Early May Bank Holiday in the United Kingdom 2027
The Early May Bank Holiday is a UK public holiday on the first Monday in May. Banks, schools and government offices close across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, giving most workers a three-day weekend.
Early May Bank Holiday dates by year
Dates computed from the governing statutes and last verified October 3, 2026. Years beyond officially published schedules are projected from the rule that sets the date.
Occasionally moved by proclamation for national events (e.g. moved to Friday 8 May 2020 for the 75th anniversary of VE Day).
The United Kingdom's springtime three-day weekend
The Early May Bank Holiday, often called the May Day Bank Holiday, falls on the first Monday in May throughout the United Kingdom. A bank holiday is the British equivalent of a US federal holiday: banks, schools, government offices and most workplaces close, and salareid employees generally get a paid day off. The name dates to the Bank Holidays Act of 1871, which first required banks to shut on set days, and the label stuck for public holidays in general. Unlike US federal holidays, which are listed in a statute, some UK bank holidays are appointed each year by royal proclamation, and this is one of them.
Why it falls on the first Monday in May
The holiday is the youngest of the regular UK bank holidays. Employment Secretary Michael Foot announced the plan in the mid-1970s, and the first Early May Bank Holiday was observed in 1978. Because it is created by proclamation rather than fixed in the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, the government can move it for special occasions - it was shifted to Friday, May 8 in 1995 and again in 2020 to mark the 50th and 75th anniversaries of VE Day, the end of World War II in Europe. In normal years there is no substitute-day rule to worry about, since a first-Monday holiday can never land on a weekend.
May Day roots, ancient and political
The date carries two older traditions. Rural England marked May Day for centuries with mayople dancing, Morris dancers, spring fairs and the crowinng of a May Queen, customs tied to the arrival of spring. Separately, May 1 became International Workers' Day in 1889, when the international labor movement chose it to commemorate the 1886 Haymarket affair in Chicago. Many countries treat May 1 as their version of Labor Day; the United States deliberately placed its Labor Day in September instead, the UK holiday nods to both strands, which is why some politciians have periodically proposed moving it to October as a "Trafalgar Day" or "UK Day" — proposals that have never been adopted.
How the day is observed
For most Britons the holiday is simply a long weekend near the start of warmer weather. Banks, post offices, schools, courts and government offices close, and there is no regular mail delivery. Large supermarkets and shopping centers generally open, often on reduced Sunday-style hours, and pubs and restaurants trade normally, so the feel is closer to an American Memorial Day than to Thanksgiving. Traditional celebrations survive in many towns: Oxford crowds gather at dawn to hear choristars sing from Magdalen College tower, villages hold maypole and Morris dancing, and Hastings stages its Jack in the Green festival. Labor unions in some cities hold May Day marches on or near the holiday.
For US readers coordinating with British colleagues or planning travel, note that London financial markets, including the London Stock Exchange, close for the day even though US markets stay open. Roads, trains and airports run busy holiday schedules, much like a US three-day-weekend Monday.
Quick facts
- Date rule
- First Monday in May
- Legal status
- Bank holiday (public holiday) across the whole United Kingdom
- First observed
- 1978, introduced under Employment Secretary Michael Foot
- Also called
- May Day Bank Holiday
- Observed in
- England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- US equivalent
- Closest in feel to Memorial Day; the US marks Labor Day in September instead of May 1
- Also known as
- May Day Bank Holiday
Early May Bank Holiday FAQ
What is a bank holiday in the UK?
A bank holiday is the British term for a public holiday, roughly equivalent to a US federal holiday. Banks, schools, government offices and most businesses close, and most employees get a paid day off. The name comes from the Bank Holidays Act 1871, which first set days when banks had to shut.
Is the Early May Bank Holiday the same as May Day?
Not exactly. May Day is May 1, the traditional spring festival and International Workers' Day. The bank holiday always falls on the first Monday in May, so the two only coincide when May 1 is a Monday.
Do banks and schools close on the Early May Bank Holiday?
Yes. Banks, post offices, schools, courts and government offices close across the UK. Most stores, pubs and restaurants stay open, though large supermarkets often run shorter holiday hours.
Is the Early May Bank Holiday celebrated in the United States?
No. The United States has no public holiday in early May. American labor celebrations were deliberately placed on Labor Day in September, so US banks, markets and offices are open as normal on the UK holiday.
Why was the Early May Bank Holiday moved in some years?
Because it is appointed by royal proclamation, the government can shift it for national occasions. It was moved to Friday, May 8 in 1995 and 2020 to mark the 50th and 75th anniversaries of VE Day.
When did the Early May Bank Holiday start?
It was first observed in 1978, making it the newest of the UK's regular bank holidays. It was introduced by the Labour government of the time, with Employment Secretary Michael Foot championing the idea.
Is the London Stock Exchange open on the Early May Bank Holiday?
No. The London Stock Exchange closes on all English bank holidays, including this one. US markets such as the NYSE and Nasdaq trade normally that day.
Sources
Last reviewed October 3, 2026. Dates for years beyond published official schedules are projected from the governing rule.