Make the most out of the bank holidays in 2026 with Belhaven Pubs
The best part about being Scottish (apart from actually being Scottish) is definitely all the bank holidays. Which other country gives us NINE days off a year for nothing? Alright, maybe Northern Ireland trumps us with ten days, but nine's pretty close!
And, to celebrate Scotland's qualification for the World Cup this year, we've got an extra day of bank holiday in July that none of those lot in England, Wales or Northern Ireland get to enjoy. Ha!
Right, enough of that, let's get down to business. Want to know the dates your presence is needed at the pub? Read on...
When are the bank holidays in Scotland this year?
Thursday 1st January 2026 – New Year's Day Bank HolidayFriday 2nd January 2026 – 2nd January Bank Holiday
Friday 3rd April 2026 – Good Friday Bank Holiday
Monday 4th May 2026 – Early May Bank Holiday
Monday 25th May 2026 – Spring Bank Holiday
Monday 15th June 2026 – World Cup Bank Holiday
Monday 3rd August 2026 – Summer Bank Holiday
Monday 30th November 2026 – St Andrew's Day Bank Holiday
Friday 25th December 2026 – Christmas Day Bank Holiday
Monday 28th December 2026 – Boxing Day Bank Holiday
When are the bank holidays in England, Wales and Northern Ireland?
2026 bank holidays in England and Wales
Thursday 1st January 2026 – New Year's Day Bank HolidayFriday 3rd April 2026 – Good Friday Bank Holiday
Monday 6th April 2026 – Easter Monday Bank Holiday
Monday 4th May 2026 – Early May Bank Holiday
Monday 25th May 2026 – Spring Bank Holiday
Monday 31st August 2026 – Summer Bank Holiday
Friday 25th December 2026 – Christmas Day Bank Holiday
Monday 28th December 2026 – Boxing Day Bank Holiday
H4: 2026 bank holidays in Northern Ireland
Thursday 1st January 2026 – New Year's Day Bank Holiday
Tuesday 17th March 2026 – St Patrick's Day Bank Holiday
Friday 3rd April 2026 – Good Friday Bank Holiday
Monday 6th April 2026 – Easter Monday Bank Holiday
Monday 4th May 2026 – Early May Bank Holiday
Monday 25th May 2026 – Spring Bank Holiday
Monday 13th July 2026 – Battle Of The Boyne Bank Holiday
Monday 31st August 2026 – Summer Bank Holiday
Friday 25th December 2026 – Christmas Day Bank Holiday
Monday 28th December 2026 – Boxing Day Bank Holiday
How to spend the UK bank holidays
If there's one thing the UK, and especially Scotland, does well, it's celebrating a bank holiday. Whether it's the Summer Bank Holiday, a special bank holiday or one of the many bank holidays on Mondays in May, we go all out and make the most of our long weekends from January to December!
And, what better way to spend a bank holiday weekend than at the pub? There isn't one, and we'll tell you that for free. No matter if it's Sunday evening and you'll be waking up feeling rough on Monday, or it's Monday afternoon and you're making the most of a day off, keep your annual leave intact and maximise those bank holiday dates at the pub.
So, if you're looking for your new favourite bank holiday pubs, we've got you sorted. We've not only got pubs open on bank holidays, but we've got pubs that take bank holidays to the next level. Don't worry, Belhaven Pubs have you sorted.
For St Andrew's Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and the two January bank holidays at new year (and YES, we think Christmas Day should be spent at the pub – the same as the rest of December), getting a round in in a cosy, warm pub is probably the highlight of winter for us. Can you blame us? It's cold, wet and icy outside, and we much prefer those characteristics in a pint.
Whether you're all wholesome and bundled up by the fire, catching the game on our live sport screens or tucking into a hearty, warming plate of food, to us, bank holidays in November, December and January mean pubs!
Spring and summer bank holidays at the pub
We don't often see the sun up here, but when we do? We make the most of it. It's taps aff and orders in, especially when those sunny days fall on a bank holiday! From Good Friday through to the Summer Bank Holiday, we're making the most of that respite from rain and flocking to the beer gardens. Because there is no feeling like when the sun is shining on Spring Bank Holiday Monday!
And, while we might not get Easter Monday off like our counterparts in England and Wales, we still make the most of Easter weekend. We start on Thursday evening, get back to it on Good Friday and make the most of the weekend on Saturday and Sunday.
Brand new for 2026: the World Cup Bank Holiday!
Now THIS is the bank holiday to end all bank holidays! We've finally made it back to the World Cup and, now, it's official. We're getting a day off work for it! On Monday the 15th of June, there's only one place we'll be: at the pub, making the most of it. Scotland: let's bring it home!
Whether you need food to fuel your celebrations, or cure your hangover or drinks to get the party going, we've got you covered at our Belhaven sports pubs.
Find a pub for bank holidays 2026
Ready to make the most of these fabulous UK bank holidays? So are we! If there are upcoming bank holidays on the cards, you know where to go – just pop a postcode, town or city into our pub finder below and grab a table at your local. Leave the stress 'til Tuesday... It's basically bank holiday law.