New Year’s Day in the United Kingdom
View the global New Year's Day guide
The bank holiday is 1 January, with a substitute weekday when it falls at a weekend.
New Year's Day
Holiday
United Kingdom
Country
2026
Next Date Year
Thursday
Day
Jan
01
January 1, 2026
New Year's Day Date in United Kingdom
Date
January 1, 2026
Day
Thursday
Public Holiday
Yes
Bank Holiday
Yes
Date Confirmed
Yes
New Year's Day Dates in United Kingdom
New Year's Day 2026
- Confirmed Official England & Wales bank holiday; GOV.UK.
New Year's Day 2027
- Confirmed Official England & Wales bank holiday; GOV.UK.
New Year's 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 New Year's Day
New Year marks the start of the civil calendar. Hogmanay has particular cultural importance in Scotland.
Importance of New Year's 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 New Year's Day Is Celebrated in United Kingdom
New Year marks the start of the civil calendar. Hogmanay has particular cultural importance in Scotland.
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
New Year engineering work and holiday timetables vary across Britain and Northern Ireland; check the actual bank holiday and any substitute weekday.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is New Year’s 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.