Christmas 2026 Opening Hours – Plan Ahead

Although Christmas may seem a long way off, now is the time to start planning your pharmacy’s opening arrangements.

One date that often causes confusion is Saturday 26th December 2026, which is not a Bank Holiday for NHS Community Pharmacy contractual purposes.

This means pharmacies that would normally be open on a Saturday are expected to open as usual, unless the appropriate contractual process has been followed.

Our reminder explains what you need to do if you are considering any changes to your Saturday opening hours and the key application deadlines.