Is Boxing Day a Bank Holiday? (2026)
Yes — Boxing Day is a UK bank holiday, but in 2026 you won’t get the day off on December 26 itself. Because Boxing Day 2026 falls on a Saturday, the bank holiday moves to Monday, December 28 as a substitute day — in England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland alike. Check the live answer on our UK bank holiday checker.
Banks across the UK close on Monday, December 28, 2026. The Saturday itself was never a banking day anyway, so the practical effect is a four-day Christmas weekend: Friday December 25 (Christmas Day) through Monday December 28.
How substitute days work
When a UK bank holiday falls on a weekend, the government designates the next available weekday as a substitute bank holiday — the closure moves, it isn’t lost. The official gov.uk bank holiday calendar lists the substitute date as the bank holiday, which is the date our checker uses.
In 2026 both Christmas bank holidays shift: Christmas Day (Friday, December 25) needs no substitute, but Boxing Day (Saturday, December 26) moves to Monday, December 28. The result is back-to-back closures on the 25th and 28th.
Boxing Day in each UK nation
England & Wales: substitute bank holiday on Monday, December 28, 2026. Scotland: same — Monday, December 28, 2026 (Scotland observes Boxing Day as a bank holiday too). Northern Ireland: same — Monday, December 28, 2026.
Unlike holidays such as Easter Monday (not observed in Scotland) or St Patrick’s Day (Northern Ireland only), Boxing Day is uniform: all three nations move together in 2026.
What’s open over the Christmas weekend
Bank branches close on December 25 and December 28. ATMs, online and mobile banking, Faster Payments and card payments work throughout — the UK’s payment rails don’t take bank holidays off.
One timing note: transfers initiated on Thursday, December 24 may not clear until Tuesday, December 29, since the 25th and 28th are both non-processing days. Send time-sensitive payments by December 23.
Boxing Day 2027 — a double substitute
In 2027 the weekend collision is worse: Christmas Day falls on Saturday, December 25 and Boxing Day on Sunday, December 26. Per the gov.uk calendar, the substitutes are Monday, December 27 (Christmas Day) and Tuesday, December 28 (Boxing Day) — banks close on both.
Our UK bank holidays 2027 page lists every substitute day once the official calendar is confirmed.
Quick answers
Is Boxing Day a bank holiday in 2026?
Yes, but observed on Monday, December 28, 2026 as a substitute day, because Boxing Day (December 26) falls on a Saturday. This applies in England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Are banks open on December 28, 2026?
No. Monday, December 28, 2026 is the substitute bank holiday for Boxing Day, so UK bank branches are closed.
What is a substitute bank holiday?
When a UK bank holiday falls on a weekend, the next weekday becomes the bank holiday instead. The closure moves to the substitute day — it is not lost.
Is Boxing Day a bank holiday in Scotland?
Yes. Scotland observes Boxing Day as a bank holiday, and in 2026 it moves to Monday, December 28 like the rest of the UK.
When is Boxing Day 2027?
Boxing Day 2027 (Sunday, December 26) will be observed on Tuesday, December 28, 2027 as a substitute day, with Christmas Day’s substitute on Monday, December 27.
Do ATMs work on Boxing Day?
Yes. ATMs, online banking, Faster Payments and card payments work normally on Boxing Day and its substitute day — only branch counters close.