2026 in the United Kingdom

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Events from the year 2026 in the United Kingdom .

Incumbents

• Monarch – Charles III
• Prime Minister – Keir Starmer (Labour)

Events

January

• 1 January
  • Scotland's "Not Proven" verdict is abolished in all new trials. ^[1]
  • Figures indicate that 41,472 migrants crossed the English Channel during 2025, almost 5,000 more than 2024, and the highest annual number since 2022. ^[2]
• 2 January
  • The FTSE 100 rises above 10,000 points for the first time in its history. ^[3]
  • The MMRV vaccine, designed to protect children against measles, mumps, rubella (German measles), and varicella (chickenpox), is made available on the NHS throughout the UK. ^[4]
  • An amber weather alert for snow, which came into force for Scotland from midday, is extended until Monday 5 January, while there are yellow warnings for snow and ice for parts of England and Wales. ^[5]
  • BBC News analysis indicates that a record amount of electricity was produced through renewable energy during 2025, with wind being the most prolific. ^[6]
• 3 January
  • Luke Littler wins the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship, his second consecutive PDC World Darts Championship victory, after defeating Gian van Veen 7-1. ^[7]
  • The Ministry of Defence announces that RAF Typhoon jets took part in a joint airstrike with France on a suspected underground arms cache in Syria that was previously used by ISIS. ^[8]
• 4 January – The Met Office issues fresh warnings for snow and ice across the UK on Monday 5 January as people return to work and school following the Christmas break. An amber weather alert for fresh snow is also issued for northern Scotland. ^[9]
• 5 January
  • New powers come into force allowing mobile phones belonging to migrants to be seized without their arrest. ^[10]
  • A ban on junk food advertising comes into effect, as part of a drive to tackle childhood obesity. This affects TV adverts shown after 9pm and online adverts at any time. ^[11]
• 6 January
  • The UK experiences its coldest night of the winter so far, with temperatures reaching as low as –12.5 °C (9.5 °F) in Marham, Norfolk. Snow and ice warnings continue to affect much of the country, closing more than 1,000 schools and causing widespread travel disruption. ^[12]
  • The Met Office issues a fresh yellow warning for ice and snow for much of the UK ahead of the arrival of Storm Goretti. Snow is forecast for the UK for the 6 and 7 January, and for England and Wales for the 8 and 9 January. ^[13]
  • Technology Secretary Liz Kendall demands that social media company X deals with deepfake nudes generated by its Grok AI model, and says that Ofcom is now "looking into this as a matter of urgency." ^[14]
  • Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announces that the UK and France have signed a declaration of intent to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine if a peace agreement is signed with Russia. ^[15]
• 7 January
  • The Ministry of Defence confirms that British armed forces supported the US seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic. ^[16]
  • The UK government proposes that learner drivers wait six months between taking their theory test and their practical test as part of plans to improve road safety. ^[17]
• 8 January
  • A red "danger to life" wind warning is issued by the Met Office for south-west England as Storm Goretti heads towards the UK, with gusts expected to surpass 100 mph in some areas. ^[18]
  • Tougher rules for people applying to come to the UK on skilled worker or scale-up visas begin. ^{[19] [20] [21]}
  • The UK government announces it will make changes to plans to increase business rates for pubs. ^[22]
  • A review finds that two serial rapists were among 131 Metropolitan Police officers and staff who committed crimes or misconduct after they were not properly vetted. ^[23]
• 9 January
  • Storm Goretti brings heavy snow, ice and high winds to the UK, with further cold weather forecast. A yellow weather warning for ice is in force for much of the UK for Saturday 10 January, and a yellow warning for northern England and Scotland for Sunday 11 January. ^[24]
  • Defence Secretary John Healey tells reporters that British bases, personnel or equipment will not be used to support US military action against Greenland, following recent remarks by Donald Trump about the need to acquire the semi-autonomous Danish territory. ^[25]
• 10 January
  • Non-league football team Macclesfield F.C. defeat Crystal Palace 2–1 in the FA Cup third round, technically the biggest upset in the competition's history, with 177 league places separating both teams. ^[26]
  • Two people are arrested following protests outside the Iranian embassy in London during which a demonstrator climbs on to a balcony of the building. ^[27]
  • Weather warnings for snow, rain and wind are in place for Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England until Monday 12 January, before milder weather is forecast to end the cold snap. ^[28]
• 11 January
  • Four people are killed and five others injured in a head-on car crash on Wigan Road, Bolton, Greater Manchester. ^[29]
  • BBC News reports that the UK government has paid "substantial" compensation to Abu Zubaydah, who was tortured by the CIA and remains imprisoned without trial at Guantanamo Bay after almost 20 years. ^[30]
  • BBC News reports that the UK government has identified a legal basis by which ships belonging to "shadow fleets" can be boarded and detained if they enter UK territorial waters. ^[31]
  • The UK government releases a pothole map showing which local authorities have been fixed with a new traffic light rating system. ^[32]
• 12 January
  • A major incident is declared as tens of thousands of people across Kent and Sussex remain without water, have low pressure or intermittent supplies, caused by recent cold weather and a subsequent breakout of leaks and bursts. ^[33]
  • Ofcom launches an investigation into X amid concerns that its Grok AI tool is being used to create sexualised images. ^[34]
  • Technology Secretary Liz Kendall announces that the UK government will enforce legislation in the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (passed in June 2025) making it illegal to create non-consensual intimate images, and make it illegal for companies to supply the tools to create such images. ^[35]
  • A shortfall in UK defence spending prompts Sir Richard Knighton, the Head of the Armed Forces, to warn that the UK is "not as ready as we need to be for the kind of full-scale conflict we might face". ^[36]
  • Former Conservative Party Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi defects to Reform UK. ^[37]
• 13 January
  • Wing Commander Sasha Nash is appointed to lead the Red Arrows, succeeding Wing Commander Adam Collins, and becoming the first woman to take on the role. ^[38]
  • The UK government drops plans to require people to sign up to their digital ID card scheme in order to prove their eligibility to work in the UK. ^[39]
  • The UK government outlines its plans for investment in Northern Powerhouse Rail. ^[40]
• 14 January
  • Following his conviction on 5 September, actor John Alford is sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for sexually assaulting two girls aged 14 and 15. ^[41]
  • Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood says she has lost confidence in West Midlands Police chief constable Craig Guildford after Israeli football supporters of Maccabi Tel Aviv were banned from a match against Aston Villa after police overstated the threat posed to Israeli fans. Mahmood says that she will reinstate legislative powers allowing chief constables to be dismissed by the Home Secretary. ^[42]
  • Ofwat is to review the operating licence for South East Water following disruption to water supplies in Sussex and Kent. ^[43]
  • Fast food outlet TGI Fridays closes 16 of its UK restaurants with the loss of 456 jobs. ^[44]
• 15 January
  • Office for National Statistics data indicates the UK economy grew by 0.3% in November, faster than had been forecast, largely as a result of good performance in the automotive and service sectors. ^[45]
  • Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick is sacked by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch for "plotting to defect". He is later unveiled as Reform UK's latest Member of Parliament. ^[46]
  • Downing Street announces it no longer has confidence in West Midlands Police chief constable Craig Guildford. ^[47]
  • Ofwat launches its investigation into South East Water. ^[48]
  • The Princess of Wales hosts the England women's national rugby union team at Windsor Castle to celebrate their 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup victory. ^[49]

Predicted and scheduled events

• 28 January – Sarah Mullally is scheduled to be installed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury in a ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral. ^[50]
• February – Topshop is scheduled to return to the high street, with branches opening in 32 John Lewis & Partners stores. The Topman brand is also scheduled to return in six stores. ^[51]
• 28 February – The 2026 Brit Awards are scheduled to be held at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, the first time in the ceremony's history that it will be held outside London. ^[52]
• 6 April
  • The State Pension age begins its transition from 66 to 67 under the Pensions Act 2014. ^[53]
  • A new law comes into force in England banning the keeping of all primate species as pets in domestic settings. ^[54]
• 7 May – 2026 United Kingdom local elections
• 3 June – The trial of Russell Brand is scheduled to begin. ^[55]
• 12 June to 5 July – England will host the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup in cricket. ^{[56] [57]}
• 27 June to 1 July – A new music festival, the Blenheim Palace Festival, is scheduled to be held in Oxfordshire. ^[58]
• 23 to 26 July – The WOMAD Festival returns after a year's hiatus with the festival now based at Neston Park Estate near Corsham, Wiltshire. ^[59]
• 23 July to 2 August – The 2026 Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow. ^{[60] [61]}
• 7 to 31 August – The annual Edinburgh Fringe festival takes place in the Scottish Capital. ^[62]
• 10 to 16 August – The 2026 European Athletics Championships will be held at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham. ^[63]
• 12 to 16 August – The 2026 Boomtown Festival is scheduled to take place in Hampshire. Acts include Kneecap, Madness, Scissor Sisters, Faithless, The Vengaboys and Groove Armada. ^[64]
• 21 August – The first annual national day "to honour and remember" the victims of terrorism in the UK is scheduled to take place. ^[65]
• Summer – Wales will host the 2026 UEFA European Under-19 Championship in football. ^{[66] [67]}

See also

• Politics of the United Kingdom
• 2020s in United Kingdom political history
• 2026 United Kingdom electoral calendar

References

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