Bank Holiday Car Boot Sales 2026: Dates & What to Expect

68 of the 211 car boot sales we list open on Bank Holiday Mondays, and the remaining 2026 dates for England & Wales are Monday 31 August, Friday 25 December and Monday 28 December — with the realistic boot-sale date being 31 August. The bank holiday car boot sales page shows everything open on the day.

Bank holiday Mondays are bonus boot days — an extra trading morning bolted onto the weekend, with Sunday-size crowds and a family-day-out feel. Here are the dates for your calendar, what to expect, and how to plan it.

Bank holiday dates for boot sales (England & Wales)

Bank holidayDateBoot sale outlookSummer Bank HolidayMonday 31 August 2026The biggest boot day of late summer — most BH sales openChristmas Day / Boxing Day (subst.)25 & 28 December 2026Outdoor boots closed; a few indoor markets trade between the holidaysNew Year's DayFriday 1 January 2027Quiet — season restarts at EasterGood Friday / Easter Monday26 & 29 March 2027Season opener — Easter Monday is traditionally the first big boot of the yearEarly May Bank HolidayMonday 3 May 2027Full season, all BH sales openSpring Bank HolidayMonday 31 May 2027Peak season weekend + MondaySummer Bank HolidayMonday 30 August 2027The summer blowout

Dates per the official GOV.UK bank holiday calendar. Scotland and Northern Ireland differ slightly — check the listing for sales there.

What's different about a bank holiday boot?

The bank holiday family wave lands 9–11am — sellers should hold some stock back for it.

• Bigger crowds, later peak. The 6am dealers still come, but the family wave lands 9–11am — sellers should hold stock back for it.
• Some Sunday sales add a Monday date. Regulars like Calverton run "every Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday" — the listing's schedule line tells you.
• Weather decides everything. A sunny August Monday is the busiest boot day of the year; a wet one moves the action to whichever sales have hard standing or cover.
• Arrive earlier than usual — parking fields fill fast on bank holidays, for buyers and sellers alike.

Parking fields fill fast on bank holiday mornings — arrive earlier than usual.

Bank holiday questions, answered

Are car boot sales open on bank holidays?

Yes — 68 of the 211 sales we list run on Bank Holiday Mondays, and several put on extra dates. Bank holiday boots trade like a second Sunday: big crowds, full fields and family footfall.

When is the next bank holiday car boot sale?

The next England & Wales bank holiday is the Summer Bank Holiday on Monday 31 August 2026. Check our bank holiday page on the day — it lists every sale that opens, with times and entry fees.

Are bank holiday car boot sales busier than normal Sundays?

Usually, yes. A bank holiday Monday adds a bonus trading day to the weekend, so buyers who missed Sunday come out in force — sellers often report their best takings of the year on August bank holiday.

On the day, the bank holiday hub lists every open sale with times and fees — or run a postcode search to see the closest. Selling? Brush up with the seller's guide first.