Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a UK-wide bank holiday observed on 26 December. When 26 December falls at a weekend, a substitute bank holiday is granted, usually the following Monday or Tuesday.
When is Boxing Day?
| Year | Date | Day | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 28 December 2026 | Monday | Boxing Day 2026 |
| 2027 | 28 December 2027 | Tuesday | Boxing Day 2027 |
| 2028 | 26 December 2028 | Tuesday | Boxing Day 2028 |
History
Boxing Day’s status as a bank holiday dates from the Bank Holidays Act 1871. The 26 December date was already a customary day of rest for servants, who were given the day off after working through the Christmas Day dinner. The “Christmas box” — a small monetary tip — gave the day its name.
The first Boxing Day fixtures in English football date from the 1880s, with full league programmes on 26 December a tradition unbroken (with adjustments for COVID and weekend overlap) since.
Traditions
Football: a full Premier League and EFL programme is the centrepiece of the day for millions. Hunting traditions (now mainly drag hunting following the Hunting Act 2004) take place across the countryside. Sales: the post-Christmas retail sales used to start on Boxing Day itself, although in the past decade most have crept forward into mid-December.
Observance
Banks and stock exchange are closed. Major supermarket chains either stay closed or open with very limited hours. Smaller retail typically reopens with sales. Public transport is reduced but more comprehensive than Christmas Day — most major rail lines run a Sunday or reduced service.
Where it is observed
Boxing Day is a bank holiday in England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland.