2 January

2 January 2026 is a bank holiday in Scotland, where it forms part of the traditional two-day New Year holiday alongside 1 January. In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, 2 January is not generally a UK-wide bank holiday, although employers, schools, and local services may set their own holiday arrangements. In Scotland, the date falls on a Friday in 2026 and is officially observed as the second day of the New Year break.

The Scottish New Year holiday has deep roots in winter customs and the importance historically attached to Hogmanay, Scotland’s distinctive New Year celebration. Before modern holiday legislation standardized public days off, communities observed the season through church services, family gatherings, visiting, feasting, and local festivities. The continuation of 2 January as a Scottish bank holiday reflects the enduring cultural importance of New Year celebrations in Scotland, where Hogmanay has traditionally been at least as prominent as Christmas. If a Scottish bank holiday falls on a weekend, a substitute weekday is normally provided; this does not apply in 2026 because 2 January falls on a Friday.

In Scotland, 2 January is commonly used for continued family visits, rest, recovery after Hogmanay celebrations, and informal gatherings with friends. Some people attend sporting events, go for winter walks, or take part in community entertainment, while shops, transport services, and attractions may operate reduced or holiday schedules. Many workplaces and schools remain closed, although exact arrangements vary by employer, council, and institution.

Food associated with the season may include leftovers from New Year meals, shortbread, fruitcake, mince pies, soups, and hearty Scottish dishes such as steak pie or haggis. Traditional New Year customs connected with the surrounding celebrations include first-footing—visiting a household after midnight with symbolic gifts such as whisky, shortbread, coal, or salt—and singing “Auld Lang Syne,” the Scots-associated song traditionally linked with New Year. Appropriate greetings include “Happy New Year,” “Happy New Year when it comes,” and the Scottish Gaelic greeting “Bliadhna Mhath Ùr,” meaning “Happy New Year.”