In this article
Quick takeaways
- A one-off World Cup bank holiday has been confirmed for Scotland on Monday, 15th June 2026. It has been introduced to celebrate Scotland qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- Unlike standard bank holidays, the day off will not be offered to everybody.
- Your eligibility for time off may depend on your employer or council, as not all have chosen to observe the holiday.
What is the Scotland World Cup Bank Holiday?
A one-off bank holiday observed in Scotland
Scotland is off to the World Cup in 2026, after a sweeping 4-2 win against Denmark in November. The decision was announced by First Minister John Swinney, then formally confirmed by His Majesty King Charles III.
The Scottish men’s national team has not qualified for the World Cup in nearly 30 years, and a special, one-off bank holiday has been announced in Scotland to commemorate the event.
When is the World Cup Bank Holiday?
The holiday will take place on Monday, 15th June 2026.
This bank holiday will follow Scotland’s opening match against Haiti, kicking off (no pun intended), at 2am BST, 14th June. Since Scotland will be pulling an all-nighter through the middle of the weekend, it only seems fair to give them an extra day off.
This makes the long weekend:
Saturday, 13th June
Sunday, 14th June
Monday, 15th June (bank holiday)
Who gets time off for the World Cup Bank Holiday?
This is not your typical bank holiday, and depending on where you work or live, you may or may not receive the World Cup bank holiday off.
It's not universally observed
The UK does not require employers to close on bank holidays. In this case, the decision of whether to open or not has been left to local councils, public sector organisations and private businesses individually.
Who is likely to get the day off
🩺 Health boards and NHS staff
🏛️ Scottish Government employees
👥 Some local council workers
Local councils observing the World Cup bank holiday
Of Scotland’s 32 local councils, only five have chosen to observe the bank holiday. They are:
- Aberdeen
- Dundee
- Glasgow
- Renfrewshire
- South Lanarkshire
These councils will allow most staff to take the day off, schools will also most likely receive the day off in these areas.
Who might miss out
- Some private sector employees (unless your company chooses to observe the bank holiday)
- Workers in councils that declined the holiday
- Hospitality, retail, services and other industries that operate as normal
Overall, it is expected that more than 237,000 will be entitled to a public holiday for the 2026 World Cup.
Will schools be closed?
Local councils will determine whether schools receive the public holiday. Where the holiday is being adopted, schools will likely close; they will remain open in most other areas. It is recommended to seek clarification from your child’s school.
Some parents may need to seek alternative care arrangements for their children.
How to get more time off work
If you’re lucky enough to have the 15th June day off, you can maximise your annual leave and turn 4 leave days into 9 consecutive days off.
If you do get the day off:
- Book leave from 16th–19th June (Tuesday–Friday)
- Use 4 days of annual leave
- Enjoy 9 consecutive days off
Managing one-off bank holidays with multi-regional teams
If you’re managing staff in multiple locations, it can be tricky to track one-off bank holidays using a manual system. Using a leave management system, like Leave Dates, you can automatically upload regional bank holidays for your entire team.
With Leave Dates, you can:
🌍 Add one-off bank holidays for specific countries and regions
🤝 Keep global teams aligned
🤯 Avoid confusion around who’s off and when
📊 Maintain full visibility across your workforce
Public holidays may vary by region when they’re not observed nationwide. For example, in the UK you can select England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Working with a global or regional team?
With Leave Dates, spotting upcoming bank holidays in 200+ countries and regions is easy. Simply load the regions you need for your team and sync with the calendars and tools you already use.
Final thought
It is an exciting time for Scotland, being part of the 2026 World Cup, and for some who are lucky enough, they will get a special-edition bank holiday. To plan ahead for yourself or your Scottish staff members, check with your council and employer to confirm whether the day will be observed in your area and workplace.
