Boxing Day
26 December each year
Boxing Day is observed on 26 December, the day after Christmas Day. The name is believed to originate from the tradition of giving Christmas boxes — gifts to tradespeople, servants and postal workers. In modern times, Boxing Day is associated with major sporting events: Premier League and EFL football fixtures, horse racing (including the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park), and rugby union matches. It is also the start of the post-Christmas sales season. When Boxing Day falls on a weekend, a substitute bank holiday is given on the following Tuesday (if Christmas Day is already taking the Monday substitute).
History & Origins
Boxing Day has been observed in Britain since at least the Middle Ages. The most widely accepted origin of the name lies in the tradition of Christmas boxes — gifts of money, food, or goods given by the gentry and wealthy households to their servants, tradespeople (the postman, the milkman, the butcher), and the poor on the day after Christmas. Churches also opened their alms boxes on 26 December, distributing the collected donations to people in need.
Boxing Day has three great British sporting traditions:
- Premier League Boxing Day fixtures — the round of football matches on 26 December is consistently the most-attended and most watched of the entire Premier League season, with stadiums full across the country.
- The King George VI Chase at Kempton Park, Surrey — the premier steeplechase horse race held on Boxing Day, one of the highlights of the National Hunt racing calendar.
- The Boxing Day hunt — after fox hunting was banned in England and Wales by the Hunting Act 2004, hunts switched to drag hunting (following an artificially laid scent trail). Hundreds of hunts still meet on Boxing Day, attracting large crowds of spectators in the countryside.
The Boxing Day sales are a major retail event — once centred on 26 December in shops, they now increasingly begin online from midnight on Christmas Eve.
Upcoming Dates
| Year | Actual Date | Observed |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Saturday, 26 December 2026 |
Monday, 28 December 2026
Mondayised Falls on a weekend — substitute bank holiday observed on a weekday |
| 2027 | Sunday, 26 December 2027 |
Tuesday, 28 December 2027
Mondayised Falls on a weekend — substitute bank holiday observed on a weekday |
| 2028 | Tuesday, 26 December 2028 | Tuesday, 26 December 2028 |
Why the Date Can Change
Boxing Day is fixed on 26 December. When Boxing Day (or Christmas Day's Mondayisation) causes a clash, substitute weekdays are allocated to ensure both Christmas Day and Boxing Day each receive a bank holiday. When 25 December is a Saturday, Boxing Day (Sunday 26 December) is substituted on Tuesday 28 December, with Christmas Day substituted on Monday 27 December.
Where It's a Public Holiday
Boxing Day is a bank holiday across all of the United Kingdom — England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland — on 26 December.
What's Open & Closed
| Banks | Closed |
| Government offices | Closed |
| Post offices | Closed |
| Supermarkets |
Open
Boxing Day sales are major retail events; many stores open with extended hours
|
| Pubs | Open |
| Public transport |
More than Christmas Day
More services than Christmas Day, but still reduced — check individual operators
|
Public Holiday Pay & Your Rights
Under the Employment Rights Act 1996 and Working Time Regulations 1998, workers whose contracts include bank holidays are entitled to a paid day off on Boxing Day. There is no statutory penalty rate for working on Boxing Day — any enhanced pay is determined by your employment contract, not by law.
Many retail and hospitality employers offer enhanced contractual pay on Boxing Day to attract staff for the busy sales period. Check your contract for details.
How It's Observed
Premier League Boxing Day football is the sporting centrepiece of the day. The Boxing Day round of fixtures has been played since the early years of the Football League and represents one of the busiest and best-attended match days of the season, with matches broadcast globally.
The King George VI Chase at Kempton Park is one of the most prestigious steeplechase races in the National Hunt calendar, attracting top-class horses and large crowds to the Surrey racecourse on Boxing Day.
The Boxing Day sales — once a frenzy of in-person shopping for heavily discounted goods — now begin online. Retail footfall on Boxing Day remains high, particularly for clothing, electronics, and homeware.
Visiting relatives, eating Christmas leftovers, and watching television (sport, films, and seasonal specials) are the other staples of a British Boxing Day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called Boxing Day?
The most accepted etymology is the tradition of 'Christmas boxes' — gifts of money or goods given to servants and tradespeople on 26 December. In the Victorian era, tradespeople (the butcher, the baker, the postman) would call at wealthy homes on 26 December to receive their annual tip or gift. Churches also distributed the contents of their alms boxes (donation boxes) to the poor on this day. Some historians link it to the earthenware boxes apprentices carried to collect tips from customers, broken open on 26 December.
What is the King George VI Chase?
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 steeplechase horse race run on Boxing Day at Kempton Park racecourse in Surrey. Run over 3 miles, it is one of the most prestigious races in the National Hunt calendar and has been won by legendary horses including Desert Orchid, Best Mate, and Kauto Star. Named after King George VI, the race is the Christmas equivalent of a top-level flat race meeting and draws large crowds of racing enthusiasts.
Are the Boxing Day sales worth it?
Boxing Day sales have traditionally offered significant discounts on clothing, electronics, homeware, and other goods. With most major retailers now launching sales online from Christmas Eve, the scarcity of Boxing Day bargains has reduced somewhat. In-store shopping on Boxing Day can still offer genuine discounts, but many of the best deals are available online from midnight. The key advantage of in-store shopping remains the ability to try on clothing and inspect items — though queues can be long.
What happened to the Boxing Day hunt?
Fox hunting with dogs was banned in England and Wales by the Hunting Act 2004, which came into force on 18 February 2005. Scotland had already banned it under the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002. Rather than disappearing, most hunts switched to 'drag hunting' or 'trail hunting' — following an artificially laid scent trail rather than a live fox. Hundreds of hunts still hold their traditional Boxing Day meets, attracting large crowds of supporters, though the activity remains politically controversial.
Legal Basis
When is it observed?
26 December each year