New Aldi Stores Opening 2026: Full UK Location List, Expansion Plans, and Store Closures
Aldi announced 16 new UK store locations on 16 June 2026 as part of its ongoing £370 million investment in expansion this year. The announcement — the latest in a series that has been running throughout 2025 and into 2026 — confirmed new stores including two in Newport (one on the Isle of Wight, one in South Wales), locations across London, and stores in the Midlands, North of England, and Wales. Here’s the full confirmed list, the broader context of Aldi’s UK expansion ambitions, and why some Aldi stores are temporarily closed at any given time.
The 16 New Aldi Stores Announced on 16 June 2026
Aldi’s official press announcement on 16 June 2026 confirmed the following UK locations as next in line for new stores:
| Location | Region |
| Hattersley | Greater Manchester |
| Newport | Isle of Wight |
| Bishops Cleeve | Cheltenham, Gloucestershire |
| Newport | South Wales |
| Orpington | London |
| Hoxton | London |
| Ashford | Kent |
| Watford | London (Hertfordshire border) |
| Rayleigh | Essex |
| Balsall Common | West Midlands |
| Marble Arch | London |
| Malton | North Yorkshire |
| Port Talbot | Wales |
| Sutton Coldfield | West Midlands |
| Wigan | Greater Manchester |
| Sudbury | Suffolk |
The announcement also follows the recent opening of Aldi’s Salford Quays store. Specific opening dates for the 16 new locations had not been confirmed at the time of the announcement, but Aldi indicated they would open in the coming months. Aldi’s managing director of national real estate Jonathan Neale said the £370 million investment in new stores in 2026 is designed to bring Aldi’s value to more communities while supporting local economies through its pay offer for colleagues.
New Aldi Newport: Isle of Wight or South Wales?
The ‘new aldi newport’ search query reflects genuine interest in both of Aldi’s planned Newport locations, which were announced simultaneously. There are two distinct Newports getting a new Aldi:
- Newport, Isle of Wight: A new store on the island, which would give Isle of Wight residents an Aldi without needing to travel to the mainland
- Newport, South Wales: A store in Newport, the Welsh city near Cardiff — an area that Aldi had previously identified as a target market for expansion
Both locations were included in the same June 2026 announcement, making this the first time two Newports have featured in the same Aldi expansion batch. If you’re searching for the Newport Aldi specifically, both locations are confirmed for opening in the coming months — exact dates will be confirmed closer to opening and will appear on the Aldi store finder.
Aldi’s 2026 UK Expansion: The Full Picture
The June 2026 announcement of 16 stores is part of a significantly larger expansion programme:
- Target for 2026: Approximately 40 new UK stores, with £370 million invested in new openings this year
- Long-term goal: Aldi aims to grow from its current base of around 1,080 stores to 1,500 stores across the UK — an addition of roughly 420 more stores over the coming years
- 2026 and 2027 combined: Aldi has committed to spending £1.6 billion on opening 80 new stores across 2026 and 2027 combined
- January 2026: Aldi announced its ambition of approximately 40 new stores for the year as part of its long-term growth strategy
Aldi’s national real estate team is continuously evaluating new sites. The company also invites members of the public to suggest locations through its website — the most popular suggestions are reviewed by the property team as part of its ongoing search for suitable sites.
What Happened in 2025: Context for the 2026 Expansion
The 2026 expansion follows an extremely active 2025, during which Aldi opened approximately 40 stores across the UK. Key milestones from 2025 included:
- Summer 2025 openings (announced June 2025): Brighouse (West Yorkshire), Oldbury (West Midlands), Caterham (Surrey), Sheffield, Deeside (Wales), Fulham Broadway (London), Diss (Norfolk), Hilton (Derbyshire), West Denton/Newcastle, and Market Harborough (Leicestershire)
- Further summer openings: Eastbourne, Nelson/Treharris (Wales), Shoreditch/Commercial Street (London), Houghton le Spring (Tyne and Wear), Meadowfield/Durham, Litherland/Liverpool, and Brimington/Chesterfield
- Late 2025 batch (November to December 12, 2025): Philadelphia/Tyne and Wear, Litherland/Sefton/Liverpool, Market Rasen, Kirkintilloch/Scotland, Billericay/Queens Park Avenue, Kentish Town/London, Arbroath/Scotland, Cheadle, Baillieston/Scotland, Hove, Pershore, Yate/Gloucestershire, Northallerton/North Yorkshire, Uxbridge/London, Daventry/Northamptonshire, Old Kent Road/London
Aldi spent £650 million on expansion in 2025. That figure rises to £800 million for 2024, reflecting the scale of investment the retailer has been committing to its UK growth over multiple years.
Is Aldi Closing Down? Why Some Stores Are Temporarily Shut
Searches for ‘aldi closing down’ and ‘aldi store closures’ reflect a persistent misconception that is regularly amplified on social media. The reality is straightforward: Aldi is not closing down. The company is in an active phase of expansion, spending hundreds of millions of pounds annually on opening new stores. Any nationwide store closure programme would be completely at odds with the trajectory of the business.
What does happen — and this is the source of most ‘closure’ sightings — is Project Fresh. This is Aldi’s ongoing refurbishment programme, under which individual stores close temporarily (typically for 14 to 21 days) to undergo a significant refit. A Project Fresh refit typically involves:
- A new entrance lobby and updated exterior signage
- Additional car parking spaces
- Installation of new sustainable refrigeration units (part of Aldi’s environmental commitments)
- An improved in-store bakery section
- Relocation of the Specialbuys middle aisle for better customer flow
- A broader chilled food offering with increased aisle space
When an Aldi in your area temporarily closes for a refit, this is a positive sign — the store is being upgraded. Stores reopen with improved facilities, and the refurbishment typically takes less than a month. Local notices are placed in advance, and the Aldi store finder will show the store as temporarily closed with a reopening date where available.
Aldi Store Closure Dates: What the Search Actually Means
The high search volume for ‘aldi uk store closure dates’ almost certainly reflects people trying to find out when their local Aldi is closing for Christmas or Easter — not a list of permanent closures. That information is covered in detail in our separate guide to Aldi’s bank holiday and Christmas opening hours, which explains the annual closure pattern across all UK bank holidays.
For permanent closures: these do occasionally happen when a lease ends or a location no longer fits the commercial criteria — but they are individual, uncommon decisions rather than a pattern of retreat. When a permanent closure occurs in a given town, it is usually followed by activity to find a better-located replacement site in the same area, consistent with the growth strategy.
How to Find Out If a New Aldi Is Opening Near You
There are several ways to stay informed about new Aldi openings in your area:
- Aldi store finder (aldi.co.uk/store-finder): The official store finder is updated as new stores are confirmed and opened. New stores appear on the map once their opening is imminent
- Aldi UK Press Centre (aldipresscentre.co.uk): Aldi publishes all new store announcements directly on its press site, typically in batches of 10-16 stores at a time
- Aldi’s ‘Tell Aldi’ or location suggestion tool: Aldi actively invites the public to suggest locations where they would like to see a new store. Suggestions with strong local interest are reviewed by the national real estate team
- Local news coverage: Regional news sites and newspapers typically report on new planning applications and confirmed openings in their coverage areas well before the official announcement
- Planning permission searches: Aldi typically submits planning applications through local councils before an announcement — checking your local council’s planning portal for ‘Aldi’ as applicant can give early notice of intentions in your area
Aldi Colleague Pay in 2026
The June 2026 announcement also reiterated Aldi’s current pay rates for store colleagues, following a £42 million investment in pay during 2026. Store assistant pay now starts at £13.50 per hour nationally, rising to £14.47 based on length of service. Colleagues working within the M25 receive £14.88 per hour, increasing to £15.20 with service. Aldi has consistently positioned its pay rates as above the industry average for supermarket colleagues, and the wage structure is a stated part of its strategy to attract and retain staff as it expands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the new Aldi stores opening in 2026?
The 16 stores announced on 16 June 2026 are: Hattersley (Greater Manchester), Newport (Isle of Wight), Bishops Cleeve (Cheltenham), Newport (South Wales), Orpington, Hoxton, Watford, Marble Arch (all London), Rayleigh (Essex), Balsall Common and Sutton Coldfield (West Midlands), Malton (North Yorkshire), Port Talbot (Wales), Wigan (Greater Manchester), and Sudbury (Suffolk).
Is Aldi opening a store in Newport?
Yes — two. The June 2026 expansion announcement included both Newport on the Isle of Wight and Newport in South Wales as confirmed new locations.
Is Aldi closing down?
No. Aldi is actively expanding across the UK, with a target of approximately 40 new stores in 2026 and a long-term ambition to grow from around 1,080 to 1,500 UK stores. Temporary closures that appear to be ‘shutdowns’ are almost always Project Fresh refurbishments, which typically last 14-21 days.
How many Aldi stores are there in the UK?
Aldi has approximately 1,080 stores in the UK as of mid-2026, with a long-term target of 1,500 stores across the country.
How do I suggest a new Aldi location?
Aldi invites location suggestions from the public through its website. Popular suggestions are reviewed by its national real estate team. You can also check the Aldi store finder at aldi.co.uk and local planning portals for any planning applications in your area.
Final Thoughts
The trajectory for Aldi in 2026 is unambiguously one of growth. With 16 new stores announced in a single batch in June 2026, a £370 million annual investment in new openings, and a long-term target of 1,500 UK stores that requires hundreds of additional locations, the picture of a retailer in retreat simply does not match the facts. For communities hoping for a new local Aldi, the best practical steps are to check the store finder regularly, follow Aldi’s press announcements, and — if your area genuinely lacks convenient access — use Aldi’s own suggestion tool to register local demand.