March & April 2026 Calendar: Easter, Clocks Changing & Spring Events
March and April 2026 are two of the most event-filled months of the year. Spring arrives, the clocks go forward, and Easter brings a much-welcomed long weekend. From St Patrick's Day and Mothering Sunday through to the Easter bank holidays and St George's Day, here is everything you need to know about planning March and April 2026.
March 2026 at a Glance
- Days in month: 31
- Starts on: Sunday 1st March
- Ends on: Tuesday 31st March
- Bank holidays: 1 (St Patrick's Day, 17th March — Northern Ireland only)
- Weekdays: 22
Key Dates in March 2026
| Date | Day | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 1 March | Sunday | St David's Day (Wales) & Meteorological Spring begins |
| 8 March | Sunday | International Women's Day |
| 17 March | Tuesday | St Patrick's Day (Bank Holiday in Northern Ireland) |
| 20 March | Friday | Spring Equinox (astronomical spring begins) |
| 22 March | Sunday | Mothering Sunday (Mother's Day UK) |
| 29 March | Sunday | Clocks go forward 1 hour (BST begins) & Palm Sunday |
| 30 March | Monday | British Summer Time begins |
St David's Day: 1st March 2026
St David's Day on Sunday 1st March is the national day of Wales, celebrating the patron saint of Wales. While not a public bank holiday, it is widely observed with Welsh flags, daffodils, and cultural events across Wales and Welsh communities. Schools often hold special assemblies, and many people wear a daffodil or leek as traditional symbols of Wales.
Mothering Sunday: 22nd March 2026
Mothering Sunday — widely known as Mother's Day in the UK — falls on Sunday 22nd March 2026. It is the fourth Sunday in Lent and is one of the most commercially popular occasions of the year, with florists, restaurants, and card shops seeing huge demand in the preceding week. Book early if you plan to take your mother out for a meal, as popular restaurants fill up fast.
Clocks Go Forward: 29th March 2026
The clocks go forward by one hour at 1:00am on Sunday 29th March 2026, marking the start of British Summer Time (BST). While we lose an hour of sleep that night, the trade-off is longer, lighter evenings throughout spring and summer. From late March, sunset extends past 7pm and continues getting later until the summer solstice in June.
Practical tip: update any clocks that do not change automatically — microwaves, car dashboards, and wall clocks in particular. Your smartphone and computer should update automatically.
April 2026 at a Glance
- Days in month: 30
- Starts on: Wednesday 1st April
- Ends on: Thursday 30th April
- Bank holidays: 2 (Good Friday 3rd April & Easter Monday 6th April)
- Weekdays: 22 (but 20 working days due to bank holidays)
Key Dates in April 2026
| Date | Day | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 1 April | Wednesday | April Fool's Day |
| 2 April | Thursday | Maundy Thursday |
| 3 April | Friday | Good Friday (Bank Holiday) |
| 4 April | Saturday | Easter Saturday |
| 5 April | Sunday | Easter Sunday |
| 6 April | Monday | Easter Monday (Bank Holiday) |
| 6 April | Monday | Start of new UK tax year 2026/27 |
| 23 April | Thursday | St George's Day (England) |
| 23 April | Thursday | Shakespeare's Birthday |
Easter 2026: The Four-Day Weekend
Easter 2026 runs from Good Friday 3rd April through to Easter Monday 6th April, giving most UK workers a four-day weekend. With Easter Monday also being the start of the new UK tax year (6th April), it is a doubly significant date for anyone who is self-employed or managing business finances.
If you take Tuesday 7th April as annual leave, you can extend the Easter break to nine days using just one day of leave — taking you from the Thursday before Good Friday through to the following Tuesday. This is one of the best annual leave opportunities in the spring calendar.
For full details, see our dedicated Easter 2026 guide.
New Tax Year: 6th April 2026
The UK financial year for 2026/27 begins on Monday 6th April 2026 (Easter Monday). This is significant for:
- Self-employed individuals and sole traders submitting Self Assessment returns
- Pension contributions and ISA allowances resetting
- Changes to income tax bands or National Insurance rates taking effect
- Businesses reviewing financial performance and planning ahead
St George's Day: 23rd April 2026
St George's Day on Thursday 23rd April is England's national day, though it is not a bank holiday. The day is increasingly celebrated with events, pub gatherings, and displays of the St George's Cross flag. It also happens to be William Shakespeare's birthday — or at least the traditionally accepted date — making it a day with deep cultural significance for England.
Planning Tip: Spring Annual Leave
March and April together offer the best annual leave opportunities of the first half of 2026. The Easter long weekend combined with strategic annual leave can produce breaks of nine days or more. Plan your spring leave early, as popular holiday destinations fill up quickly around the Easter period.