If a bank holiday is on a weekend, a ‘substitute’ weekday becomes a bank holiday
People enjoying the warm weather at West Kirby(Image: Liverpool Echo)
For many people in the UK, a bank holiday means time off work to enjoy spending time with family and friends. Some families take the opportunity to enjoy some much-needed sunshine abroad while others prefer to relax at home. Two bank holidays are approaching as millions look forward to a long Easter weekend.
Good Friday will fall tomorrow (Friday, April 3), and Easter Monday on Monday, April 6. May’s two bank holidays will each be a day earlier, due to the calendar and them always falling on a Monday. In 2026, the early May bank holiday is May 4, while the spring bank holiday falls on May 25. This will be followed by bank holidays on August 31 and December 25.
However, Boxing Day 2026, December 26, won’t be a bank holiday as it falls on a Saturday. Instead, we will get an extra substitute day off on December 28. Next year there will be more changes to bank holidays which will mean longer weekends for most of us.
In 2027, Christmas Day will land on a Saturday, and Boxing Day will be a Sunday. This means December 27 and December 28 will be substitute bank holidays.
New Year’s Day 2028 will fall on a Saturday, meaning instead of January 1 being a bank holiday, there will be a bank holiday on Monday, January 3, 2028. This means another long weekend for many workers. Other bank holidays will be as expected. The Easter 2027 bank holidays will fall either side of a weekend.
Guidance from the government, states: “If a bank holiday is on a weekend, a ‘substitute’ weekday becomes a bank holiday, normally the following Monday. Your employer does not have to give you paid leave on bank or public holidays. Bank holidays might affect how and when your benefits are paid.”
The full list of upcoming bank holidays in England and Wales for 2026 and 2027 is below:
2026
April 3 – Good Friday
April 6 – Easter Monday
May 4 – Early May bank holiday
May 25 – Spring bank holiday
August 31 – Summer bank holiday
December 25 – Christmas Day
December 28 – Boxing Day (substitute day)
2027
January 1 – New Year’s Day
March 26 – Good Friday
March 29 – Easter Monday
May 3 – Early May bank holiday
May 31 – Spring bank holiday
August 30 – Summer bank holiday
December 27 – Christmas Day (substitute day)
December 28 – Boxing Day (substitute day)
