everything you need to stay on top of your business accounting, without spending your bank holiday buried in spreadsheets.

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You also get tools to manage payroll, claim more expenses, file your taxes in your first year of trading, and generate invoices with payment links – all in one place.

Try ANNA +Taxes for just £3/month for the first 3 months, then £24/month +VAT. It's a cost-effective way to get full support without hiring an accountant.

So go ahead – mark up your 2025/26 calendar, plan that BBQ, and maybe even take the Tuesday off too. ANNA helps your business run smoothly while you take a proper break.