Extra bank holiday in Scotland for World Cup confirmed – but who will get a day off?

Officially announced by the King on February 4, following a royal proclamation, the one-off holiday will be held on Monday, June 15.

The last time Scotland appeared at the World Cup was in 1998, with the holiday requested by First Minister John Swinney for the day following the team’s first fixture in the competition. Scotland’s debut match at the 2026 World Cup will be against Haiti on Sunday, June 14, with kick off at 2am in the UK.

READ MORE: When was Scotland last in the World Cup? Every tournament Scotland has played after 2026 qualification win

A declaration issued by Buckingham Palace stated: “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.”

Despite the bank holiday officially being confirmed, not everyone will be guaranteed a paid day off.

READ MORE: The full list of Scottish bank holidays in 2026 – including World Cup extra

Who will get the new June 15 bank holiday?

If you live outside of Scotland, unfortunately you will not be entitled to a day off for the World Cup.

Even if you live in Scotland, only government employees are guaranteed an additional day off for the bank holiday - depending on their contracts, of course.

Why? Well, there are no laws which require banks, or any other businesses, to close for bank holidays, and the decision will ultimately fall to individual employers.

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As such, many may instead choose to include the day as part of a worker’s statutory annual leave entitlement.

While there are several bank holidays unique to Scotland, many businesses such as banks choose to sync up which days they are closed with their English and Welsh counterparts.

Powers over bank holidays fall to the devolved Scottish Parliament, however the First Minister must still advise the Privy Council before any date can then be approved by the King.