The question in every pub garden this week is: will we be getting an extra Bank Holiday?
Whether you’re watching the World Cup or not, it might be worth your while to know that England’s ongoing success in the tournament could be more valuable than you first thought. The team is currently heading to the quarter finals, with a match against Norway set for Saturday in Miami – though if they go all the way, outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has suggested the country may celebrate with an extra bank holiday.
Could it be true? Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the PM said: “On the question of a bank holiday, I think I don’t want to jinx it, but ask me again if we get to the final.”
The UK leader is expected to step down the day after the World Cup final on 20 July – so if the extra bank holiday goes ahead, it could be one of his last ever decisions as Prime Minister. While it’s little more than a rumour at present, news outlets suggest that the proposed day off would fall on 24 July 2026, the Friday following the final match.
England wouldn’t be alone in celebrating World Cup success with a public holiday – in fact, many other countries have declared a day off following landmark moments in the current tournament. Underdogs Paraguay marked their 4-3 win over Germany with a national holiday in June, while Ecuador did the same for making the knockout stages for the first time in 20 years. Earlier this year, the Democratic Republic of Congo enjoyed an extra bank holiday after qualifying for the World Cup after a 52-year wait.
At present, England is awaiting its next bank holiday on 31 August. The last time the UK was given an extra national holiday was for the late Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral on 19 September 2022.
As for when we’ll find out whether we’ll score an extra day off this year, it of course all depends on England’s progress in the tournament, and whether the Prime Minister will go ahead. If so, the bank holiday is most likely to be announced on the Monday following the World Cup Final, 21 July 2026. Fingers crossed.
