2024, 2025 and 2026 Celebration Dates and Calendar - United Kingdom

Cheers!
Cheers!

2024, 2025 and 2026 UK Celebrations

The UK has many national days when various celebrations and events take place. Depending on the month, time of year, and UK location, there are different events to choose from. Each event varies in popularity, but many of the bigger events and celebrations (think of Bonfire or Guy Fawkes Night) are very popular indeed, with crowds of people coming together to enjoy the celebrations and to set off fireworks. While some days don't have so many customs, others do, allowing people to pick and choose which of the days they prefer to celebrate more fully.

January sees a number of big events and celebrations throughout the UK. Importantly, some of the bigger holidays depend on the country you're in. For instance, the whole of the UK celebrates New Year’s Eve (or Hogmanay in Scotland), but additional celebrations are often bigger on other days. If you're in Scotland, Burns Night is often considered a more important celebration in the New Year, while Twelfth Night, the last day of Christmas in the UK, is far less celebrated. Moreover, it’s a superstitious day when everyone takes down their Christmas decorations to avoid bad luck for the coming year. As such, it’s notable for removing the festive spirit early in the new year.

Of course, throughout the year there are many other festivals and celebrations. Easter is a big one, although many won't celebrate other religious festivals. Pancake Day, where everyone pigs out on pancakes, is still very popular although public perception has significantly removed the religious aspect of this day. Similarly, solstice or harvest festivals are far less about the meaning of the day itself and rather an excuse to eat or party. And if you're looking for more examples of appropriated celebrations, then look no further than St. Patrick’s Day. Celebrations relating to this day revolve around dressing in green and drinking to excess.....even if you're not Irish!

Photo credits: Veselina Dzhingarova / CC-by (New Year’s Day) ; 綾小路 葵 / CC-by (Lunar New Year) ; Robin Myerscough / CC-by (Shrove Tuesday) ; elchupacabra / CC-by-sa (Saint Patrick) ; Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation (Stephen Lawrence Day) ; Greger Ravik / CC-by (Shakespeare Day) ; ell-r-brown / CC-by-sa (Early May bank holiday) ; dudley-council / CC-by (Spring bank holiday) ; Public domain (King's Birthday) ; Rhagfyr / CC-by-sa (Windrush Day) ; dougtone / CC-by-sa (Clocks go back) ; johnniewalker / CC-by (Guy Fawkes Night) ; Public domain (Remembrance Sunday) ; Forouzani / Unsplash (Black Friday) ; Michael Gwyther-Jones / CC-by (Boxing Day)