Public · regional coverage · Confirmed — source checked
Official name: Early May bank holiday. Applies to England. England and Wales share this bank holiday calendar. Check employer and institution opening arrangements. Official source
Early May Bank Holiday (May Day) in the United Kingdom
This national overview identifies holiday occasions. Public holiday dates, substitute days and school calendars depend on the country or region. Use your jurisdiction calendar for closures and countdowns.
Regional calendars
Choose your jurisdiction for public holidays, substitute dates, local exceptions and school calendars.
About this calendar
May Day is listed by GOV.UK as the Early May bank holiday. Use the published annual date; this is not automatically 1 May.
Coverage
Compare the dated entries by region below. A substitute bank holiday is distinct from the original occasion date; school and employer arrangements require separate checks.
Dates and coverage by jurisdiction — 2026
Additional and substitute dates are separate entries. Local and sector-only holidays apply only to the areas or institutions specified.
England
Northern Ireland
Public · regional coverage · Confirmed — source checked
Official name: Early May bank holiday. Applies to Northern Ireland. Check employer and institution opening arrangements. Official source
Scotland
Public · regional coverage · Confirmed — source checked
Official name: Early May bank holiday. Applies to Scotland. Check employer and institution opening arrangements. Official source
Wales
Public · regional coverage · Confirmed — source checked
Official name: Early May bank holiday. Applies to Wales. England and Wales share this bank holiday calendar. Check employer and institution opening arrangements. Official source
Missing entries do not establish that a jurisdiction has no holiday. Check its calendar for pending official dates and local exceptions.
Background
The official UK calendar has three divisions: England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Existing England and Wales pages are retained separately with the same bank holiday dates.
Workplaces
Bank holiday status does not by itself establish paid leave or closure for every workplace. Check your employment contract and employer arrangements before requesting leave.
Banks
Use the official bank holiday calendar for the relevant UK country. Branch hours, payment processing and settlement arrangements may differ; check your bank for time-sensitive transactions.
Schools
School terms and holidays follow local authority and school arrangements. This site includes named council examples and Northern Ireland department dates, with their scope shown. INSET days and individual school exceptions remain separate.
Planning
Select the destination calendar before planning a break. Scotland has a different August bank holiday; local school breaks can affect demand independently of bank holidays. Check transport timetables and opening hours.
Frequently asked questions
Do England and Wales share bank holidays?
Yes. Their published bank holiday schedules match. Scotland and Northern Ireland have distinct calendars and extra dates.
Are school holidays uniform across the UK?
No. Council and school calendars differ. The named local-authority examples below are limited coverage, not country-wide school closures.
Holiday guides
Official sources
UK Government (GOV.UK): School calendar
nidirect (Northern Ireland Government): Bank holidays and coverage