**Shake-up for UK Bank Holidays: Boxing Day Changes and Added Substitute Days in 2026 and 2027**
The UK’s bank holiday calendar is set for a notable reshuffle over the next few years, with significant changes planned for 2026 and 2027. Bank holidays, which have long offered workers a welcome break and time to mark cultural, religious, and historical events, are subject to alteration when traditional dates clash with weekends. Upcoming adjustments will include a rare move for Boxing Day and the introduction of extra so-called ‘substitute days’.
In 2025, the pattern of bank holidays will remain familiar for most Britons. This year’s line-up includes holidays in May—on the 5th and 26th—followed by the usual Christmas celebrations on the 25th and 26th of December. Northern Ireland residents will additionally observe the Battle of the Boyne on 14th July, whilst Scotland’s summer bank holiday falls on 4th August and St Andrew’s Day is marked on 1st December. England, Wales, and Northern Ireland will round out their summer break with a bank holiday on 25th August.
Looking to 2026, the majority of bank holiday dates are set to mirror the current arrangement. Workers in all regions can expect time off on New Year’s Day (1st January), a long Easter weekend (Good Friday lands on 3rd April and Easter Monday on the 6th), then the early and late May bank holidays on the 4th and 25th respectively. Summer’s conclusion will be marked with an August bank holiday on the 31st, before festivities resume for Christmas on 25th December. According to local news sources, however, there is a key difference this year: Boxing Day, which traditionally falls on 26th December, will actually coincide with a Saturday. In line with longstanding custom, a substitute bank holiday will instead be granted on Monday, 28th December, ensuring that workers still enjoy their full quota of festive time off.
The most striking changes will come into effect in 2027. Here, Christmas Day and Boxing Day both land on a weekend—Saturday and Sunday respectively. To prevent the loss of national holiday days, two substitute days will be introduced, moving the holidays to Monday, 27th December, and Tuesday, 28th December. This means Britons will now enjoy a four-day festive period off work, as both Saturday and Sunday are followed by these additional weekday holidays.
This adjustment reflects the flexibility built into the UK’s holiday structure. Official bank holidays are enshrined in law and tradition, but their precise dates can change when they overlap with weekends, ensuring that workers and families do not miss out on their entitled time off. The phrase “bank holiday” entered the official lexicon with the Bank Holidays Act 1871, spearheaded by Sir John Lubbock, expanding the range of holidays for the nation’s working population. Prior to this, only major religious holidays such as Christmas and Easter were universally recognised.
Since then, UK bank holidays have become a blend of statutory provisions, Royal proclamations, and custom. This system means that, occasionally, unique or one-off bank holidays can be declared to mark major national occasions like royal weddings or jubilees—further demonstrating the adaptability of the UK’s annual timetable.
For businesses and families alike, these upcoming changes will require some forward planning, especially in industries that traditionally rely on bank holiday trade or employee leave schedules. In addition, individuals will have more opportunities in those years to make the most of the festive season, with the benefit of additional extended breaks.
As always, it is advisable for both employers and employees to keep abreast of these variations, as official confirmation nearer the time will clarify the exact dates and regional observances. With three substitute days slated for 2026 and 2027, the coming years are set to be especially generous for those seeking well-deserved downtime.
While many Britons look forward to these relative breaks in the regular routine, the upcoming amendments are a timely reminder of how the UK’s holiday traditions continue to evolve—balancing the rhythm of work with the importance of rest and celebration.