Blog · Explainer
Why bank holidays differ across the four nations
UK public holidays are set nation by nation, not centrally. This side-by-side comparison shows exactly which 2026 dates apply where.
Reviewed for the 2026 holiday year
Bank holidays in Great Britain and Northern Ireland come from separate legal traditions and are still administered separately. That is why England bank holidays and Wales bank holidays are identical, while Scotland bank holidays and Northern Ireland bank holidays add their own national days.
2026 comparison table
| Holiday (2026) | England | Wales | Scotland | N. Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day (1 Jan) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2nd January (2 Jan) | No | No | Yes | No |
| St Patrick's Day (17 Mar) | No | No | No | Yes |
| Good Friday (3 Apr) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Easter Monday (6 Apr) | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Early May (4 May) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Spring (25 May) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Battle of the Boyne (13 Jul) | No | No | No | Yes |
| Summer, early Aug (3 Aug) | No | No | Yes | No |
| Summer, late Aug (31 Aug) | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| St Andrew's Day (30 Nov) | No | No | Yes | No |
| Christmas Day (25 Dec) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Boxing Day substitute (28 Dec) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
What this means in practice
- Multi-site employers: staff in Belfast, Glasgow and Cardiff may be off on different days, so rotas and cover need planning around each list.
- Deliveries and logistics: a closure in one nation rarely stops UK-wide networks, but local depots and branches follow the local calendar.
- Schools: term dates differ too, so school and bank holidays do not always line up between nations.
One calendar does not fit the UK
Differences by nation: FAQs
Which UK nation has the most bank holidays?
Northern Ireland, with 10 bank holidays in 2026, followed by Scotland with 9 and England and Wales with 8.
Why does Scotland not have Easter Monday?
Scotland's bank holiday list developed separately and observes Good Friday but not Easter Monday, using 2nd January and St Andrew's Day instead.
Do bank holidays apply to my contract if I work remotely for another nation?
Usually the calendar follows your employer's stated policy or your place of work, not where you happen to sit. Check your contract or staff handbook.
Are national days like St David's Day and St George's Day bank holidays?
No. St David's Day in Wales and St George's Day in England are not statutory bank holidays. St Patrick's Day in Northern Ireland and St Andrew's Day in Scotland are.