Workers across the United Kingdom need to mark their calendars, as the schedule for official bank holidays is set for a notable reshuffle in 2026 and 2027. The changes are necessary because several key festive dates are due to fall on weekends, triggering the implementation of substitute days.
Festive Shake-Up: Boxing Day and Christmas Moves
The first major shift comes in 2026. While Christmas Day that year falls on a Friday, meaning the holiday remains unchanged, Boxing Day lands on a Saturday. Consequently, the traditional December 26 bank holiday will not be observed. Instead, the official day off will be moved to Monday, December 28, 2026, creating a slightly altered winter break structure.
The following year brings an even more unusual arrangement. In 2027, both Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on a weekend—Saturday and Sunday respectively. To ensure employees do not miss out on their entitled time off, two substitute bank holidays will be created. These will be observed on Monday, December 27 and Tuesday, December 28, 2027.
Other Key Bank Holiday Dates
Beyond the festive period, other annual holidays will follow their established patterns or see their usual fluctuations.
New Year’s Day provides a consistent start, falling on a Thursday in 2026 and on a Friday in 2027, both of which will be bank holidays as usual.
The Easter break dates will vary as expected. In 2026, celebrations occur in early April with Good Friday on April 3 and Easter Monday on April 6. For 2027, the holiday arrives much earlier in spring, confirmed for Friday, March 26 and Monday, March 29.
The standard spring and summer holidays—the Early May bank holiday, the Spring bank holiday, and the late August Summer bank holiday—will continue to fall on their typical Mondays.
Planning Your Annual Leave
With these dates now confirmed, employees are encouraged to plan their annual leave strategically. By booking time off around the newly announced substitute days, it is possible to create extended holiday periods while using fewer precious leave days.
For instance, in 2027, taking just three days of annual leave from Wednesday, December 29 could secure a break stretching from Saturday, December 25 right through to Sunday, January 2. Forward planning is key to maximising your time off during these unusual holiday calendars.
