Summer Bank Holiday
United Kingdom · 2026
About Summer Bank Holiday
The Summer Bank Holiday is a public holiday in the United Kingdom observed on the last Monday of August in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and on the first Monday of August in Scotland. It is the last bank holiday of summer before Christmas.
The August bank holiday was established by the Bank Holidays Act 1871, originally on the first Monday in August for all of Britain. It was moved to the last Monday of August in 1971 for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland — giving workers a late summer holiday — while Scotland retained the earlier August date.
The August Bank Holiday effectively marks the end of summer in Britain, with many people taking last-minute summer breaks before the new school term begins.
Quick Facts
- Date 2026
- August 3, 2026
- Day
- Monday
- Type
- Public
- Scope
- Regional
- Fixed Date
- No — date changes each year
- Traditions
- Notting Hill Carnival · Seaside holidays · Music festivals · Last summer bank holiday activities
When is Summer Bank Holiday?
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | August 4, 2025 | Monday |
| 2026This year | August 3, 2026 | Monday |
| 2027 | August 2, 2027 | Monday |
3-Day Long Weekend
Because Summer Bank Holiday falls on a Monday, it creates a 3-day long weekend from Saturday, August 1 to Monday, August 3.
How is Summer Bank Holiday Celebrated?
The Summer Bank Holiday long weekend is one of the UK's busiest travel periods, with millions heading to seaside resorts, campsites, and festivals. The Notting Hill Carnival in London — Europe's largest street festival — takes place on the Summer Bank Holiday weekend, attracting over a million visitors.
Major outdoor music festivals and events are scheduled around the August Bank Holiday. Coastal towns in Devon, Cornwall, and elsewhere see peak visitor numbers as families make the most of the last summer long weekend.
Did You Know?
- •The Notting Hill Carnival on the August Bank Holiday weekend draws over 1 million people to west London.
- •The August Bank Holiday was originally on the first Monday in August for all of England — it was moved to the last Monday in 1971.
- •Scotland's Summer Bank Holiday falls on the first Monday in August, making it different from the rest of the UK.
- •Seaside towns like Blackpool, Brighton, and Bournemouth see their highest visitor numbers of the year on August Bank Holiday weekend.
- •Traffic on UK roads on August Bank Holiday weekend is among the highest of any weekend in the year.
Regional Observance
Summer Bank Holiday is not observed nationwide — it applies to the following regions of United Kingdom: