How Many Days Until Early May Bank Holiday 2028?

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When is Early May Bank Holiday 2028?

Early May Bank Holiday 2028 falls on Monday, May 1, 2028.

About Early May Bank Holiday

The Early May Bank Holiday is a UK public holiday observed on the first Monday of May each year. It was introduced in 1978 and sits close to International Workers' Day on May 1, but it shifts to a Monday so that it always falls within a long weekend. All four nations of the UK, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, share the holiday. It has occasionally been moved to mark a special occasion. In 2020, for example, it was shifted to Friday May 8 to coincide with the 75th anniversary of VE Day. The bank holiday weekend is a popular time for short breaks, and it is busy for garden centres, DIY stores and outdoor festivals.

The Early May Bank Holiday was created under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 and first observed in 1978, partly in response to growing interest in International Workers' Day. It has rarely been moved. The shift to Friday May 8 in 2020, to align with the 75th anniversary of VE Day, was the only time the holiday had been moved since it began. There has been recurring debate about whether to keep it. A 2011 government proposal to move it to October, as a possible UK Day or a substitute St George's Day, was not adopted in the end. Like all UK bank holidays, the Early May Bank Holiday does not automatically give every worker the day off, since that depends on the terms of each employment contract.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Early May Bank Holiday?

The Early May Bank Holiday falls on the first Monday of May each year in the United Kingdom, so the date moves between May 1 and May 7. Placing it on a Monday guarantees a long weekend. It is one of two May bank holidays in the UK, the other being the Spring Bank Holiday on the last Monday of the month. The exact date changes from year to year, so it is worth checking the calendar for any given year.

Why does the UK have an Early May Bank Holiday?

The Early May Bank Holiday was introduced in 1978, fairly late compared with the UK's older bank holidays. It was created partly in response to growing interest in International Workers' Day, which falls on May 1 and is a public holiday across much of Europe. Rather than fix the holiday to May 1, the UK placed it on the first Monday of May to provide a reliable long weekend. It gave the country an extra spring holiday at a point in the year that previously had none.

Has the Early May Bank Holiday ever been moved?

Yes, although only rarely. For almost all of its history the Early May Bank Holiday has fallen on the first Monday of May. The clearest exception was in 2020, when it was moved to Friday May 8 so that it lined up with the 75th anniversary of VE Day, the end of the Second World War in Europe. Moving a bank holiday requires a government decision, and it is done only for significant national occasions, so such changes are uncommon.

Is the Early May Bank Holiday observed across the whole UK?

Yes. The Early May Bank Holiday is observed in all four nations of the United Kingdom: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is one of the bank holidays that the whole UK shares, unlike some others that differ between the nations. Banks, government offices and many businesses close. As with all UK bank holidays, though, employers are not legally required to give every worker the day off, since that depends on individual contracts.

What is the difference between the two May bank holidays?

The United Kingdom has two bank holidays in May. The Early May Bank Holiday falls on the first Monday of the month and dates from 1978, linked loosely to International Workers' Day. The Spring Bank Holiday falls on the last Monday of May and replaced the older Whit Monday holiday in 1971. They are several weeks apart, and the Spring Bank Holiday usually coincides with school half-term. Both create long weekends and are busy times for travel and outdoor events.