Boxing Day 2026
Boxing Day 2026 falls on Saturday, December 26, 2026.
What is Boxing Day?
Boxing Day falls the day after Christmas, on December 26, and is one of the more distinctly regional holidays on this list — well known and widely observed across the UK, Canada, and Australia, but largely unrecognized as a named holiday in the United States.
Where the tradition comes from
The exact origin of the name is genuinely debated rather than settled fact, which is worth being upfront about. The most commonly cited theory ties it to the tradition of giving boxes of gifts, money, or leftover food to servants, tradespeople, and the poor on the day after Christmas — a practical gesture of thanks after the household's own Christmas Day was done. Other accounts point to alms boxes traditionally opened in churches on this date. Both explanations point to the same underlying theme: a day of giving that follows the day of celebrating.
Who observes Boxing Day in 2026
Boxing Day is a public holiday in the UK, Canada, and Australia, and in recent decades has also become strongly associated with major retail sales events in those countries — similar in commercial character to Black Friday in the US, even though the two have separate origins and fall on different dates.
Common questions
What day of the week is Boxing Day 2026?
December 26, 2026 falls on a Saturday.
If Boxing Day falls on a weekend, is it moved to a weekday?
Several countries observe a substitute weekday off when Boxing Day lands on a Saturday or Sunday — check your specific country page for the exact substitute-day rule that applies.
Is Boxing Day the same as Black Friday?
No — they share a similar commercial character as major retail sales events, but Boxing Day falls on December 26 and has roots in the British tradition of giving to servants and the poor, while Black Friday falls the day after Thanksgiving in the US and originated as a retail sales term.