Need to know
Here’s everything to know about this year’s four-day bank holiday weekend
Easter 2026 dates: When the bank holiday weekend falls and why it changes each year
- Easter 2026 offers Londoners a perfect opportunity for a long weekend break, falling on April 3-6.
- The four-day Easter weekend begins with Good Friday on April 3, followed by Saturday April 4, Easter Sunday April 5, and Easter Monday April 6. This year’s dates fall a fortnight earlier than last year.
- Unlike fixed-date holidays, Easter is a “movable feast” based on the lunar calendar. It’s celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon on or after March 21.
- The dating system was established by the First Council of Nicaea in AD 325, convened by Roman Emperor Constantine I. The bishops decided Easter should align with the Jewish Passover and Christ’s Resurrection, explains the Manchester Evening News.
- The paschal full moon determines the date because the Last Supper occurred during Passover. The Church fixes the spring equinox as March 21, even though it can occur on March 20.
- Planning your annual leave around these bank holidays could maximise your time away from work.
- Read more: Full list of 2026 Bank Holiday dates including Easter, Christmas and Boxing Day
Emma Gill, Véronique Hawksworth
