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
41days to go
Official date from GOV.UK
England & Wales dates
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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
|
Are banks open over Christmas 2026?
Day by day from Christmas Eve until banks are back to normal in the new year. Bacs and CHAPS payments (wages, Direct Debits, house purchases) only go through on working days; card payments, cash machines and Faster Payments work every day.
| Date | Bank holiday | Bank branches | Bacs & CHAPS payments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 24 Dec | No | Open, many close early | Processed |
| Fri 25 Dec | Christmas Day |
Closed | Not processed |
| Sat 26 Dec | No | Weekend – most closed | Not processed |
| Sun 27 Dec | No | Weekend – most closed | Not processed |
| Mon 28 Dec | Boxing Day |
Closed | Not processed |
| Tue 29 Dec | No | Open | Processed |
| Wed 30 Dec | No | Open | Processed |
| Thu 31 Dec | No | Open, many close early | Processed |
| Fri 1 Jan | New Year's Day |
Closed | Not processed |
| Sat 2 Jan | No | Weekend – most closed | Not processed |
| Sun 3 Jan | No | Weekend – most closed | Not processed |
| Mon 4 Jan | 2nd January (Scotland) |
Closed in Scotland, open elsewhere | Processed |
Expecting a benefit or pension payment? See Christmas payment dates for Universal Credit, State Pension and other benefits. Working over Christmas? Check your bank holiday pay and entitlement.
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.
Are banks open on Christmas Eve 2026?
Yes. Christmas Eve, Thursday 24 December 2026, is not a bank holiday, so banks open, though many branches close early. Payments made before your bank's cut-off time are processed that day.
Are banks open on Christmas Day and Boxing Day?
No. Bank branches are closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and any substitute bank holiday, and Bacs and CHAPS payments are not processed. Card payments, cash machines and Faster Payments between accounts still work.
When do banks reopen after Christmas 2026?
Banks in England and Wales reopen on Tuesday 29 December 2026. Payments set up over the Christmas bank holidays are processed from that day.
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