Quick answer
United Kingdom has 14 public holidays in 2026. January is the strongest month to plan around.
Every public holidays date in United Kingdom for 2026, with the weekday each one falls on — the detail that decides whether a holiday is worth booking leave around.
Total entries
14
Planning year
2026
Best month
January
14 official dates
Data table
| Date | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2026 | New Year's Day | REGIONAL |
| Jan 2, 2026 | 2 January | REGIONAL |
| Mar 17, 2026 | Saint Patrick's Day | REGIONAL |
| Apr 3, 2026 | Good Friday | NATIONAL |
| Apr 6, 2026 | Easter Monday | REGIONAL |
| May 4, 2026 | Early May Bank Holiday | NATIONAL |
| May 25, 2026 | Spring Bank Holiday | NATIONAL |
| Jun 15, 2026 | World Cup Bank Holiday | REGIONAL |
| Jul 13, 2026 | Battle of the Boyne | REGIONAL |
| Aug 3, 2026 | Summer Bank Holiday | REGIONAL |
| Aug 31, 2026 | Summer Bank Holiday | REGIONAL |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Saint Andrew's Day | REGIONAL |
| Dec 25, 2026 | Christmas Day | NATIONAL |
| Dec 28, 2026 | St. Stephen's Day | NATIONAL |
What this means for your leave
A holiday on a Tuesday or Thursday is worth far more than one on a Wednesday: a single leave day turns it into a four-day weekend.
Holidays that land on a Saturday or Sunday give you nothing extra — worth knowing before you plan.
Best months to plan around
January is the strongest month to plan around.
How to get the most out of these dates
Book the bridge days first. They are the cheapest days off you will ever take.
Check whether United Kingdom moves holidays that fall on a weekend to the following Monday — not every country does.
More ways to maximize your time off
Take 7 days off
See what 7 leave days can unlock in 2026.
Long weekends in 2026
Check the ranked break windows for the year.
France vs United Kingdom
Compare public holidays and long weekends for 2026.
United Kingdom vs Germany
Compare public holidays and long weekends for 2026.
United Kingdom vs Spain
Compare public holidays and long weekends for 2026.
United Kingdom country guide
Open the country hub for all its holiday pages.
Turn these dates into a leave plan
See how many days off you can get in United Kingdom in 2026 from the leave days you actually have.
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