England and Wales have the fewest bank holidays in the UK, which means fewer early payments — but the Christmas period still creates a long gap: in 2026, payments due from Friday 25 to Monday 28 December all land on Thursday 24 December.
Bank holidays 2026 — England & Wales
| If your payment is due on | Bank holiday | You will usually be paid on |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 1 January 2026 | New Year's Day | Wednesday 31 December 2025 |
| Friday 3 April 2026 | Good Friday | Thursday 2 April 2026 |
| Monday 6 April 2026 | Easter Monday | Thursday 2 April 2026 |
| Monday 4 May 2026 | Early May bank holiday | Friday 1 May 2026 |
| Monday 25 May 2026 | Spring bank holiday | Friday 22 May 2026 |
| Monday 31 August 2026 | Summer bank holiday | Friday 28 August 2026 |
| Friday 25 December 2026 | Christmas Day | Thursday 24 December 2026 |
| Monday 28 December 2026 | Boxing Day (substitute day) | Thursday 24 December 2026 |
Bank holidays 2027 — England & Wales
| If your payment is due on | Bank holiday | You will usually be paid on |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 1 January 2027 | New Year's Day | Thursday 31 December 2026 |
| Friday 26 March 2027 | Good Friday | Thursday 25 March 2027 |
| Monday 29 March 2027 | Easter Monday | Thursday 25 March 2027 |
| Monday 3 May 2027 | Early May bank holiday | Friday 30 April 2027 |
| Monday 31 May 2027 | Spring bank holiday | Friday 28 May 2027 |
| Monday 30 August 2027 | Summer bank holiday | Friday 27 August 2027 |
| Monday 27 December 2027 | Christmas Day (substitute day) | Friday 24 December 2027 |
| Tuesday 28 December 2027 | Boxing Day (substitute day) | Friday 24 December 2027 |
Use the payment date calculator to work out your own next payment dates for England & Wales, see the Christmas payment dates 2026/27, or browse dates by benefit from the homepage.
Frequently asked questions
Which bank holidays move payments in England and Wales?
All eight: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, the early May and spring bank holidays, the summer bank holiday at the end of August, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Payments due on any of them are paid on the working day before.
Do Scotland's or Northern Ireland's extra holidays affect my payment?
No. St Andrew's Day, the 2 January holiday, St Patrick's Day and Orangemen's Day only affect payments in the nation that observes them. If you live in England or Wales, only the England and Wales list counts.
When will Christmas 2027 payments be made in England and Wales?
Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on a weekend in 2027, so Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December 2027 are substitute bank holidays. Payments due from Saturday 25 to Tuesday 28 December 2027 will be paid early, on Friday 24 December 2027.
What if an extra bank holiday is announced at short notice?
Occasionally an extra bank holiday is announced (for a royal occasion, for example). Payments due that day would normally move to the working day before as well — we update this site's calendars whenever the official list changes.