Boxing Day in the United Kingdom
View the global Boxing Day guide
The holiday is 26 December; the listed bank holiday may be a substitute weekday.
Boxing Day
Holiday
United Kingdom
Country
2026
Next Date Year
Monday
Day
Dec
28
December 28, 2026
Boxing Day Date in United Kingdom
Date
December 28, 2026
Day
Monday
Public Holiday
Yes
Bank Holiday
Yes
Date Confirmed
Yes
Boxing Day Dates in United Kingdom
Boxing Day 2026
- Confirmed Official England & Wales Boxing Day substitute bank holiday; GOV.UK.
Boxing Day 2027
- Confirmed Official England & Wales Boxing Day substitute bank holiday; GOV.UK.
Boxing Day 2028
- Confirmed 2028 England & Wales bank holiday derived from statutory calendar rule; verify against GOV.UK when the 2028 calendar is published.
History of Boxing Day
Boxing Day is associated with visits, sport, shopping and charitable traditions.
Importance of Boxing Day
Bank holidays differ among England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. A bank holiday also does not automatically create a legal right to paid leave; entitlement depends on the employment contract and statutory annual leave rules.
How Boxing Day Is Celebrated in United Kingdom
Boxing Day is associated with visits, sport, shopping and charitable traditions.
Office Impact
Many public offices close, but essential services continue. Check the relevant UK nation and organisation because the bank-holiday calendars are not identical.
Bank Impact
Bank branches generally close and payment processing may shift. Online services remain available, subject to settlement timetables.
School Impact
School terms are set locally and vary across the UK. Check the relevant council, school or education authority rather than treating the bank-holiday list as a complete school calendar.
Travel Information
Boxing Day transport varies substantially by operator and nation; verify 26 December and any substitute weekday independently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Boxing Day in the United Kingdom a bank holiday everywhere in the UK?
Check the relevant nation. Easter Monday, for example, is not a statutory bank holiday in Scotland.
Does everyone receive paid leave?
No. Employers may count bank holidays within statutory annual leave.
Where are official dates published?
GOV.UK publishes separate lists for England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Regional variations
This holiday has region-specific dates or observance.