A long weekend typically means a Friday or Monday bank holiday, creating a 3-day break (Saturday–Sunday plus the holiday).
Long weekend 2026 in UK: Full month-by-month guide to UK bank holidays in England, Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland.
January long weekend 2026
England & Wales
- Thursday, 1 January – New Year’s Day (no long weekend)
Scotland
- Thursday, 1 January – New Year’s Day
- Friday, 2 January – 2nd January holiday
This creates a 4-day break (Thu–Sun) if you normally work weekends off
Northern Ireland
- Thursday, 1 January – New Year’s Day (no long weekend)
✅ Best January long weekend: Scotland only
February long weekend 2026
There are no UK-wide bank holidays in February 2026.
❌ No natural long weekend across the UK.
March long weekend 2026
Northern Ireland
- Tuesday, 17 March – St Patrick’s Day
If you take Monday off, you create a 4-day break (Sat–Tue)
England, Wales & Scotland
- No March bank holidays.
⚠️ St David’s Day (1 March) is not a bank holiday in Wales
April long weekend 2026
England, Wales & Northern Ireland
- Friday, 3 April – Good Friday
- Monday, 6 April – Easter Monday
This creates a 4-day Easter weekend (Fri–Mon)
Scotland
- Friday, 3 April – Good Friday
(Easter Monday is not a standard Scottish bank holiday)
✅ Best April long weekend: England, Wales & Northern Ireland (4 days)
May long weekend 2026
UK-wide (all nations)
- Monday, 4 May – Early May Bank Holiday
- Monday, 25 May – Spring Bank Holiday
Both create standard 3-day weekends (Sat–Mon)
✅ Two long weekends in May across the UK.
June long weekend 2026
Scotland only
- Monday, 15 June – Special World Cup bank holiday
This was officially confirmed as a national bank holiday in Scotland
Creates a 3-day weekend (Sat–Mon).
Other UK nations: ❌ No June bank holiday.
July long weekend 2026
Northern Ireland
- Monday, 13 July – Battle of the Boyne (substitute day)
Creates a 3-day weekend (Sat–Mon)
No July bank holidays elsewhere in the UK.
August long weekend 2026
Scotland
- Monday, 3 August – Summer Bank Holiday (Scotland)
→ 3-day weekend
England, Wales & Northern Ireland
- Monday, 31 August – Summer Bank Holiday
→ 3-day weekend
✅ August gives at least one long weekend everywhere in the UK.
September long weekend 2026
No bank holidays in September 2026 across the UK.
❌ No long weekend.
October long weekend 2026
No UK bank holidays in October 2026.
❌ No long weekend.
November long weekend 2026
Scotland
- Monday, 30 November – St Andrew’s Day
Creates a 3-day weekend (Sat–Mon).
Other UK nations: ❌ None.
December long weekend 2026
UK-wide
- Friday, 25 December – Christmas Day
- Monday, 28 December – Boxing Day (substitute day)
Because Boxing Day falls on Saturday 26 December, the substitute holiday moves to Monday 28 December
This creates a 4-day festive break (Fri–Mon).
Quick Summary: Best Long Weekends in 2026 in United Kingdom
| Month | Long Weekend Type | Where |
|---|---|---|
| January | 4 days | Scotland |
| April | 4 days | England, Wales, Northern Ireland |
| May | 2× 3-day weekends | UK-wide |
| June | 3 days | Scotland |
| July | 3 days | Northern Ireland |
| August | 3 days | All nations (different dates) |
| November | 3 days | Scotland |
| December | 4 days | UK-wide |
Important Notes
- Bank holidays differ between England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
- Employers are not legally required to give paid leave on bank holidays.
- Substitute days apply when holidays fall on weekends.
Also see: Holidays in United Kingdom 2026