Christmas 2026 key dates UK, with a live countdown
Christmas Day 2026 is on a Friday. Here is every date a UK household needs between now and New Year, from Stir-up Sunday and Advent to the last posting days and the bank holidays, with the days left counted from today. Free, printable, no sign-up.
How long until Christmas?
UK Christmas 2026 calendar
| Date | What | Days left |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday 22 November | Stir-up Sunday The traditional day to make the Christmas pudding and cake: the last Sunday before Advent. Cake and pudding schedule. | |
| Friday 27 November | Black Friday The Friday after US Thanksgiving (Thursday 26 November). Cyber Monday is Monday 30 November. | |
| Sunday 29 November | Advent Sunday The first Sunday of Advent. | |
| Tuesday 1 December | Advent calendars start Day 1 of a standard 1 to 24 December Advent calendar. Many families have the Christmas elf arrive today: free elf arrival letter. | |
| Thursday 10 December | Christmas Jumper Day Save the Children's official date. The charity says another day that suits your school, workplace or group is fine. | |
| Friday 18 December | Last posting: 2nd Class Royal Mail published date for 2nd Class and 2nd Class Signed For. Tracked 48 is Saturday 19 December. All posting dates and a card list planner. | |
| Monday 21 December | Last posting: 1st Class Royal Mail published date for 1st Class and Tracked 24. Special Delivery Guaranteed is Wednesday 23 December. | |
| Thursday 24 December | Christmas Eve The last collection day before Christmas, per Royal Mail. Working back from lunch? Christmas dinner timing calculator. | |
| Friday 25 December | Christmas Day Bank holiday. No Royal Mail collections or deliveries. | |
| Saturday 26 December | Boxing Day Bank holiday. No Royal Mail collections or deliveries. | |
| Monday 28 December | Substitute bank holiday In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, because Boxing Day falls on a Saturday. Royal Mail services resume Tuesday 29 December. | |
| Friday 1 January 2027 | New Year's Day Bank holiday. |
Sources: Royal Mail, "Get ready for Christmas 2026" (read 3 November 2026) for posting dates and bank holiday collections; Save the Children's Christmas Jumper Day page (read 4 November 2026) for the jumper date; the rest are fixed by the calendar (Advent Sunday and Stir-up Sunday are counted back from Christmas, Black Friday follows US Thanksgiving). Royal Mail says dates are subject to change. TCH Works is not affiliated with Royal Mail or Save the Children.
Free tools for the weeks ahead
- Christmas card posting dates and card list planner: works out how many cards to write each evening.
- Christmas dinner timing calculator: turkey weight to a back-to-front timetable.
- Secret Santa generator: draw names without anyone drawing themselves.
- Christmas quiz answer sheets: printable team sheets and rounds.
- Christmas elf arrival letter: for the morning of 1 December.
Common questions
What day is Christmas Day in 2026?
Christmas Day 2026 falls on a Friday (25 December). Christmas Eve is Thursday 24 December and Boxing Day is Saturday 26 December, so the substitute bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is Monday 28 December.
When is Advent Sunday 2026?
Advent Sunday, the first Sunday of Advent, is 29 November 2026. Most Advent calendars start on Tuesday 1 December, which is also the day many families have the Christmas elf arrive.
When is Christmas Jumper Day 2026?
Save the Children's official Christmas Jumper Day 2026 is Thursday 10 December. The charity says any other day that suits your school, workplace or group is fine too.
When is Black Friday 2026?
Black Friday 2026 is Friday 27 November, the day after US Thanksgiving (Thursday 26 November). Cyber Monday follows on Monday 30 November.
What is the last posting date for Christmas cards 2026?
Royal Mail's published last posting dates are Friday 18 December for 2nd Class, Saturday 19 December for Tracked 48 and Monday 21 December for 1st Class and Tracked 24. Dates can change, so check Royal Mail before you post.