Boxing Day 2026 falls on Saturday 26 December, which means the bank holiday for most workers moves to a substitute day on Monday 28 December in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, giving many people a four-day break from Christmas Day on Friday 25 December to Monday 28 December. Christmas Day itself falls on a Friday and remains a bank holiday on the day, while New Year's Day 2027 falls on Friday 1 January and is also observed on the day. In Scotland, where 2 January is an extra bank holiday, the date falls on a Saturday in 2027, so the substitute holiday is on Monday 4 January. The timing matters for pay, rotas and travel: staff entitled to bank holidays usually take Monday 28 December off rather than Boxing Day itself, shops and hospitality will be trading on the Saturday, and the Boxing Day sales, which in recent years have started online on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, will run across the long weekend, as the Westminster newsroom of The WP Times reports.
For Londoners, the festive calendar brings practical challenges. In recent years there has been no Tube, bus or most rail service in London on Christmas Day, with services resuming on Boxing Day, often on a reduced timetable, and engineering works are common between Christmas and New Year. Large shops in England and Wales must close on Christmas Day under the Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004, but there is no equivalent restriction on Boxing Day, so many West End stores open on 26 December. Workers do not have a legal right to bank holidays off, and whether they receive extra pay depends on their contract. Before Christmas, the big shopping dates are Black Friday on 27 November and Cyber Monday on 30 November, and the Westminster Abbey Service of Lessons and Carols on 23 and 24 December and the free Christmas Day services are highlights in the borough. This guide sets out the dates, rules and practical advice for Boxing Day 2026 and the festive period.
Contents
Boxing Day 2026: the bank holiday dates
Because Christmas Day falls on a Friday in 2026, Boxing Day lands on a Saturday and the bank holiday moves to the following Monday.
Festive bank holidays 2026 to 2027
| Holiday | Date | Bank holiday | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Day | Friday 25 December 2026 | on the day | whole UK |
| Boxing Day | Saturday 26 December 2026 | substitute day Monday 28 December | whole UK |
| New Year's Day | Friday 1 January 2027 | on the day | whole UK |
| 2 January | Saturday 2 January 2027 | substitute day Monday 4 January | Scotland only |
Why there is a substitute day
When a bank holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, a weekday is designated as the bank holiday instead. In 2026 this applies to Boxing Day, so Monday 28 December is the day off for most people with standard bank holiday entitlement.
Work, pay and rights
Bank holidays are not an automatic legal right to time off, and arrangements depend on employment contracts.
What workers should know
- Full-time workers in Great Britain are entitled to 5.6 weeks of paid holiday a year, which can include bank holidays.
- There is no legal right to extra pay for working on a bank holiday; it depends on the contract.
- If your contract says you get bank holidays off, the substitute day on 28 December normally applies rather than Saturday 26 December.
- Part-time workers are entitled to a pro-rata share of holiday.
- Retail and hospitality staff often work on Boxing Day and take time off later.
Shops and opening hours
Large shops in England and Wales, those over 280 square metres, must close on Christmas Day. There is no legal ban on opening on Boxing Day, which is why many West End stores and shopping centres trade on 26 December.
The Boxing Day sales
Boxing Day remains one of the biggest shopping days of the year, although many sales now begin online before Christmas.
"Our investigation is a reminder to shoppers that they should not feel pressured to splash out on Black Friday purchases"
(Harry Rose, Editor of Which? Magazine, on discount research that shoppers can also apply to post-Christmas sales)
How to shop the sales
- Compare Boxing Day prices with Black Friday prices for the same items.
- Check price history rather than relying on "was" prices.
- Remember that online purchases can be cancelled within 14 days of delivery.
- Faulty goods can be rejected for a refund within 30 days.
- Pay by credit card for purchases over £100 to benefit from Section 75 protection.
Sales in Westminster
Oxford Street, Regent Street, Bond Street and Covent Garden are the busiest shopping areas on Boxing Day. Arriving early, checking transport and shopping online for click and collect can help avoid crowds. Our guide to Black Friday 2026 explains the new rules on fake deals.
Travel over Christmas and Boxing Day
Transport across London changes significantly over the festive period.
What to expect
| Day | Typical transport |
|---|---|
| Christmas Eve | services finish earlier than usual |
| Christmas Day | no Tube, bus or most rail services in recent years |
| Boxing Day | services resume, often on a reduced timetable |
| 27 to 31 December | engineering works common on rail lines |
| New Year's Eve | late-night services, with closures near the fireworks area |
Plan ahead
Check the TfL major works page before travelling. Rail engineering works between Christmas and New Year often affect long-distance journeys. Our guide to London tube closures includes the RMT strike dates, including 17 and 19 December.
Christmas in Westminster
The days around Boxing Day are among the busiest of the year in Westminster for visitors, worshippers and shoppers.
Key dates
- Westminster Abbey Service of Lessons and Carols: 23 and 24 December at 6pm.
- Midnight Mass at Westminster Abbey: 11pm on Christmas Eve.
- Christmas Day services: Holy Communion at 8am and Evensong at 3pm, no booking needed.
- Hyde Park Winter Wonderland: open on Boxing Day, closed on Christmas Day.
More festive guides
Read our guides to Westminster Abbey Christmas services, Winter Wonderland 2026, November 2026 in London and London Christmas lights 2026.
Boxing Day 2026: questions and answers
When is Boxing Day 2026
Saturday 26 December 2026.
Is Boxing Day 2026 a bank holiday
Yes, but because it falls on a Saturday, the bank holiday is moved to Monday 28 December.
Is New Year's Day 2027 a bank holiday
Yes, on Friday 1 January 2027.
Are shops open on Boxing Day
There is no legal ban on opening on Boxing Day, and many large stores open. Large shops in England and Wales must close on Christmas Day.
Do trains and Tubes run on Boxing Day
In recent years, services have resumed on Boxing Day after a full shutdown on Christmas Day, often on a reduced timetable. TfL will publish 2026 details in December.
Background: why it is called Boxing Day
Boxing Day traditionally took its name from the custom of giving Christmas boxes, gifts or money, to servants and tradespeople on the day after Christmas. It became a bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 1871 and in Scotland in 1974.
Sources used: GOV.UK, Which?, Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004, Transport for London, National Rail, Westminster Abbey, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
