In England and Wales, eight bank holidays are recognised every year whilst Scotland enjoys nine annually, and Northern Ireland enjoys 10. Employers are not obliged to give paid leave on public or bank holidays.
Wages and benefits may also be affected by bank holidays – for example, HMRC and DWP normally pay any due on a bank holiday the last working day before. The three remaining bank holidays in England and Wales consist of the summer bank holiday, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. That means the next bank holiday will be on August 25, followed by December 25 and December 26.
Scotland celebrated its summer bank holiday yesterday (August 4), rather than at the end of the month.
The nation will also celebrate St Andrew’s Day on December 1 before Christmas.
The other three UK nations will enjoy their next bank holiday more than 17 weeks after August 25, on Christmas Day.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland has seen seven bank holidays in 2025, commemorating the Battle of the Boyne last month, on July 14.
Upcoming bank holidays in 2025:
August 25 – Summer bank holiday
December 1 – St Andrew’s Day (Scotland)
December 25 – Christmas Day
December 26 – Boxing Day
Bank holidays in 2026:
January 1 – New Year’s Day
January 2 – New Year Holiday (Scotland)
March 17 – St Patrick’s Day (Northern Ireland)
April 3 – Good Friday
April 6 – Easter Monday
May 4 – Early May bank holiday
May 25 – Spring bank holiday
July 13 – Battle of the Boyne (Northern Ireland)
August 3 – Summer Bank Holiday (Scotland)
August 31 – Summer bank holiday
November 30 – St Andrew’s Day (Scotland)
December 25 – Christmas Day
December 28 – Boxing Day (substitute day)