2026 in the United Kingdom

Events predicted and scheduled for the year 2026 in the United Kingdom .

Events

Predicted and scheduled events

• 8 January – Tougher rules for people applying to come to the UK on skilled worker or scale-up visas are scheduled to begin. ^[1]
• 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. ^[2]
• 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. ^[3]
• 6 April
  • The State Pension age begins its transition from 66 to 67 under the Pensions Act 2014. ^[4]
  • A new law comes into force in England banning the keeping of all primate species as pets in domestic settings. ^[5]
• 7 May – 2026 United Kingdom local elections
• 12 June to 5 July – England will host the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup in cricket. ^{[6] [7]}
• 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. ^[8]
• 23 July to 2 August – The 2026 Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow. ^{[9] [10]}
• 10 to 16 August – The 2026 European Athletics Championships will be held at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham. ^[11]
• 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. ^[12]
• Summer – Wales will host the 2026 UEFA European Under-19 Championship in football. ^{[13] [14]}

See also

• Politics of the United Kingdom
• 2020s in United Kingdom political history

References

1. Mulligan, Euan O'Byrne (14 October 2025). "Migrants will need A-level standard English to work in UK". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
2. Simpson, Emma (3 September 2025). "Topshop will return to High Street in John Lewis stores". BBC News . Retrieved 3 September 2025.
3. Paterson, Colin (8 June 2025). "Brit Awards to leave London for Manchester after 48 years". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
4. "State Pension age timetable". Department for Work & Pensions. 15 May 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
5. "Keeping primates as pets banned". Gov.uk . 5 March 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
6. "India set to host 2025 Women's ODI World Cup". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
7. "England to host 2026 T20 Women's World Cup". Sky Sports . Retrieved 26 July 2022.
8. Crane, Ross (30 October 2025). "WOMAD: Popular Wiltshire music festival reveals new home for 2026". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
9. Brooks, Libby (17 September 2024). "Glasgow to host 2026 Commonwealth Games after rescue deal agreed". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on 17 September 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
10. "Scotland agrees to host Commonwealth Games in 2026, after Bangkok bid withdrawal". BBC News. 17 July 2023. Archived from the original on 17 September 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
11. "UK Athletics and Birmingham to host European Athletics Championships in 2026". UK Athletics . Retrieved 12 November 2022.
12. Waple, Katie (28 October 2025). "Boomtown festival 2026 line-up announced". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
13. "Wales and Israel to stage U19 EURO in 2026 and 2027". UEFA . Union of European Football Associations. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
14. "Wales to host UEFA U19 Euro Championship 2026". faw.cymru. FAW. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2024.