Summer Bank Holiday
The Summer bank holiday falls 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 before Christmas in most of the UK.
When is Summer Bank Holiday?
| Year | Date | Day | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 31 August 2026 | Monday | Summer Bank Holiday 2026 |
| 2027 | 30 August 2027 | Monday | Summer Bank Holiday 2027 |
| 2028 | 28 August 2028 | Monday | Summer Bank Holiday 2028 |
History
The August bank holiday was one of Lubbock’s original 1871 holidays, originally set as the first Monday of August. In 1971 the date was moved to the last Monday of August in England, Wales and Northern Ireland — but Scotland retained the early August date, where it remains.
The shift was to spread out August and create a longer tail-end of the summer school holidays. In practice it created the modern “August bank holiday weekend” associated with festival culture: Reading and Leeds, Notting Hill Carnival, and Creamfields all fall over this weekend.
Traditions
Notting Hill Carnival — Europe’s largest street festival — takes over west London on the Sunday and Monday. Reading and Leeds Festivals run across the long weekend. It’s the busiest UK weekend of the year for music and outdoor events, and one of the worst for motorway traffic returning to cities on the Monday evening.
Observance
Standard bank holiday closures: banks, government, stock exchange. Most retail is open on extended hours, supermarkets typically full hours. Public transport varies by city — TfL runs an enhanced service for Notting Hill Carnival in London.
Where it is observed
Summer Bank Holiday is a bank holiday in England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland.