May 2026 has 19 working days in every part of the UK.
How many working days are there in May 2026?
Bank holiday dates from the GOV.UK feed, last checked on 3 October 2026.
May 2026 starts on a Friday and ends on a Sunday, so it has 21 weekdays and 10 weekend days.
Bank holidays in May 2026
| Date | Bank holiday | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Monday 4 May | Early May bank holiday | All of the UK |
| Monday 25 May | Spring bank holiday | All of the UK |
The next bank holiday in England and Wales is Summer bank holiday on Monday 31 August 2026, 65 working days after May ends.
The next bank holiday in Scotland is World Cup bank holiday on Monday 15 June 2026, 10 working days after May ends.
The next bank holiday in Northern Ireland is Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day) on Monday 13 July 2026, 30 working days after May ends.
May 2026 by nation
| Nation | Working days | Bank holidays | First working day | Last working day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All of the UK | 19 | 2 | Friday 1 May | Friday 29 May |
31 May is a Sunday, so if you are paid on the last working day, payday comes 2 days early, on Friday 29 May.
Working days left in 2026 after May: 151 in England and Wales, 149 in Scotland and 150 in Northern Ireland.
May 2026 week by week
| Week | Dates | Working days |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Friday 1 May | 1 |
| 19 | Monday 4 to Friday 8 May | 4 |
| 20 | Monday 11 to Friday 15 May | 5 |
| 21 | Monday 18 to Friday 22 May | 5 |
| 22 | Monday 25 to Friday 29 May | 4 |
Working hours in May 2026
142.5 hours at 7.5 hours a day, 133 at 7 and 152 at 8.
Booking leave around the May bank holidays
| Nation | Book off | Days of leave | Days off in a row |
|---|---|---|---|
| All of the UK | Tuesday 5 to Friday 8 May | 4 | 9, Saturday 2 May to Sunday 10 May |
| All of the UK | Tuesday 26 to Friday 29 May | 4 | 9, Saturday 23 May to Sunday 31 May |
Compared with May 2025
Every part of the UK: 19 working days, 1 fewer than the 20 in May 2025. The difference: 1 fewer weekday this year.
Change these figures in the Working days calculator
Things that could change this figure
- There is no automatic right to paid leave on a bank holiday. Read the guide
- Saturdays and Sundays are excluded as non-working days. Read the guide
Please read
This counts weekdays minus bank holidays. It does not know your contract, your shift pattern, or your workplace closures.
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