Boxing Day 2026: Date
Boxing Day on 26 December is the day after Christmas and a public holiday in the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Ireland calls it St Stephen's Day and South Africa the Day of Goodwill. When it falls on a weekend, most of these countries give a weekday off instead.
Boxing Day 2026 by country
26 December 2026 is a Saturday. Because it falls on a weekend, the actual day off depends on where you live:
| Country | Day off | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| England and Wales | Mon 28 Dec | Substitute day (GOV.UK) |
| Scotland | Mon 28 Dec | Substitute day (GOV.UK) |
| Northern Ireland | Mon 28 Dec | Substitute day (GOV.UK) |
| Ireland (St Stephen's Day) | Sat 26 Dec | No automatic weekday off: the employer gives a paid day off on the day or within a month, an extra day of leave or an extra day's pay |
| Canada (federal) | Mon 28 Dec Expected | Canada Labour Code: the working day just before or after, usually this one |
| Australia (New South Wales) | Sat 26 Dec + Mon 28 Dec | Additional public holiday on the following weekday |
| New Zealand | Sat 26 Dec or Mon 28 Dec | Mon 28 Dec for employees who would not normally work on the Saturday |
| South Africa (Day of Goodwill) | Sat 26 Dec | No extra day: only a Sunday holiday moves to the Monday |
| United States | Normal working day | Not a federal holiday |
Other Australian states publish their own lists, so check yours before booking leave. Canadian provinces also set their own rules: Boxing Day is a statutory holiday in Ontario but not a general holiday in most other provinces.
Sources: GOV.UK bank holidays 路 Workplace Relations Commission (Ireland) 路 Canada Labour Code 路 NSW Government public holidays 路 Employment New Zealand 路 South African Government.
How the date is set
Boxing Day is always 26 December, the day after Christmas Day. When it falls on a Saturday, the UK, New South Wales and New Zealand move the day off to Monday 28 December. When it falls on a Sunday, Christmas Day is on the Saturday and takes the Monday, so Boxing Day moves to Tuesday 28 December. In Canada, federally regulated employees who do not work that weekend day get a paid holiday on a working day just before or after it, so check the date with your employer.
Is it a day off?
It is a bank holiday in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, a public holiday in Australia and New Zealand, a federal holiday in Canada (and a statutory holiday in Ontario), St Stephen's Day in Ireland and the Day of Goodwill in South Africa. It is not a federal holiday in the United States.
Boxing Day dates 2026 to 2035
| Year | Boxing Day | Weekday off (UK, NSW, NZ) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sat 26 Dec | Mon 28 Dec |
| 2027 | Sun 26 Dec | Tue 28 Dec |
| 2028 | Tue 26 Dec | Tue 26 Dec |
| 2029 | Wed 26 Dec | Wed 26 Dec |
| 2030 | Thu 26 Dec | Thu 26 Dec |
| 2031 | Fri 26 Dec | Fri 26 Dec |
| 2032 | Sun 26 Dec | Tue 28 Dec |
| 2033 | Mon 26 Dec | Mon 26 Dec |
| 2034 | Tue 26 Dec | Tue 26 Dec |
| 2035 | Wed 26 Dec | Wed 26 Dec |
See every festival and key date of 2026, or the December 2026 calendar.
Questions
When is Boxing Day 2026?
Boxing Day 2026 is on Saturday, 26 December 2026.
Is Boxing Day 2026 a bank holiday in the UK?
Yes. 26 December 2026 is a Saturday, so the bank holiday in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is the substitute day, Monday, 28 December 2026. Christmas Day is on the Friday, so there is a four-day weekend from Friday 25 to Monday 28 December.
What day of the week is Boxing Day 2026?
Saturday.
When is Boxing Day 2027?
Boxing Day 2027 is on Sunday, 26 December 2027.
Is Boxing Day a public holiday?
It is a bank holiday in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, a public holiday in Australia and New Zealand, a federal holiday in Canada (and a statutory holiday in Ontario), St Stephen's Day in Ireland and the Day of Goodwill in South Africa. It is not a federal holiday in the United States.
How is the date worked out?
Boxing Day is always 26 December, the day after Christmas Day. When it falls on a Saturday, the UK, New South Wales and New Zealand move the day off to Monday 28 December. When it falls on a Sunday, Christmas Day is on the Saturday and takes the Monday, so Boxing Day moves to Tuesday 28 December. In Canada, federally regulated employees who do not work that weekend day get a paid holiday on a working day just before or after it, so check the date with your employer.
Why is it called Boxing Day?
The name comes from the British tradition of the "Christmas box", a gift of money or food given to servants, tradespeople and delivery workers in the days after Christmas. The day became a bank holiday in England, Wales and Ireland under the Bank Holidays Act 1871.
Is Boxing Day a holiday in the US?
No. Boxing Day is not a federal holiday in the United States, and most businesses open as normal on 26 December. Christmas Day is the only federal holiday in late December.