Bank holiday guide
Christmas Day and the Christmas Bank Holidays
Christmas Day and Boxing Day are bank holidays in every part of the UK. When 25 or 26 December falls on a weekend, the bank holiday is taken on a weekday afterwards, which is why 27 or 28 December is sometimes a day off.
Next Christmas Day bank holiday
Boxing Day bank holiday: Monday 28 December 2026
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Then Monday 27 December 2027.
The short answer
Yes. Christmas Day is a bank holiday in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Is 27 or 28 December a bank holiday?
It depends on the weekday of Christmas Day. Monday to Thursday: the bank holidays are 25 and 26 December. Friday: 25 December and Monday 28 December.
Saturday: Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December. Sunday: Boxing Day keeps Monday 26 and the Christmas Day bank holiday moves to Tuesday 27 December.
Christmas bank holiday dates 2026 to 2035
Upcoming dates for the next ten years. Select a year for every bank holiday in it.
| Year | Christmas Day bank holiday | Boxing Day bank holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Substitute day | |
| 2027 | Substitute day | Substitute day |
| 2028 | ||
| 2029 | ||
| 2030 | ||
| 2031 | ||
| 2032 | Substitute day | Substitute day |
| 2033 | Substitute day | |
| 2034 | ||
| 2035 |
Show every Christmas Day date from 1971 to 2050
| Year | Christmas Day bank holiday | Boxing Day bank holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Substitute day | Substitute day |
| 1972 | ||
| 1973 | ||
| 1974 | ||
| 1975 | ||
| 1976 | Substitute day | Substitute day |
| 1977 | Substitute day | |
| 1978 | ||
| 1979 | ||
| 1980 | ||
| 1981 | Substitute day | |
| 1982 | Substitute day | Substitute day |
| 1983 | Substitute day | |
| 1984 | ||
| 1985 | ||
| 1986 | ||
| 1987 | Substitute day | |
| 1988 | Substitute day | |
| 1989 | ||
| 1990 | ||
| 1991 | ||
| 1992 | Substitute day | |
| 1993 | Substitute day | Substitute day |
| 1994 | Substitute day | |
| 1995 | ||
| 1996 | ||
| 1997 | ||
| 1998 | Substitute day | |
| 1999 | Substitute day | Substitute day |
| 2000 | ||
| 2001 | ||
| 2002 | ||
| 2003 | ||
| 2004 | Substitute day | Substitute day |
| 2005 | Substitute day | |
| 2006 | ||
| 2007 | ||
| 2008 | ||
| 2009 | Substitute day | |
| 2010 | Substitute day | Substitute day |
| 2011 | Substitute day | |
| 2012 | ||
| 2013 | ||
| 2014 | ||
| 2015 | Substitute day | |
| 2016 | Substitute day | |
| 2017 | ||
| 2018 | ||
| 2019 | ||
| 2020 | Substitute day | |
| 2021 | Substitute day | Substitute day |
| 2022 | Substitute day | |
| 2023 | ||
| 2024 | ||
| 2025 | ||
| 2026 | Substitute day | |
| 2027 | Substitute day | Substitute day |
| 2028 | ||
| 2029 | ||
| 2030 | ||
| 2031 | ||
| 2032 | Substitute day | Substitute day |
| 2033 | Substitute day | |
| 2034 | ||
| 2035 | ||
| 2036 | ||
| 2037 | Substitute day | |
| 2038 | Substitute day | Substitute day |
| 2039 | Substitute day | |
| 2040 | ||
| 2041 | ||
| 2042 | ||
| 2043 | Substitute day | |
| 2044 | Substitute day | |
| 2045 | ||
| 2046 | ||
| 2047 | ||
| 2048 | Substitute day | |
| 2049 | Substitute day | Substitute day |
| 2050 | Substitute day |
Dates follow the official GOV.UK bank holiday list where published. Later years are calculated from the statutory rules and can change if a holiday is added or moved by royal proclamation.
Christmas and New Year bank holidays 2026/27: day by day
Every day from Christmas Eve to 4 January, and whether it is a bank holiday in each part of the UK.
| Date | England & Wales | Scotland | N. Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal day | Normal day | Normal day | |
| Christmas Day | Christmas Day | Christmas Day | |
| Weekend | Weekend | Weekend | |
| Weekend | Weekend | Weekend | |
| Boxing Day (substitute) | Boxing Day (substitute) | Boxing Day (substitute) | |
| Normal day | Normal day | Normal day | |
| Normal day | Normal day | Normal day | |
| Normal day | Normal day | Normal day | |
| New Year's Day | New Year's Day | New Year's Day | |
| Weekend | Weekend | Weekend | |
| Weekend | Weekend | Weekend | |
| Normal day | 2nd January (substitute) | Normal day |
Christmas bank holidays 2026, 2027 and 2028
How Christmas Day, Boxing Day and the New Year's Day that follows fall over the next three winters.
| Christmas | Christmas Day bank holiday | Boxing Day bank holiday | New Year's Day bank holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Substitute day | ||
| 2027 | Substitute day | Substitute day | Substitute day |
| 2028 |
Is Christmas Eve a bank holiday?
No. 24 December is a normal working day in law, however quiet it feels. Many employers close at lunchtime or give the afternoon as a goodwill gesture, but that is a matter of custom or contract.
What's open on Christmas Day: shops, pubs, petrol stations and trains
- Large shops must close. The Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004 bans shops over 280 square metres from opening in England and Wales, and Scotland has had its own ban on large shops since 2007.
- Small convenience stores and some pharmacies may open.
- Pubs: many open for a few hours around lunchtime, often for pre-booked meals only.
- Petrol stations: some open, mainly at motorway services and larger forecourts.
- Trains: almost none run, and most bus networks stop for the day.
- Post Office branches and banks are closed.
Christmas shutdowns and annual leave
Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day sit within eight days of each other. Booking the working days in between usually turns three or four days of annual leave into ten or more days away from work.
An employer can decide to shut over Christmas and require staff to use holiday for the closure, as long as it gives notice of at least twice the length of the leave.
Christmas Day: questions
Is Christmas Day a bank holiday?
Yes, across the UK. The next Christmas Day bank holiday is Friday 25 December 2026.
When are the Christmas bank holidays in 2026?
The Christmas Day bank holiday is Friday 25 December 2026 and the Boxing Day bank holiday is Monday 28 December 2026.
Is Christmas Eve a bank holiday?
No. Christmas Eve, 24 December, is not a bank holiday in any part of the UK.
Is 28th December a bank holiday?
Only in years when Christmas Day is a Friday or Saturday. It is then the substitute day for Boxing Day.
Is 27th December a bank holiday?
Only in years when Christmas Day is a Saturday or Sunday. It is then the substitute day for Christmas Day.
How many bank holidays are there over Christmas and New Year?
Three in England, Wales and Northern Ireland: Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Scotland has a fourth on 2 January.
Do trains run on Christmas Day?
Almost none. The national rail network effectively shuts down on Christmas Day and most bus services stop too.
Are any shops open on Christmas Day?
Large shops are required by law to close in England, Wales and Scotland. Smaller shops may open if they choose.
Are pubs open on Christmas Day?
Many are, usually for a few hours at lunchtime. Opening is up to each pub, so check and book ahead.
Are petrol stations open on Christmas Day?
Some are, mostly at motorway services and larger sites. Fill up beforehand if you can.
Can my employer make me use annual leave over Christmas?
Yes. Employers can require staff to take leave during a Christmas shutdown if they give notice of at least twice the length of the leave.
Do I get Christmas Day off work?
Only if your contract says so. A bank holiday gives no automatic right to time off or extra pay, and employers can count it as part of your 5.6 weeks of statutory annual leave.