Book 1 day, get 5 days off
Thu 24 Dec – Mon 28 Dec 2026 · includes Christmas Day, Boxing Day
Thu
24 Fri
25 Sat
26 Sun
27 Mon
28
24 Fri
25 Sat
26 Sun
27 Mon
28
Book: Thu 24 Dec
When are the Christmas bank holidays 2026?
Christmas Day is on Friday 25 December 2026 and Boxing Day (substitute day) is on Monday 28 December 2026 in England & Wales.
England & Wales · 2026
Friday 25 December
Christmas Day
99days to go
Official date from GOV.UK
England & Wales dates
Add to calendar
Plan leave around it
Is it a bank holiday where you are?
| Nation | Bank holiday? | Date in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| England & Wales | Yes |
Christmas Day: Friday 25 December 2026
Boxing Day: Monday 28 December 2026 Substitute day
|
| Scotland | Yes |
Christmas Day: Friday 25 December 2026
Boxing Day: Monday 28 December 2026 Substitute day
|
| Northern Ireland | Yes |
Christmas Day: Friday 25 December 2026
Boxing Day: Monday 28 December 2026 Substitute day
|
| Republic of Ireland | Yes |
Christmas Day: Friday 25 December 2026
St Stephen's Day: Saturday 26 December 2026
|
Turn it into a longer break
Book these days as annual leave (England & Wales, Monday to Friday worker).
Book 2 days, get 6 days off
Wed 23 Dec – Mon 28 Dec 2026 · includes Christmas Day, Boxing Day
Wed
23 Thu
24 Fri
25 Sat
26 Sun
27 Mon
28
23 Thu
24 Fri
25 Sat
26 Sun
27 Mon
28
Book: Wed 23 Dec, Thu 24 Dec
Book 3 days, get 10 days off
Fri 25 Dec – Sun 3 Jan 2027 · includes Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day
Fri
25 Sat
26 Sun
27 Mon
28 Tue
29 Wed
30 Thu
31 Fri
1 Sat
2 Sun
3
25 Sat
26 Sun
27 Mon
28 Tue
29 Wed
30 Thu
31 Fri
1 Sat
2 Sun
3
Book: Tue 29 Dec, Wed 30 Dec, Thu 31 Dec
Book 4 days, get 11 days off
Thu 24 Dec – Sun 3 Jan 2027 · includes Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day
Thu
24 Fri
25 Sat
26 Sun
27 Mon
28 Tue
29 Wed
30 Thu
31 Fri
1 Sat
2 Sun
3
24 Fri
25 Sat
26 Sun
27 Mon
28 Tue
29 Wed
30 Thu
31 Fri
1 Sat
2 Sun
3
Book: Thu 24 Dec, Tue 29 Dec, Wed 30 Dec, Thu 31 Dec
Christmas Day and Boxing Day dates for every year
| Year | England & Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | Republic of Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Thu 25 Dec Fri 26 Dec |
Thu 25 Dec Fri 26 Dec |
Thu 25 Dec Fri 26 Dec |
Thu 25 Dec Fri 26 Dec |
| 2026 | Fri 25 Dec Mon 28 Dec sub |
Fri 25 Dec Mon 28 Dec sub |
Fri 25 Dec Mon 28 Dec sub |
Fri 25 Dec Sat 26 Dec |
| 2027 | Mon 27 Dec sub Tue 28 Dec sub |
Mon 27 Dec sub Tue 28 Dec sub |
Mon 27 Dec sub Tue 28 Dec sub |
Sat 25 Dec Sun 26 Dec |
| 2028 | Mon 25 Dec Tue 26 Dec |
Mon 25 Dec Tue 26 Dec |
Mon 25 Dec Tue 26 Dec |
Mon 25 Dec Tue 26 Dec |
| 2029 | Tue 25 Dec prov. Wed 26 Dec prov. |
Tue 25 Dec prov. Wed 26 Dec prov. |
Tue 25 Dec prov. Wed 26 Dec prov. |
Tue 25 Dec Wed 26 Dec |
| 2030 | Wed 25 Dec prov. Thu 26 Dec prov. |
Wed 25 Dec prov. Thu 26 Dec prov. |
Wed 25 Dec prov. Thu 26 Dec prov. |
Wed 25 Dec Thu 26 Dec |
| 2031 | Thu 25 Dec prov. Fri 26 Dec prov. |
Thu 25 Dec prov. Fri 26 Dec prov. |
Thu 25 Dec prov. Fri 26 Dec prov. |
Thu 25 Dec Fri 26 Dec |
About Christmas Day
Christmas Day is a bank holiday throughout the UK and a public holiday in Ireland. Large shops in England and Wales must by law stay closed.
How the date is set
25 December. In the UK, if it falls on a weekend a substitute bank holiday is given on the next free weekday.
About Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank holiday across the UK. In Ireland the same day is St Stephen's Day.
How the date is set
26 December. In the UK, if it falls on a weekend (or on the Christmas substitute day) the next free weekday is the bank holiday.
Add every bank holiday to your calendar · Why is it called a bank holiday?
Frequently asked questions
Is Christmas Day a bank holiday?
Christmas Day is a bank or public holiday in England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland.
Is Boxing Day a bank holiday?
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday in England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland.
Why is Boxing Day on Monday 28 December in 2026?
The usual date falls on a weekend in 2026, so England & Wales gets a substitute bank holiday on the next available weekday, Monday 28 December 2026.
Is Christmas Eve a bank holiday?
No. Christmas Eve is not a bank holiday. Read more.
Are shops open on Christmas Day?
Large shops (over 280 square metres) must close on Christmas Day in England, Wales and Scotland. Smaller shops can open.
Never miss a long weekend
Get a short email before each bank holiday, early enough to book time off or plan a trip. Free, no spam, unsubscribe in one click.