Wales · 2026
Wales Bank Holidays 2026
Wales has 8 bank holidays in 2026, starting with New Year's Day on Thursday 1 January 2026 and ending with Boxing Day (substitute day) on Monday 28 December 2026.
Reviewed for the 2026 holiday year
2026 is the current holiday year on this site. Christmas Day falls on a Friday and Boxing Day on a Saturday, so a substitute weekday holiday applies at the end of December across the UK.
Wales follows the England and Wales bank holiday calendar exactly, so the dates below are identical to England's for the same year.
Wales bank holiday dates 2026
| Holiday | Date (2026) | Day | Notes | Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 1 January 2026 | Thursday | — | |
| Good Friday | 3 April 2026 | Friday | — | |
| Easter Monday | 6 April 2026 | Monday | — | |
| Early May bank holiday | 4 May 2026 | Monday | — | |
| Spring bank holiday | 25 May 2026 | Monday | — | |
| Summer bank holiday | 31 August 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. |
Download or add these dates to your calendar
Exports use your current selection: Wales · 2026 — 8 bank holidays, including names, dates, applicable nations and substitute-day notes.
Add to Google Calendar (8 dates)
Google Calendar has no one-click way to add several events at once from a link, so each date below opens its own pre-filled Google Calendar entry that you confirm and save. To add every date in one go instead, download the .ics file above and use Google Calendar → Settings → Import & export → Import.
- New Year's Day1 January 2026 · All four UK nations
- Good Friday3 April 2026 · All four UK nations
- Easter Monday6 April 2026 · England, Wales, Northern Ireland
- Early May bank holiday4 May 2026 · All four UK nations
- Spring bank holiday25 May 2026 · All four UK nations
- Summer bank holiday31 August 2026 · England, Wales, Northern Ireland
- Christmas Day25 December 2026 · All four UK nations
- Boxing Day (substitute day)28 December 2026 · All four UK nations
Your saved holidays
Save any bank holiday with the star buttons on the calendar and holiday tables, then filter and export just the dates you care about.
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Exports include the holiday name, ISO date, display date, weekday, applicable nations and any substitute-day note. Saved holidays are stored only in this browser on this device — there is no account and nothing is sent to us.
Substitute days in 2026
When a bank holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, a substitute weekday is given so the holiday is not lost. In Wales that affects 1 date in 2026:
- Boxing Day (substitute day) — observed Monday 28 December 2026. 26 December falls on a Saturday, so the holiday moves to Monday 28 December.
How the 2026 calendar is shaped
- 5 of the 8 dates fall on a Monday, creating that many three-day weekends.
- The longest stretch without a bank holiday is 116 days, between Summer bank holiday (31 August 2026) and Christmas Day (25 December 2026).
- The year opens with New Year's Day on Thursday 1 January 2026 and closes with Boxing Day (substitute day) on Monday 28 December 2026.
St David's Day on 1 March is celebrated across Wales and is regularly proposed as a holiday, but it is not currently a statutory bank holiday, so it does not appear in the table.
Compare 2026 with other years and nations
- Wales bank holidays 2025
- Wales bank holidays 2027
- England bank holidays 2026
- Scotland bank holidays 2026
- Northern Ireland bank holidays 2026
Independent information
Wales bank holidays 2026: FAQs
How many bank holidays are there in Wales in 2026?
There are 8 bank holidays in Wales in 2026: New Year's Day on 1 January 2026; Good Friday on 3 April 2026; Easter Monday on 6 April 2026; Early May bank holiday on 4 May 2026; Spring bank holiday on 25 May 2026; Summer bank holiday on 31 August 2026; Christmas Day on 25 December 2026; Boxing Day (substitute day) on 28 December 2026.
When is the first bank holiday in Wales in 2026?
New Year's Day on Thursday 1 January 2026 is the first Wales bank holiday of 2026.
When is the last bank holiday in Wales in 2026?
Boxing Day (substitute day) on Monday 28 December 2026 is the final Wales bank holiday of 2026.
Are there any substitute bank holidays in Wales in 2026?
Yes. Boxing Day (substitute day) is observed on 28 December 2026. A substitute weekday is given when a bank holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday.
How many Wales bank holidays fall on a Monday in 2026?
5 of the 8 Wales bank holidays in 2026 fall on a Monday, which is what creates most of the year's three-day weekends.
What is the longest gap between Wales bank holidays in 2026?
The longest stretch without a bank holiday runs 116 days, from Summer bank holiday on 31 August 2026 to Christmas Day on 25 December 2026.
Are banks open on Wales bank holidays in 2026?
High street branches are usually closed on bank holidays, while apps, online banking, cash machines and card payments normally keep working. Bacs, Direct Debits, CHAPS and cheque clearing follow working-day cycles and pause on bank holidays. Always check with your own provider.