Bank holidays in Scotland
The next bank holiday in Scotland is St Andrew's Day
60
days until St Andrew's Day, Monday 30 November 2026
That's 8 weeks and 4 days.
It's St Andrew's Day
Scotland bank holidays 2026
| Date | Day | Bank holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Thursday | New Year's Day |
| 2 January | Friday | 2nd January |
| 3 April | Friday | Good Friday |
| 4 May | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| 25 May | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| 15 June | Monday | World Cup bank holiday (one-off) |
| 3 August | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| 30 November | Monday | St Andrew's Day |
| 25 December | Friday | Christmas Day |
| 28 December | Monday | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
Scotland bank holidays 2027
| Date | Day | Bank holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Friday | New Year's Day |
| 4 January | Monday | 2nd January (substitute day) |
| 26 March | Friday | Good Friday |
| 3 May | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| 31 May | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| 2 August | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| 30 November | Tuesday | St Andrew's Day |
| 27 December | Monday | Christmas Day (substitute day) |
| 28 December | Tuesday | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
Scotland bank holidays 2028
| Date | Day | Bank holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 3 January | Monday | New Year's Day (substitute day) |
| 4 January | Tuesday | 2nd January (substitute day) |
| 14 April | Friday | Good Friday |
| 1 May | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| 29 May | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| 7 August | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| 30 November | Thursday | St Andrew's Day |
| 25 December | Monday | Christmas Day |
| 26 December | Tuesday | Boxing Day |
Dates from the official GOV.UK list, checked 1 October 2026. In 2028 both 1 and 2 January fall at a weekend, so the holidays move to Monday 3 and Tuesday 4 January.
How Scotland differs from England and Wales
Scotland normally has 9 bank holidays, one more than England and Wales. Four rules make the difference:
- 2 January is a bank holiday as well as New Year's Day. When either falls at a weekend, the holiday moves to the next free weekday, which is why 2 January 2027 (a Saturday) becomes Monday 4 January.
- Easter Monday is not a bank holiday in Scotland. Good Friday is.
- The summer bank holiday is the first Monday in August, not the last Monday as in England and Wales: 3 August 2026, 2 August 2027.
- St Andrew's Day, 30 November, has been a bank holiday since 2007. If it falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday is the holiday. It is a Monday in 2026, a Tuesday in 2027 and a Thursday in 2028.
For the England and Wales list, see UK bank holidays. Northern Ireland has its own two extra days: Northern Ireland bank holidays.
The 2026 World Cup bank holiday
Monday 15 June 2026 was a one-off national bank holiday, approved by Royal Proclamation, to mark Scotland's men's team playing at the World Cup finals for the first time since 1998. It fell on the day after their opening match against Haiti in Boston. That made 10 Scottish bank holidays in 2026. The Scottish Government announcement has the details.
Bank holidays and local holidays
A bank holiday in Scotland is a day when banks close under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971. It does not give anyone a legal right to a day off. Which days people actually take off depends on their contract and on local public holidays, which each council sets. Many councils have spring and autumn holidays, and some give Easter Monday locally even though it is not a bank holiday. Check your council's website or your employer's holiday calendar.
The same applies to St Andrew's Day: the St Andrew's Day Bank Holiday (Scotland) Act 2007 does not require employers to give the day off, and many don't. Large shops in Scotland must close on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
To plan leave around these dates, use the working days calculator (it counts England and Wales holidays, so adjust for Scotland), or see the year at a glance on the 2027 calendar.
Frequently asked questions
Is Easter Monday a bank holiday in Scotland?
No. Good Friday is a bank holiday in Scotland but Easter Monday is not. Some councils give Easter Monday as a local holiday, so check locally.
How many bank holidays does Scotland have?
Scotland normally has 9 bank holidays a year. In 2026 it had 10, because of the one-off World Cup bank holiday on Monday 15 June.
Is St Andrew's Day a day off?
St Andrew's Day, 30 November, is a bank holiday in Scotland, moved to the Monday if it falls at a weekend. Employers do not have to give the day off, so it depends on your contract.
When is the summer bank holiday in Scotland?
The first Monday in August: Monday 3 August 2026, Monday 2 August 2027 and Monday 7 August 2028.
Why is 2 January 2027 on 4 January?
2 January 2027 is a Saturday, so the bank holiday moves to the next weekday, Monday 4 January 2027.