Spring Bank Holiday
The Spring bank holiday falls on the last Monday of May across the UK. It is a moveable date set by Royal Proclamation each year and is one of the two bank holidays in May.
When is Spring Bank Holiday?
| Year | Date | Day | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 25 May 2026 | Monday | Spring Bank Holiday 2026 |
| 2027 | 31 May 2027 | Monday | Spring Bank Holiday 2027 |
| 2028 | 29 May 2028 | Monday | Spring Bank Holiday 2028 |
History
Before 1971, the late May bank holiday was Whit Monday, which followed Pentecost (50 days after Easter) and therefore moved with the lunar calendar. The Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 fixed the late May holiday to the last Monday in May and renamed it the Spring bank holiday — a small but useful piece of administrative tidying.
Traditions
The Spring bank holiday is the unofficial kick-off of the British summer season. It coincides with half-term in most English schools, which makes it one of the busiest weekends for domestic short breaks. The Cooper’s Hill cheese-rolling event in Gloucestershire (chase a wheel of Double Gloucester down a near-vertical hill) is held on this Monday, and the Hay Festival of literature is typically in full swing.
Observance
Standard bank holiday observance. Banks, government and stock exchange closed; retail open with extended hours; Premier League season has typically just ended so football fixtures are limited to lower leagues and cup finals.
Where it is observed
Spring Bank Holiday is a bank holiday in England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland.