When Is the August Bank Holiday 2026? Dates for England, Scotland, Wales, NI and Ireland
The August bank holiday is one of the most-anticipated dates in the UK calendar, marking the unofficial end of summer — but the date isn’t the same across the whole of the UK and Ireland, which catches plenty of people out each year.
August Bank Holiday 2026 Dates
| Nation | 2026 Date |
| England | Monday 31 August 2026 |
| Wales | Monday 31 August 2026 |
| Northern Ireland | Monday 31 August 2026 |
| Scotland | Monday 3 August 2026 |
| Ireland (Republic of Ireland) | Monday 3 August 2026 |
Why the Dates Are Different
In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the Summer Bank Holiday is fixed by statute as the last Monday in August. In 2026, August has five Mondays (3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, and 31st), so the holiday falls on the 31st — the latest possible date the holiday can land in any given year.
Scotland and Ireland take a different approach, observing their Summer/August Bank Holiday on the first Monday of August instead — meaning Scotland and Ireland’s August bank holiday in 2026 falls almost a full month before England, Wales, and Northern Ireland’s.
The history behind this split dates back to 1971, when the rules for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland were changed to the last Monday in August, partly to provide a more useful break closer to the start of the autumn school term. Scotland kept the earlier first-Monday date.
What This Means If You’re Travelling
The roughly four-week gap between the Scottish/Irish and England/Wales/NI dates is worth keeping in mind for anyone planning UK-wide travel around the August bank holiday. For example, anyone planning to combine a visit to Scotland with the August bank holiday weekend should check which date applies to wherever they’re heading, since assuming the dates match across the UK is a common and understandable mistake.
Making the Most of the Long Weekend
For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the August bank holiday falls before most schools return for the autumn term, which makes it one of the easier bank holidays to extend with annual leave — taking the days either side often costs fewer leave days relative to the length of the break compared with other times of year.
The August bank holiday weekend (Friday evening through Monday) is consistently one of the busiest UK travel periods, with coastal areas, national parks, and popular countryside destinations seeing a significant rise in visitors. Booking accommodation and travel well in advance is worth considering for popular destinations.
Full List of 2026 UK Bank Holidays (England and Wales)
- New Year’s Day — Thursday 1 January
- Good Friday — Friday 3 April
- Easter Monday — Monday 6 April
- Early May bank holiday — Monday 4 May
- Spring bank holiday — Monday 25 May
- Summer bank holiday — Monday 31 August
- Christmas Day — Friday 25 December
- Boxing Day (substitute day) — Monday 28 December
Scotland and Northern Ireland observe some additional or different dates — for example, Scotland’s Summer Bank Holiday falls in early August rather than late August, and Northern Ireland observes St Patrick’s Day and the Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day) as additional bank holidays.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the August bank holiday 2026 in England?
The August bank holiday (Summer Bank Holiday) in England falls on Monday 31 August 2026 — the last Monday of the month, as set by statute.
Is the August bank holiday the same date in Scotland?
No — Scotland’s Summer Bank Holiday falls on the first Monday of August, which in 2026 is Monday 3 August, almost a month before the equivalent holiday in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
When is the August bank holiday in Ireland?
The August Bank Holiday in the Republic of Ireland falls on the first Monday of August, which is Monday 3 August 2026 — the same date as Scotland’s Summer Bank Holiday.
Why does the August bank holiday fall on different dates across the UK?
England, Wales, and Northern Ireland fixed their Summer Bank Holiday as the last Monday in August following changes made in 1971, partly to provide a break closer to the autumn school term. Scotland retained the earlier first-Monday-of-August date used previously.
Is the August bank holiday always the last Monday of the month in England?
Yes, for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland — the Summer Bank Holiday is fixed as the last Monday in August every year, which means the exact date varies depending on how the calendar falls, but it’s always the final Monday of the month.
Final Thoughts
The key thing to remember about the August bank holiday is that “August bank holiday” doesn’t mean the same date across the UK and Ireland — England, Wales, and Northern Ireland take the last Monday in August (31 August 2026), while Scotland and Ireland take the first Monday (3 August 2026). Whichever date applies, the August bank holiday weekend is one of the busiest of the year for UK travel, so planning ahead for accommodation and days out pays off.