LONDON – The UK’s bank holiday calendar is getting a proper rejig, with Boxing Day on the move and extra days slotted in for 2026 and 2027. It’s the kind of change that’ll have workers eyeing their calendars and bosses scrambling to update schedules. The government dropped the news quietly, but it’s a big deal for anyone who lives for those precious days off. Here’s everything you need to know, straight from the horse’s mouth.
The headline grabber is Boxing Day, that post-Christmas slump day when people usually nurse hangovers or brave the sales. In 2026 and 2027, it’s not happening on December 26 as usual. Why? Christmas Day in both years falls on a Friday, pushing Boxing Day to Saturday. That’s a weekend day, which feels like a bit of a swizz for workers expecting a proper lie-in. So, the government’s stepping in to shift the Boxing Day holiday to Monday, December 28 in both years. It’s a practical fix, ensuring folks get their day off without losing it to the weekend.
But there’s more. The government’s tossing in extra bank holidays to mark a big moment: King Charles III’s Coronation Anniversary. On May 8, 2026, the UK will get a one-off bank holiday to celebrate three years since the King’s coronation. Same deal on May 7, 2027, for the fourth anniversary. These extra days are a nod to the monarchy, but let’s be real – most people will just be chuffed to have another long weekend. The decision was confirmed in official statements from Whitehall, with the Department for Business and Trade laying out the plan in crisp detail.
This isn’t the first time the calendar’s been tweaked for royal milestones. Think back to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, when an extra day was added to make a four-day weekend. The coronation anniversaries are following a similar playbook, giving the public a chance to raise a glass – or a cuppa – to the King. The new holidays will apply across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, though Scotland’s bank holiday setup always has its own quirks, with local variations like St Andrew’s Day.
For 2026, the calendar’s looking generous. England and Wales will see Good Friday on April 2, Easter Monday on April 5, the Early May bank holiday on May 3, the Coronation Anniversary on May 8, the Spring bank holiday on May 31, the Summer bank holiday on August 30, Christmas Day on December 25, and the shifted Boxing Day on December 28. Scotland and Northern Ireland will follow suit, with their usual tweaks – Scotland’s got its New Year holidays, and Northern Ireland has St Patrick’s Day and the Battle of the Boyne.
The 2027 lineup is much the same, with the Coronation Anniversary holiday falling on May 7 and Boxing Day again moved to December 28. The government’s been clear: these changes are locked in, with proclamations issued under the Bank Holidays Act 1971. No last-minute surprises here – the dates were set after consultations with devolved administrations to keep everyone on the same page.
Businesses are already bracing for the impact. Retail and hospitality, which lean hard on bank holidays for foot traffic, will need to plan around the shifted Boxing Day. Workers in those sectors might find their schedules flipped, but for office types, it’s a win – an extra Monday off is nothing to sniff at. The government’s also flagged that these changes won’t mess with existing employment rights, so no one’s losing out on their statutory leave.
The announcement came on April 16, 2025, tucked into a broader update on public holidays. It’s not exactly front-page drama, but it’s the kind of practical news that hits home when you’re circling dates for a holiday or a cheeky city break. For now, the calendar’s set, and the UK’s got a few more days to kick back in the coming years.
King Charles III’s coronation was on May 6, 2023. The extra bank holidays in 2026 and 2027 apply UK-wide. The Boxing Day shift to December 28 in both years is mandatory for all UK nations. The changes were gazetted in official notices on April 16, 2025.