Christmas Eve always falls on 24 December, the day before Christmas Day, and in 2026 it lands on a Thursday. The date never moves, so you can pencil it in every single year: 24 December, no matter what the calendar does around it. What does change is the weekday, which is why one year it feels like a long lazy build-up and the next it arrives in the middle of a busy working week.
Christmas Eve is fixed to 24 December in the Western (Gregorian) calendar, sitting directly before Christmas Day on the 25th. Here is how the next few years line up so you can plan ahead:
2025 - Wednesday, 24 December
2026 - Thursday, 24 December
2027 - Friday, 24 December
2028 - Sunday, 24 December
2029 - Monday, 24 December
A quick note on the "eve" part. In Christian tradition the day was counted from sunset, a habit inherited from the older idea that evening begins the new day, so the celebrations genuinely start on the evening of the 24th rather than waiting for the morning of the 25th. That is also why so many of the best-loved customs, from carols to stockings, happen the night before.
No. Christmas Eve is not a bank holiday in the UK, so it counts as a normal working day. Many people do take it off or finish early, schools are already closed for the Christmas break, and plenty of employers grant a half day, but none of that is a legal entitlement. The official public holidays are Christmas Day (25 December) and Boxing Day (26 December), with substitute bank holidays added if those dates fall on a weekend.
In practice the 24th is the last big dash before the festivities. Shops, especially food halls and gift counters, are heaving, and many close earlier than usual. Public transport often runs a reduced timetable from the late afternoon, and the roads, stations and airports fill up as people travel to be with family for the 25th. If you are doing any last-minute shopping, going early in the day is your friend.
Straight from the grotto
Kids' Merry Xmas Christmas Jumper
Kids' Merry Xmas Christmas Jumper brings all the warmth and silliness the season is made for.
For a date that is not even a holiday, Christmas Eve carries an enormous amount of tradition. A few are unmistakably British:
A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College, Cambridge is broadcast on the radio across the UK and around the world, telling the Christmas story through the same nine readings each year.
Midnight Mass draws people to church on Christmas Eve, even many who do not attend the rest of the year. It traditionally began at midnight as the 24th turns into the 25th, though many services now start earlier in the evening.
Christingle services hand each child a decorated orange that represents the world, ringed with red ribbon and topped with a candle, a gentle, glowing way to mark the night.
Hanging up stockings at the foot of the bed or by the fireplace, ready for Father Christmas to fill overnight, is the highlight for children.
A glass of sherry and a mince pie left out for Father Christmas (and a carrot for the reindeer) is the quintessentially British version of the milk-and-cookies custom.
If opening one gift early is your family tradition, our Christmas pyjamas are made for exactly that, ready to pull on for Christmas Eve films and slip into bed for the big morning.
Beyond the rituals, Christmas Eve is the cosy, anticipation-filled evening of the year. Trees get their finishing touches, the Christmas film goes on, and many families have quietly adopted the tradition of opening one gift early, almost always a fresh pair of pyjamas to wear to bed and into Christmas morning. It is the perfect excuse to get everyone into something soft and festive for the photos that follow.
Christmas Eve around the world
In much of mainland Europe, Christmas Eve is the main event rather than the warm-up. Across Germany, Austria, Poland and the Nordic countries, the family meal and the gift exchange both happen on the evening of the 24th, with presents brought by figures such as the Christkind rather than waiting for the 25th. Food takes centre stage, too: Italy enjoys the Feast of the Seven Fishes, Poland and other Central European countries lay out a meatless twelve-dish supper, and Scandinavian households gather around a generous julbord buffet.
The customs vary, but the heart of it is the same everywhere - one special evening that brings family together before Christmas Day itself. If your celebrations have a Nordic streak, you are in good company.
However you mark the night, getting the whole family kitted out in matching festive knits or cosy nightwear is half the fun. Browse the full range of matching family Christmas pyjamas to find your Christmas Eve set.
The short answer
Christmas Eve is on 24 December every year, falling on Thursday in 2026. It is not a UK public holiday, but it is arguably the cosiest, most anticipation-packed evening of the festive season, from carols and Midnight Mass to stockings, sherry and a comfy pair of pyjamas. Whatever your family tradition, the date is one thing you never have to look up twice.
Christmas Eve is fixed to 24 December every year, so only the weekday changes.
It is not a UK bank holiday, unlike Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
A glass of sherry and a mince pie is the traditional British treat left out for Father Christmas.
King's College, Cambridge broadcasts A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve every year.
Across Germany and the Nordics, families open gifts on the evening of the 24th, not Christmas morning.
Frequently asked questions about When Is Christmas Eve? Date, 2026 & UK Traditions
Christmas Eve is on 24 December, the day and evening before Christmas Day on the 25th. The two are often celebrated together, but the 24th is Christmas Eve.
In 2026, Christmas Eve falls on Thursday, 24 December. The date is fixed to 24 December every year, so only the weekday changes.
Yes. Christmas Eve is not a public or bank holiday in the UK, so it counts as a normal working day. Many people take it off or finish early, but that is up to each employer, not a legal right.
In Christian tradition the day was counted from sunset, so Christmas celebrations begin on the evening of the 24th. This is why carols, Midnight Mass and stockings all happen the night before Christmas Day.
In the UK and US, presents are usually opened on Christmas morning. In much of Europe, including Germany and the Nordic countries, families exchange gifts on the evening of Christmas Eve instead.
