Christmas opening hours 2026
Supermarket and shop hours in the UK from Christmas Eve to New Year's Day. Confirmed where the shop has announced them, otherwise last year's hours.
Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, Aldi, Lidl, M&S, Co-op, Waitrose, Iceland, Argos and Primark are closed on Christmas Day (large shops can't open by law in England, Wales and Scotland). Open on Boxing Day: Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, Co-op and Primark.
| Shop | Christmas Eve | Christmas Day | Boxing Day | Bank holiday Monday | New Year's Eve | New Year's Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tesco | Extra and superstores close 7 PM; Express by 10 PM (2025) | Closed | Extra and superstores 9 AM to 6 PM; most Express 9 AM to 7 PM (2025) | Not announced | Extra and superstores close 7 PM; most Express by 10 PM (2025) | Extra and superstores 9 AM to 6 PM in England, Wales and NI; 11 AM to 6 PM in Scotland (2025) |
| Sainsbury's | Supermarkets 6 AM to 7 PM; convenience stores 6 AM to 9 PM (2025) | Closed | Supermarkets 9 AM to 6 PM; convenience stores 9 AM to 9 PM (2025) | Not announced | Supermarkets close 7 PM; convenience stores 6 AM to 9 PM (2025) | Reduced hours; 2025 reports differ |
| Asda | Closes 7 PM; 5 AM to 7 PM in 2025 | Closed | 9 AM to 6 PM (2025) | Not announced | 7 AM to 7 PM (2025) | 9 AM to 6 PM (2025) |
| Morrisons | Most stores 6 AM to 6 PM; all close by 7 PM (2025) | Closed | 9 AM to 6 PM (2025) | Not announced | 7 AM to 7 PM (2025) | 9 AM to 6 PM (2025) |
| Aldi | 7 AM to 6 PM in 2025; 2026 times vary locally | Closed | Closed | Open | 8 AM to 6 PM (2025) | Closed |
| Lidl | 7 AM to 6 PM (2025) | Closed | Closed in England, Wales and NI; Scottish stores open (8 AM to 8 PM in 2025) | Not announced | 8 AM to 6 PM (2025) | Closed in England, Wales and NI; Scotland unclear |
| M&S | Varies by store; about 6 AM to 6 PM in 2025 | Closed | Most stores closed; outlet stores and a few convenience stores open (2025) | Not announced | Varies by store; about 8 AM to 6 PM in 2025 | Most stores closed; a few franchise-run convenience stores open (2025) |
| Co-op | Usual opening time to 8 PM; larger supermarkets to 7 PM (2025) | Closed | 9 AM to 7 PM; larger supermarkets 10 AM to 7 PM (2025) | Not announced | Usual opening time to 8 PM; larger supermarkets to 7 PM (2025) | 9 AM to 8 PM; larger supermarkets 10 AM to 7 PM (2025) |
| Waitrose | Closes early (2025) | Closed | Closed | Not announced | Varies by branch (2025) | Most branches open with reduced hours (2025); reports differ |
| Iceland | Not announced | Closed | Select stores open: around London typically 9 AM to 6 or 8 PM; many around Manchester 10 AM to 5 PM (2025) | Not announced | Mostly normal hours (2025) | Varies by region (2025) |
| Boots | Not announced | Selected pharmacies open, limited hours (2025) | Varies by store; selected pharmacies open (2025) | Not announced | Not announced | Varies by store; selected pharmacies open (2025) |
| Argos | Not announced | Closed | Not announced | Not announced | Not announced | Not announced |
| Primark | Not announced | Closed | Varies by store (2024) | Not announced | Not announced | Not announced |
Hours are typical for large stores; smaller and convenience stores, and stores in Scotland and Northern Ireland, can differ. Check your store's page before you go.
The law
England and Wales. Large shops (a relevant floor area over 280 square metres) must not open on Christmas Day for serving retail customers; the occupier can be fined. Exempt shops include farm shops selling mainly their own produce, shops selling mainly alcohol or motor or cycle supplies, registered pharmacies selling only medicines and medical and surgical appliances, shops at designated airports, in railway stations and at service areas under the Highways Act 1980 (motorway services), petrol filling stations, and exhibition stands. Shops of 280 square metres or less may open. Boxing Day (Sat 26 Dec), the substitute bank holiday (Mon 28 Dec), New Year's Eve and New Year's Day have no trading restrictions. Sunday 27 Dec 2026 falls under the normal Sunday rules: a large shop may open for one continuous period of up to six hours between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Source
Scotland. No large shop (more than 280 square metres used for retail sales or display) may open for retail sales on Christmas Day; the occupier and the person managing the shop face a fine of up to £50,000. Exempt: shops mainly selling meals, refreshments or alcohol for consumption on the premises, or meals made to order to take away; registered pharmacies open only to dispense prescriptions; shops in a port, railway station or commercial airport; shops at a motorway service area; and shops mainly selling motor fuel. New Year's Day is not restricted. The 2007 Act lets Scottish Ministers extend the Christmas Day ban to New Year's Day by an order approved by the Scottish Parliament, but on 26 Oct 2021 the Scottish Government said it would not make one, and no Scottish statutory instrument with 'New Year' in its title is on legislation.gov.uk (searched 15 Oct 2026). Scotland has no Sunday trading restrictions. Source
Northern Ireland. Not restricted in 2026 (inferred): Northern Ireland's rules restrict large shops (over 280 square metres) only on Sundays, when they may open 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. except on Easter Day or a Christmas Day that falls on a Sunday. Christmas Day 2026 is a Friday, and no other Northern Ireland law on Christmas Day trading was found. Sunday 27 Dec 2026: large shops may open only between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Source