There’s a moment around mid-April when people start scanning their calendars for the next long weekend. For 2025, the first May bank holiday in the UK lands on Monday 5 May, and the second — the Spring bank holiday — follows on Monday 26 May; Ireland, in contrast, gets just one: Monday 5 May.

4 related posts

UK May bank holidays in 2025: 5 May (Early May) and 26 May (Spring) · Ireland May bank holiday in 2025: 5 May · Total UK bank holidays in 2025: 8 · Total Ireland public holidays in 2025: 9 · Why two May bank holidays? Historical origins: Early May (May Day) and Spring bank holiday (late May) replaced Whit Monday.

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • No official confirmation that 1 May will be a public holiday in any UK jurisdiction (it is not).
  • Whether some employers in Northern Ireland treat 14 July as a full holiday versus a partial day.
3Timeline signal
  • Early May bank holiday always lands on the first Monday of May.
  • Spring bank holiday always lands on the last Monday of May.
  • In 2025, the Early May date is later than 1 May by four days.
4What’s next
  • After the Spring bank holiday, the next UK holiday is the late August bank holiday (25 August 2025).
  • Ireland next observes the June bank holiday on 2 June 2025.

The table below summarises the five confirmed dates and the one jurisdictional difference.

Five confirmed dates, one jurisdictional difference: Ireland has only one May holiday while the UK has two.
Item Value
UK Early May bank holiday Monday 5 May 2025
UK Spring bank holiday Monday 26 May 2025
Ireland May bank holiday Monday 5 May 2025
Number of UK bank holidays 8
Number of Ireland public holidays 9

The pattern: the UK concentrates two holidays in one month, while Ireland spreads nine across the year.

What date are May bank holidays in 2025?

The short answer: UK residents get two Mondays off in May 2025, while those in the Republic of Ireland get one. The exact dates come from official government sources and are consistent across jurisdictions.

The upshot

For anyone planning a long weekend, the first May bank holiday is 5 May in both the UK and Ireland. Only Britons get a second chance on 26 May.

UK May bank holidays 2025

  • Early May bank holiday: Monday 5 May 2025, confirmed by the UK government’s official bank holidays page (GOV.UK official calendar).
  • Spring bank holiday: Monday 26 May 2025, also listed on the same government page (GOV.UK official calendar).

The UK government’s 2025 proclamation legally appointed 5 May as a bank holiday in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (The Gazette — official government publication). The pattern holds every year: Early May on the first Monday, Spring on the last Monday.

Ireland May bank holiday 2025

  • May public holiday: Monday 5 May 2025, as listed by Ireland’s public holiday guide (LMFM).
  • Ireland has nine public holidays in 2025, not ten. No second May holiday exists (GroupAccommodation).

The pattern is consistent across multiple sources, including travel guides and media outlets (Country & Town House, Yahoo News UK).

The catch: If you are searching for a second May bank holiday in Ireland, there isn’t one. That distinction belongs solely to the UK system.

Why are there two bank holidays in May?

Most countries get one May bank holiday — if they get any at all. The UK is unusual in having two, and the reason is rooted in 20th-century calendar reforms rather than any modern policy choice.

Historical origins of the Early May bank holiday

  • The Early May bank holiday, often called May Day, has its roots in traditional spring festivals and the labour movement.
  • It was formally introduced as a bank holiday in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971.

Interestingly, 1 May itself — International Workers’ Day — is not a public holiday in the UK or Ireland. Instead, both countries observe the first Monday of May as the official day off (Country Living).

The Spring bank holiday and Whit Monday

  • Before 1971, the Spring bank holiday was known as Whit Monday, a movable feast tied to the Christian calendar (the day after Pentecost).
  • The 1971 Act replaced Whit Monday with a fixed Spring bank holiday on the last Monday of May across the UK (GOV.UK official calendar).
  • Northern Ireland also observes the Spring bank holiday on the same date, though it has additional holidays unique to the region (The Times — travel advice).

The implication: The UK’s two May bank holidays are a historical accident. They aren’t the result of modern planning — they are the fossil of a religious holiday replaced by a secular one.

What are the bank holidays in Ireland in 2025?

Ireland’s public holidays follow a simpler rhythm. The full list of nine holidays for 2025 is confirmed by official and media sources.

List of public holidays in Ireland 2025

  • 1 January (New Year’s Day)
  • 17 March (St Patrick’s Day)
  • 21 April (Easter Monday)
  • 5 May (May bank holiday)
  • 2 June (June bank holiday)
  • 4 August (August bank holiday)
  • 27 October (October bank holiday)
  • 25 December (Christmas Day)
  • 26 December (St Stephen’s Day)

Sources for the list: LMFM and GroupAccommodation.

Are there two bank holidays in May in Ireland?

No. Ireland observes only one May bank holiday: the first Monday of the month. That is 5 May 2025. The UK’s Spring bank holiday on 26 May has no equivalent in Ireland. Anyone planning a trip across the border in late May should be aware: Monday 26 May is a regular working day in the Republic (GroupAccommodation).

The trade-off: Ireland has nine public holidays versus eight in the UK, spread across the year. The UK concentrates two of them in one month.

Why is 1 May not a bank holiday?

This is a common source of confusion. Many people assume that May Day — 1 May — is an automatic day off. It is not, in either the UK or Ireland.

May Day vs bank holiday

  • 1 May is International Workers’ Day, celebrated in dozens of countries as a public holiday.
  • The UK’s Early May bank holiday is tied to the first Monday of May, not the date 1 May itself. In 2025, that means 5 May, not 1 May.
  • Some countries, such as Germany, France, and Spain, observe 1 May as a fixed public holiday.

According to Country Living, the Early May bank holiday is commonly referred to as May Day, creating the impression that 1 May is the holiday. In practice, it is always the first Monday.

International Workers’ Day

  • Cambodia has the most public holidays in the world at 28, including 1 May as a day off.
  • Sri Lanka ranks second with 25.
  • The UK’s approach of a Monday-fixed holiday is unusual globally.

The catch: If you work for a UK or Irish employer and want the day off on 1 May, you will need to book annual leave. The 5 May bank holiday is not a substitute — it is just the nearest Monday.

Is the 25th of May a bank holiday?

Short answer: No. 25 May 2025 falls on a Sunday, which is not a bank holiday. The Spring bank holiday in the UK is the following day, Monday 26 May.

Date of Spring bank holiday

  • The Spring bank holiday is defined as the last Monday of May.
  • In 2025, that is Monday 26 May (GOV.UK official calendar).
  • In Ireland, 25 May is a regular Sunday. No public holidays fall in late May.

The Spring bank holiday is celebrated throughout the United Kingdom, including Scotland and Northern Ireland (Tuxx). Note that Northern Ireland has an additional bank holiday on 14 July (Battle of the Boyne), which is unique to that region (The Times — travel advice).

The implication: If you are planning a weekend trip around 25-26 May, you need to check your jurisdiction. In the UK, Monday 26 May is a day off. In Ireland, both days are normal weekend days.

What to watch

Businesses in Northern Ireland may operate differently on 14 July compared with the rest of the UK. Always confirm local holiday schedules with your employer or local council.

Related reading: Bank Holidays in Ireland 2026: Complete List & Dates · Ireland 2025 Payment Reform: Budget & Welfare Changes

Additional sources

goodtuesday.com, nationaljournal.uk, cintra.co.uk

The May bank holiday 2025, as outlined in the May bank holiday 2025 guide, falls on different dates in the UK, Ireland, and Canada.

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Frequently asked questions

Are shops open on May bank holiday?

Most large supermarkets and retail chains in the UK and Ireland open on May bank holidays, often with reduced hours. Some smaller shops and banks close entirely. Check local store schedules.

Do schools close on May bank holiday?

Yes. Schools in the UK and Ireland are closed on all public bank holidays, including the May bank holidays. Many schools also use the Spring bank holiday as part of a half-term break.

What is the difference between Early May and Spring bank holiday?

The Early May bank holiday (5 May 2025) is tied to May Day traditions. The Spring bank holiday (26 May 2025) originally replaced Whit Monday. Both are public holidays in the UK; only the Early May holiday applies in Ireland.

Are there any May bank holidays in Scotland?

Scotland observes both the Early May bank holiday (5 May) and the Spring bank holiday (26 May), same as England and Wales. However, Scotland has different bank holidays for other occasions, such as St Andrew’s Day.

What are the bank holidays in Northern Ireland in 2025?

Northern Ireland has all UK bank holidays (including 5 May and 26 May) plus St Patrick’s Day (17 March) and the Battle of the Boyne (14 July) (The Times — travel advice).

When is the June bank holiday 2025 in Ireland?

Ireland’s June bank holiday falls on Monday 2 June 2025 (LMFM).

How many bank holidays does the UK have in 2025?

Eight in England and Wales. Scotland has nine (including St Andrew’s Day). Northern Ireland has ten (adding St Patrick’s Day and the Battle of the Boyne) (GOV.UK official calendar, The Times — travel advice).

For Ireland, the schedule for 2025 is clear: nine public holidays, one in May. The UK offers two in May, but that number varies across its constituent nations. For anyone planning a long weekend — or simply trying to book a Monday off — the rule is simple: first Monday in May for both countries, last Monday in May for the UK only.

Bottom line: The UK gets two May bank holidays in 2025 (5 May and 26 May) while Ireland gets one (5 May). UK workers should plan for both; Irish workers should budget annual leave around a single May Monday; cross-border commuters must check which side of the border their employer sits on.