Scotland
Scotland has nine bank holidays in 2026, with its own additions of 2nd January and St Andrew's Day and an early August summer holiday.
Reviewed for the 2026 holiday year
| Holiday | Date (2026) | Day | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 1 January 2026 | Thursday | — |
| 2nd January | 2 January 2026 | Friday | — |
| Good Friday | 3 April 2026 | Friday | — |
| Early May bank holiday | 4 May 2026 | Monday | — |
| Spring bank holiday | 25 May 2026 | Monday | — |
| Summer bank holiday | 3 August 2026 | Monday | Scotland's summer bank holiday falls in early August, not late August. |
| St Andrew's Day | 30 November 2026 | Monday | — |
| Christmas Day | 25 December 2026 | Friday | — |
| Boxing Day (substitute day) | 28 December 2026 | Monday | 26 December falls on a Saturday, so the holiday moves to Monday 28 December. |
Scottish councils commonly set local holidays for their own areas, and these are separate from the national bank holidays above. Because they differ between cities and towns, they are not included in this list — your council and your employer are the reliable sources.
Branch closures broadly follow the Scottish list, so 2nd January and St Andrew's Day affect branches in Scotland but not those in England or Wales. Payment cycles such as Bacs and CHAPS run on UK-wide banking days, which can differ from the local holiday, so a Scottish holiday does not always stop a payment.
Cross-border working
SCOTLAND HOLIDAY PLANNING GUIDE
Discover Scottish bank holiday dates across three years, compare public holidays, explore long weekends and plan annual leave around Scotland's unique holiday calendar.
Scotland has its own bank holiday calendar, which differs from England and Wales. Important Scottish holidays include 2 January, the early August summer bank holiday and St Andrew's Day. Explore our dedicated Scotland bank holidays guides for 2025, 2026 and 2027 to compare dates, substitute holidays and opportunities for longer breaks.
Review the Scottish bank holidays in 2025, including New Year's Day, 2 January, Good Friday on 18 April, the summer bank holiday on 4 August and the St Andrew's Day substitute holiday on 1 December. This guide is useful for checking past holiday dates, employment records and payroll schedules.
View Scotland Bank Holidays 2025 →Explore the Scottish public holiday calendar for 2026, including the Easter break, early May bank holiday, summer bank holiday on 3 August and St Andrew's Day on 30 November. The calendar also includes the special World Cup bank holiday on 15 June. Find useful dates for planning family holidays, work schedules and long weekends.
View Scotland Bank Holidays 2026 →Start planning your 2027 holidays in Scotland with a dedicated guide covering New Year celebrations, Good Friday, the May holidays, Scotland's summer bank holiday and St Andrew's Day. Explore upcoming public holiday dates, substitute days and opportunities to combine annual leave with longer weekends.
View Scotland Bank Holidays 2027 →Scotland holiday planning tip: Scotland observes different bank holiday arrangements from England and Wales. Easter Monday is not a standard Scottish bank holiday, while 2 January and St Andrew's Day are recognised. Local public holidays may also vary by council area, and time off depends on your employer's policy.
Scotland has 9 bank holidays in 2026, including 2nd January on Friday 2 January and St Andrew's Day on Monday 30 November.
No. Good Friday on 3 April 2026 is a bank holiday in Scotland, but Easter Monday is not, unlike in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
St Andrew's Day falls on Monday 30 November 2026 and is a bank holiday in Scotland. Some employers treat it as a voluntary day off rather than an automatic closure.
Scotland takes its summer bank holiday on the first Monday in August, which is Monday 3 August 2026, while England, Wales and Northern Ireland take the last Monday, 31 August 2026.
Many Scottish councils and towns set their own local or trades holidays in addition to bank holidays. These vary by area and are not observed nationally, so check with your council and employer.