England and Wales Announce December 2026 Bank Holidays

In December 2026, England and Wales will observe two public bank holidays. Christmas Day will be officially recognized on Friday, December 25, 2026.

Since Boxing Day falls on a Saturday that year, a substitute bank holiday will be observed on Monday, December 28, 2026. This arrangement allows most employees to enjoy a four-day weekend from December 25 to December 28.

Bank holidays in England and Wales are designated days when workers are typically entitled to a day off, although specifics may vary based on individual employment contracts. Employees whose contracts do not explicitly include these days as additional leave may still be required to work, with their entitlement calculated as part of their overall annual leave allowance.

The government provides a weekday replacement for public holidays that fall on weekends to ensure that the working population retains the benefit of these holidays. No other bank holidays are scheduled for December 2026 in England and Wales.