When is next bank holiday and how to get ‘extra’ days off | UK | News

As we move deeper into January, many people are starting to look forward to warmer weather and much-needed breaks from work. For some, annual leave is reset at the beginning of the calendar year and new leave days are provided.

There are ways to extend this permission further. If you’re entitled to weekends and bank holidays as standard, you can look forward to a few long weekends in 2026, thanks to eight bank holidays planned for England and Wales this year.

The next public holiday has been set for Friday, April 3 (Good Friday), as Easter Sunday falls on April 5 this year. This means that Monday 6 April (Easter Monday) is also a public holiday.

If you don’t work on weekends or public holidays, this means a four-day break.

You can also strategically book leave for specific dates, using only eight days of leave and extending it to a whopping 14 days of leave.

You will need to make a reservation for Monday and Tuesday, 30 and 31 March, Wednesday and Thursday, 1 and 2 April, and Tuesday and Friday, 7-10 April.

Other long weekends will occur in May, with bank holidays on the first Monday (4 May) and last Monday (25 May), and in August with the summer bank holiday on Monday 31 August.

Bank holidays in England and Wales in 2026

Thursday, January 1 – New Year’s Day

Friday, April 3 – Good Friday

Monday, April 6 – Easter Monday

Monday, May 4 – Public holiday at the beginning of May

Monday, May 25 – Spring break

Monday, August 31 – Summer public holiday

Friday, December 25 – Christmas Day

Monday 28 December – Boxing Day (replacement day)