UK Bank Holidays and School Holidays in 2026 – Official Dates & Complete Guide

Introduction

Planning ahead for 2026 is essential for families, employees, and travellers. Whether you are arranging childcare, booking a holiday, or managing business schedules, knowing the official UK bank holidays and school term dates is a must.

In this guide, we’ll share the official 2026 bank holiday dates for England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, as well as examples of school holiday calendars from local authorities across the country.

UK Bank Holidays in 2026

England & Wales

• 1 January (Thursday) – New Year’s Day

• 3 April (Friday) – Good Friday

• 6 April (Monday) – Easter Monday

• 4 May (Monday) – Early May Bank Holiday

• 25 May (Monday) – Spring Bank Holiday

• 31 August (Monday) – Summer Bank Holiday

• 25 December (Friday) – Christmas Day

• 28 December (Monday) – Boxing Day (substitute, as 26 December falls on Saturday)

Scotland

In addition to the above, Scotland observes:

• 2 January (Friday) – 2nd January Holiday

• 3 August (Monday) – Summer Bank Holiday (Scotland)

• 30 November (Monday) – St Andrew’s Day

Northern Ireland

In addition to the above, Northern Ireland observes:

• 17 March (Tuesday) – St Patrick’s Day

• 13 July (Monday) – Battle of the Boyne (substitute holiday)

School Term Dates for 2025–2026 (England Examples)

School term dates in the UK vary by local authority and individual schools (especially academies and private schools). Below are official examples from local council websites:

Southampton (2025–2026)

• Autumn Term 1: 3 Sept – 24 Oct 2025

  • Half Term: 27–31 Oct 2025

• Autumn Term 2: 3 Nov – 19 Dec 2025

  • Christmas Holiday: 22 Dec 2025 – 2 Jan 2026

• Spring Term 1: 5 Jan – 13 Feb 2026

  • Half Term: 16–20 Feb 2026

• Spring Term 2: 23 Feb – 27 Mar 2026

  • Easter Holiday: 30 Mar – 10 Apr 2026

• Summer Term 1: 13 Apr – 22 May 2026

  • Half Term: 25–29 May 2026

• Summer Term 2: 1 Jun – 22 Jul 2026

Kent (2025–2026)

• Term 1: 1 Sept – 17 Oct 2025

• Term 2: 27 Oct – 19 Dec 2025

• Term 3: 5 Jan – 13 Feb 2026

• Term 4: 23 Feb – 2 Apr 2026

• Term 5: 20 Apr – 22 May 2026

• Term 6: 1 Jun – 21 Jul 2026

Norfolk (2025–2026)

• Autumn: 3 Sept – 24 Oct 2025; Half Term: 27–31 Oct

• Autumn 2: 3 Nov – 19 Dec; Christmas: 22 Dec – 5 Jan

• Spring: 6 Jan – 13 Feb 2026; Half Term: 16–20 Feb

• Spring 2: 23 Feb – 27 Mar; Easter: 30 Mar – 13 Apr

• Summer: 14 Apr – 17 Jul 2026

Royal Greenwich (2025–2026)

• Term 1: 1 Sept – 24 Oct 2025

• Term 2: 3 Nov – 19 Dec 2025

• Term 3: 5 Jan – 13 Feb 2026

• Term 4: 23 Feb – 27 Mar 2026

• Term 5: 13 Apr – 22 May 2026

• Term 6: 1 Jun – 20 Jul 2026

Regional Variations

• Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland publish their own school term calendars, often with slightly different start and end dates.

• Academies and independent schools can set their own schedules.

• Always check your local authority website or your child’s school calendar for the exact dates.