4 days off for 1 day of annual leave
Bank holidays 2026 in England and Wales
England and Wales has 8 bank holidays in 2026, every one of them on a weekday. Book 1 day of annual leave for 1 to 4 January and you are off for 4 days straight. The longest break with up to 10 days of annual leave: 10 days, 25 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, for 3 days of annual leave.
- Bank holidays 2026
- 8
- on weekdays
- 8
- bridge days
- 1
- off for 3 days of annual leave
- 10 days
How 2026 works in England and Wales
England and Wales has 8 bank holidays in 2026, as published by GOV.UK. Most employers give them as paid days off on top of, or as part of, the 5.6 weeks of statutory annual leave, so placing your leave around them is how a short break becomes a proper holiday.
Scotland
EnglandEvery bank holiday falls on a weekday this year. Across the UK the lists differ: Scotland 10 days, Northern Ireland 10 days and England and Wales 8 days.
ScotlandEnglandBank holidays 2026 in England and Wales and what each one gives you
Here is each day off in date order, what it marks, and the quickest way to turn it into a longer break.
- Thursday 1 January: New Year's Day. New Year's Day is a bank holiday across the UK, a quiet day after the midnight celebrations. When it falls on a weekend, the day off moves to the following weekday. Take Friday 2 January off and you have 4 days in a row, 1 to 4 January.
- Friday 3 April: Good Friday. Good Friday is a bank holiday across the UK. It opens the Easter weekend, which often overlaps with school Easter holidays, so book trips early. You get 4 free days in a row, 3 to 6 April, with no leave needed.
- Monday 6 April: Easter Monday. Easter Monday is a bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland but not in Scotland. Together with Good Friday it creates a four day Easter weekend, a peak time for UK breaks. You get 4 free days in a row, 3 to 6 April, with no leave needed.
- Monday 4 May: Early May bank holiday. The Early May bank holiday falls on the first Monday of May, often with May Day fairs and morris dancing. It opens the spring season of long weekends in the UK. You get 3 free days in a row, 2 to 4 May, with no leave needed.
- Monday 25 May: Spring bank holiday. The Spring bank holiday on the last Monday of May lines up with half term in many schools, making it one of the busiest weeks for UK breaks at home and abroad. You get 3 free days in a row, 23 to 25 May, with no leave needed.
- Monday 31 August: Summer bank holiday. The Summer bank holiday closes the school summer. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland it falls on the last Monday of August, in Scotland on the first; beaches, festivals and roads get busy. You get 3 free days in a row, 29 to 31 August, with no leave needed.
- Friday 25 December: Christmas Day. Christmas Day is a bank holiday across the UK, when almost all shops and public transport close. Booking leave in the days between Christmas and New Year gives a long break for few days of leave. You get 4 free days in a row, 25 to 28 December, with no leave needed.
- Monday 28 December: Boxing Day. Boxing Day, 26 December, brings football fixtures, winter walks and the big sales. With Christmas Day it gives two bank holidays in a row, the start of the longest break of the year. The date itself, Saturday 26 December, falls on a weekend, so the day off is Monday 28 December. You get 4 free days in a row, 25 to 28 December, with no leave needed.
The best breaks in 2026, explained
Each break below starts and ends on a free day, contains at least one bank holiday, and needs no more than 10 days of annual leave. They are ranked by how many days off each day of leave brings.
1 to 4 January: 1 day of annual leave (2 January) around New Year's Day gives 4 days off, 4.0 days for every day used.
28 March to 6 April: 4 days of annual leave (30 March to 2 April) around Good Friday and Easter Monday give 10 days off, 2.5 days for every day used.
Around Early May bank holiday, 4 days of annual leave on Tue 5 May, Wed 6 May, Thu 7 May and Fri 8 May unlock 9 days away, 2 to 10 May.
Around Spring bank holiday, 4 days of annual leave on Tue 26 May, Wed 27 May, Thu 28 May and Fri 29 May unlock 9 days away, 23 to 31 May.
Around Summer bank holiday, 4 days of annual leave on Tue 1 September, Wed 2 September, Thu 3 September and Fri 4 September unlock 9 days away, 29 August to 6 September.
25 December 2026 to 3 January 2027: 3 days of annual leave (29 to 31 December) around Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day give 10 days off, 3.3 days for every day used.
The best breaks 2026 in England and Wales
Every row is a run of weekends, bank holidays and days of annual leave. The highlighted row brings the most days off per day of leave.
| Dates | Result | Leave on | Bank holidays | School holidays | Plan a trip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 1 Jan to Sun 4 Jan | 4 days offfor 1 day of annual leave, 4 days off per day of leave | Fri 2 Jan | New Year's Day | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat 28 Mar to Mon 6 Apr | 10 days offfor 4 days of annual leave, 2.5 days off per day of leave | Mon 30 Mar · Tue 31 Mar · Wed 1 Apr · Thu 2 Apr | Good Friday, Easter Monday | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat 2 May to Sun 10 May | 9 days offfor 4 days of annual leave, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Tue 5 May · Wed 6 May · Thu 7 May · Fri 8 May | Early May bank holiday | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat 23 May to Sun 31 May | 9 days offfor 4 days of annual leave, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Tue 26 May · Wed 27 May · Thu 28 May · Fri 29 May | Spring bank holiday | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat 29 Aug to Sun 6 Sept | 9 days offfor 4 days of annual leave, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Tue 1 Sept · Wed 2 Sept · Thu 3 Sept · Fri 4 Sept | Summer bank holiday | none | Plan a trip |
| Fri 25 Dec to Sun 3 Jan | 10 days offfor 3 days of annual leave, 3.33 days off per day of leave | Tue 29 Dec · Wed 30 Dec · Thu 31 Dec | Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day | none | Plan a trip |
What 1 to 10 days of annual leave bring
For each budget, the longest run of days off in 2026.
1 day of annual leave
4 days
1 January to 4 January
New Year's Day
3 days of annual leave
10 days
25 December to 3 January
Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day
8 days of annual leave
17 days
25 December to 10 January
Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day
2026 calendar for England and Wales
- Bank holiday
- Annual leave in a break
- Weekend
- School holidays
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
The maths: days of annual leave in, days off out
With 1 day of annual leave the longest run you can build is 4 days, 1 to 4 January. Three days stretch to 10 days off (25 December 2026 to 3 January 2027). Five days, a typical week, become 10 days off around Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, 25 December 2026 to 3 January 2027.
Ten days, the most this planner books in one go, give 17 days in a row, 25 December 2026 to 10 January 2027. For nine days or more away you need 3 days of annual leave.
Full-time workers in the UK are entitled to 28 days including bank holidays, so a few days around Easter and Christmas usually leave plenty for a summer fortnight.
When the bank holidays fall in 2026
Winter: New Year's Day on 1 January, Christmas Day on 25 December and Boxing Day on 28 December. The pick of the season is 1 to 4 January with 1 day of annual leave for 4 days off.
Spring: Good Friday on 3 April, Easter Monday on 6 April, Early May bank holiday on 4 May and Spring bank holiday on 25 May. The pick of the season is 28 March to 6 April with 4 days of annual leave for 10 days off.
Summer: Summer bank holiday on 31 August. The pick of the season is 29 August to 6 September with 4 days of annual leave for 9 days off.
Autumn has no bank holiday in England and Wales this year, which makes it the time to use a full week of annual leave for a longer trip.
England and Wales compared with other nations
Scotland has the most with 10 bank holidays in 2026, and England and Wales has the fewest with 8.
Its best break, 1 to 4 January, returns 4.0 days off per day of leave. No other nation in our data does better this year.
Bank Holiday Planner 2026 for England and Wales as a PDF
Every stretch, holiday and school break in England on one printable page. Plus The Sunday Getaway every week and a note whenever a long weekend is worth it.
Where to on the long weekends?
For the six strongest stretches: places with the right climate that month, flights from LHR, LGW, MAN, STN, LTN, BHX, BRS, NCL, LPL, EMA, LCY.
1 January to 4 January: 1 day of leave, 4 days off
Short flight in January, flights from LHR
iPhoto: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsCosta Blanca14 °C by day · Sea 15 °C · Flight about 2 h 18Plan a trip for these daysSee Costa Blanca
Lisbon15 °C by day · Sea 15 °C · Flight about 2 h 24, directPlan a trip for these daysSee Lisbon
Lake Garda7 °C by day · Flight about 1 h 45Plan a trip for these daysSee Lake Garda
25 December to 3 January: 3 days of leave, 10 days off
Warm, up to 4 hours away in December, flights from LHR
iPhoto: Darymaister · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsWestern Sahara24 °C by day · Flight about 3 h 56Plan a trip for these daysSee Western Sahara
iPhoto: Lviatour · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsLanzarote20 °C by day · Sea 20 °C · Flight about 3 h 44Plan a trip for these daysSee Lanzarote
iPhoto: Marco Riss · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsAgadir22 °C by day · Sea 18 °C · Flight about 3 h 26Plan a trip for these daysSee Agadir
28 March to 6 April: 4 days of leave, 10 days off
Warm, up to 4 hours away in April, flights from LHR
iPhoto: This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves . Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author. I would · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsMarrakech25 °C by day · Flight about 3 h 14, directPlan a trip for these daysSee Marrakech- iPhoto: Darymaister · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsWestern Sahara31 °C by day · Flight about 3 h 56Plan a trip for these daysSee Western Sahara
Fuerteventura21 °C by day · Sea 19 °C · Flight about 3 h 44Plan a trip for these daysSee Fuerteventura
2 May to 10 May: 4 days of leave, 9 days off
Warm, up to 4 hours away in May, flights from LHR
- iPhoto: This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves . Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author. I would · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsMarrakech29 °C by day · Flight about 3 h 14, directPlan a trip for these daysSee Marrakech
Antalya25 °C by day · Sea 21 °C · Flight about 3 h 58Plan a trip for these daysSee Antalya- iPhoto: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsCosta Blanca25 °C by day · Sea 18 °C · Flight about 2 h 18Plan a trip for these daysSee Costa Blanca
23 May to 31 May: 4 days of leave, 9 days off
Warm, up to 4 hours away in May, flights from LHR
- iPhoto: This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves . Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author. I would · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsMarrakech29 °C by day · Flight about 3 h 14, directPlan a trip for these daysSee Marrakech
- Antalya25 °C by day · Sea 21 °C · Flight about 3 h 58Plan a trip for these daysSee Antalya
- iPhoto: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsCosta Blanca25 °C by day · Sea 18 °C · Flight about 2 h 18Plan a trip for these daysSee Costa Blanca
29 August to 6 September: 4 days of leave, 9 days off
Beach in September, flights from LHR
Dubai34 °C by day · Sea 33 °C · Flight about 6 h 52, directPlan a trip for these daysSee Dubai
Cyprus33 °C by day · Sea 27 °C · Flight about 4 h 21, directPlan a trip for these daysSee Cyprus
Marmaris31 °C by day · Sea 26 °C · Flight about 3 h 42Plan a trip for these daysSee Marmaris
Bank holidays 2026 in England and Wales
| Date | Weekday | Bank holiday | Applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Thursday | New Year's Day | nationwide |
| 3 April | Friday | Good Friday | nationwide |
| 6 April | Monday | Easter Monday | across the nation |
| 4 May | Monday | Early May bank holiday | nationwide |
| 25 May | Monday | Spring bank holiday | nationwide |
| 31 August | Monday | Summer bank holiday | across the nation |
| 25 December | Friday | Christmas Day | nationwide |
| 28 December | Monday | Boxing Day | nationwide |
Getaways for your 2026 breaks
From England, bank holiday weekends suit the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales in late spring, Cornwall and Devon in summer, and the Cotswolds or Bath in autumn. Short flights to Paris, Amsterdam or Lisbon make an easy city break in any season.
AmsterdamiPhoto: Bybbisch94, Christian Gebhardt · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
LisboniPhoto: tjabeljan · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsYour strongest breaks this year fall in January, March and May, so pick the trip that suits that season, and book early: everyone else in England and Wales has the same days off.
AmsterdamiPhoto: Bybbisch94, Christian Gebhardt · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsLisboniPhoto: tjabeljan · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsEngland and Wales in other years
2027 and 2028 are planned as well, each with its own dates and breaks.
Holiday dates move every year: fixed-date days change their weekday, and Easter moves between late March and late April, which is why the best breaks are never the same twice.
Where these dates come from
Every date on this page comes from the official source for England and Wales: GOV.UK bank holidays, read directly and compared day by day with an independent second source. A year appears once its official list is published, and we never fill a gap with another nation's dates.
The planner treats weekends and full bank holidays as free days and works out where your days of annual leave turn into the longest time off. Days kept in part of England and Wales or as observances are shown but never counted. Last checked on 1 October 2026.
Bank Holiday Planner 2026 in England: frequently asked questions
How many bank holidays does England and Wales have in 2026?
8 bank holidays: New Year's Day on 1 January, Good Friday on 3 April, Easter Monday on 6 April, Early May bank holiday on 4 May, Spring bank holiday on 25 May, Summer bank holiday on 31 August, Christmas Day on 25 December and Boxing Day on 28 December.
What is the best long weekend in England and Wales in 2026?
1 to 4 January: 1 day of annual leave gives 4 days off around New Year's Day.
How many days of annual leave do I need for nine days off in 2026?
3 days of annual leave: take 29 to 31 December off and you are off 25 December 2026 to 3 January 2027.
Is Easter Monday a bank holiday in England and Wales in 2026?
Yes. Easter Monday is a full day off on Monday 6 April.
Is St Andrew's Day a bank holiday in England and Wales in 2026?
No. St Andrew's Day is not on England and Wales's official list for 2026, so it is a regular workday unless your employer gives it.
2026 in the other nations
- England and Wales
- Scotland
- Northern Ireland
How the Bank Holiday Planner works
Holidays: the public holidays from the official list in England, checked date by date. The planner counts only days off for the whole region.
Stretches: start and end on a day off, include at least one holiday and at most 10 days of annual leave. Ranked by days off per day of leave; Saturday and Sunday count as free.
School holidays: officially published dates only, checked every month. Trip ideas: the month's climate and flights from the region's main airport.
