Easter 2026: Everything You Need to Know About the Spring Celebration

When is Easter 2026?

Easter 2026 falls on Sunday, 5th April, marking one of the most significant dates in the Christian calendar. Good Friday falls on 3rd April, whilst Easter Monday falls on 6th April, creating a four-day bank holiday weekend for most of the United Kingdom. This early April timing provides families across the nation with an ideal opportunity to celebrate the arrival of spring through both religious observances and cherished traditions.

Why Does Easter’s Date Change Every Year?

Easter is a ‘movable feast,’ so it doesn’t happen on the same date from year to year, always observed on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25 in the Gregorian calendar. Easter Sunday always occurs on the first Sunday after the Paschal Full Moon, specifically the first Sunday following the full Moon that occurs on or after the March or spring equinox. This ancient calculation method, established by the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, combines lunar and solar calendar elements, creating the annually shifting date that can sometimes perplex modern planners.

Easter Celebrations and Traditions in the UK

In the UK, people celebrate by attending church services, organising Easter egg hunts, and sharing meals with family and friends. One of the most popular Easter traditions is the giving of Easter eggs, with chocolate eggs given to children on Easter Sunday. Traditional foods include roast lamb, Simnel cake, and hot cross buns, with the latter being particularly associated with Good Friday.

Members of the British Royal Family typically attend church on Easter Sunday, and the monarch takes part in the Maundy Thursday ceremony, distributing Maundy money in a centuries-old Holy Week custom. Egg rolling competitions, Easter fairs, and themed charity fun runs are part of the wider celebration in many communities.

School Holidays and Planning for Easter 2026

Most UK schools will break up around the end of March for a two-week Easter holiday, with the break expected to fall between Monday 30th March and Friday 10th April 2026 for England and Wales. Good Friday and Easter Monday are bank holidays in most parts of the UK, although Easter Monday is not observed as a bank holiday in Scotland. This extended break offers families valuable time for travel, traditional celebrations, and enjoying the warming spring weather across Britain’s countryside, coastal areas, and cities.

The Significance of Easter 2026

Easter is the holiest day in the Christian calendar, observing the most central tenet of the Christian faith—that Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead. Beyond its profound religious significance, Easter 2026 represents renewal and hope as spring emerges. The long weekend and school holidays provide an essential pause in the year, allowing communities to come together, families to reconnect, and traditions both ancient and modern to be celebrated across the United Kingdom. Whether through quiet reflection, joyful church services, or chocolate egg hunts in blooming gardens, Easter continues to hold a special place in British life.