In 2025, England and Wales will observe eight bank holidays throughout the year. These holidays are set on different dates each year, influenced by occasions like Easter and Christmas. As 2024 comes to a close with only two bank holidays remaining, many are already planning for the upcoming breaks in the new year.
Unfortunately, there are no plans to add extra bank holidays in 2025 due to a lack of significant national celebrations on the horizon. The first bank holiday in 2025 falls on January 1, followed by Good Friday just over three months later. Easter in 2025 will occur later than in the previous year, with Good Friday on April 18 and Easter Monday on April 21.
May will feature two bank holidays on Monday, May 5, and Monday, May 26. The summer bank holiday will take place on Monday, August 25, towards the end of the school summer holidays. The year will conclude with the Christmas bank holidays on Thursday, December 25, and Friday, December 26.
Looking ahead to 2026, the Government has already released the list of bank holidays for that year as well. The bank holidays for 2025 and 2026 are as follows:
Bank holidays 2025:
1 January – Wednesday – New Year’s Day
18 April – Friday – Good Friday
21 April – Monday – Easter Monday
5 May – Monday – Early May bank holiday
26 May – Monday – Spring bank holiday
25 August – Monday – Summer bank holiday
25 December – Thursday – Christmas Day
26 December – Friday – Boxing Day
Bank holidays 2026:
1 January – Thursday – New Year’s Day
3 April – Friday – Good Friday
6 April – Monday – Easter Monday
4 May – Monday – Early May bank holiday
25 May – Monday – Spring bank holiday
31 August – Monday – Summer bank holiday
25 December – Friday – Christmas Day
28 December – Monday – Boxing Day (substitute day)
These dates provide a guide for planning time off and enjoying the scheduled breaks throughout the upcoming years.