A UK holiday countdown
Halloween is getting closer.
On 31st October, Halloween brings costumes, carved pumpkins, and trick or treating. The name comes from All Hallows' Eve, the night before All Saints' Day.
Dates for 2026 to 2028 are listed below
Halloween
The name Halloween comes from All Hallows' Eve, the evening before All Saints' Day. Today, costumes and carved pumpkins are among its best-known customs.
About Halloween
Halloween's roots lie partly in Samhain, an ancient Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest and the start of winter. Irish and Scottish emigrants carried the customs to North America, where pumpkins replaced the turnips and swedes first hollowed out as lanterns. Guising, where children dress up and perform a song or joke for treats, is an older tradition than modern trick or treating.
When is Halloween?
Halloween is fixed on 31 October each year, which means it falls on a different day of the week each year and sometimes lands on a weekend.
| Calendar | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All calendars | Saturday 31 October 2026 | Sunday 31 October 2027 | Tuesday 31 October 2028 |
Planning around Halloween
Clocks in the UK go back on the last Sunday in October, so evenings are darker; plan trick or treating routes early, and use reflective strips or torches for children. Work out shifts and childcare cover with the free shift planner, or browse every holiday countdown.
Halloween questions
How many days until Halloween?
The live counter at the top of this page shows the days, hours, minutes and seconds left until the next Halloween, using the time zone you choose. The dates for 2026 to 2028 are in the table above.
When is Halloween in 2027?
Halloween falls on Sunday 31 October 2027 in the United Kingdom.
Is Halloween a public holiday?
No. Halloween is not a public or bank holiday in the UK or the United States, so most schools and workplaces open as usual. Parties and trick or treating normally take place after school or work hours.