New bank holiday confirmed to mark Scotland’s World Cup return

A bank holiday will be held in Scotland on June 15 to mark the nation’s return to the football World Cup for the first time since 1998.

The Scotland men’s national team will have their first fixture against Haiti on Sunday, June 14, with kick-off at 2am UK time.

The King confirmed the news after First Minister John Swinney asked for Scotland’s debut game to be an annual holiday to allow Scots to celebrate the major comeback.

“Not only is this a historic sporting event, it’s also a chance for Scotland to be on the world stage, to attract business development, create tourism interest within the country and to make cultural and sporting connections,” he said at the time.

In response, Buckingham Palace said on Wednesday: “To mark the achievement of Scotland’s men’s football team competing at the Fifa World Cup for the first time in 28 years, we consider it desirable that Monday, the fifteenth day of June in the year 2026 should be a bank holiday in Scotland.

“Now, therefore, we, in pursuance of section 1(3) of the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, do hereby appoint Monday, the fifteenth day of June in the year 2026 to be a bank holiday in Scotland.”

Mr Swinney celebrated the news, posting on X: “It’s now official.

“Scotland will have an extra bank holiday on Monday 15 June to mark our return to the World Cup.”

Bank holidays are set under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971. The relevant powers were devolved by the Scotland Act 1998.

Scotland is able to set distinct bank holidays from the rest of the UK, with the relevant powers devolved by the Scotland Act 1998.

A day can be made a bank holiday in Scotland by Royal Proclamation, meaning the First Minister advises the Privy Council on proclamations for Scotland that are then designated by Royal Proclamation by the King.

If proclaimed however, employers are not legally obliged to observe the bank holiday.