Important Reminder: Boxing Day Opening Hours
Boxing Day – Saturday 26 December 2026
Boxing Day falls on a Saturday in 2026, with the substitute Bank Holiday falling on Monday 28 December.
Saturday 26 December will be treated as a normal working day for pharmacy opening hours purposes. Pharmacies that normally open on Saturdays must meet their contractual opening requirements unless a change has been approved or the relevant notification requirements have been met.
Please see the guidance below if you need to change your opening hours.
Substitute Bank Holiday – Monday 28 December 2026
Pharmacies are not required to open on Monday 28 December solely because it is the substitute Bank Holiday, unless specifically directed to do so.
Opening hours cannot be transferred from Saturday 26 December to Monday 28 December as an alternative to meeting your usual Saturday contractual opening requirements.
Supplementary opening hours
If you wish to change your supplementary opening hours, you must notify the ICB by 20 November 2026. This is a notification process, not an application process, and ICB approval is not required, provided the correct notice is given.
- To increase supplementary hours: Notify the ICB before the change takes effect. There is no minimum notice period.
- To reduce supplementary hours: Give at least five weeks’ notice before the change takes effect.
If you wish to reduce your supplementary hours on Saturday 26 December, you must notify the ICB at least five weeks in advance.
How to notify the ICB
- Complete the supplementary opening hours notification form (Chapter 36, Annex 9).
- Email your notification to Central East ICB at ceicb.pharmacy@nhs.net.
- Update your NHS website and Directory of Services (DoS) opening hours using the NHS Profile Manager.
Please give as much notice as possible to allow time for the change to be processed and your opening hours information to be updated.
Core opening hours
If you wish to close or temporarily change your core opening hours on Saturday 26 December, you must submit a formal application to the ICB and receive approval before making any changes.
Contractors should normally allow at least 90 days for the application process. To allow 90 days before Saturday 26 December 2026, an application would have needed to be submitted by Friday 25 September 2026. This date has now passed.
Applications to close core hours on Boxing Day are likely to be refused. However, if you wish to request a change, you may still submit an application. We encourage you to do so as soon as possible, allowing time for the ICB to consider the application and, if necessary, for an appeal.
Further guidance
- CPE: Pharmacy Bank Holiday opening hours for the remainder of 2026 and in 2027 (PDF) – national guidance on key dates and contractual requirements.
- CPE Opening Hours
- Opening hours notification form: Chapter 36, Annex 9
- CPH Opening Hours webpage
