Good Friday Shops Open: 2026 Easter Hours UK & Ireland

Good Friday 2026 lands on April 3, but whether you plan a normal shopping run or find a locked door depends entirely on which country you are in. In the UK, timeanddate.com (calendar and holiday data) records it as a bank holiday where most shops stay open — a subtle legal fact that often surprises first-time visitors.

Good Friday 2026 date: April 3 · UK bank-holiday status: Bank holiday, shops open · Ireland public-holiday status: Not a public holiday · Typical UK supermarket Good Friday hours: 8am–8pm · Aldi Ireland Good Friday close: 10pm

Six key facts about the 2026 Easter shopping calendar, drawn from official holiday data and retail round-ups.

Are shops open on Good Friday in the UK?

Yes — the short answer is that most shops, supermarkets, restaurants, and pubs operate as normal on Good Friday in the UK. According to timeanddate.com (calendar and holiday data), Good Friday is a public holiday, but it is “not a day when most businesses must shut.” That gives individual retailers the discretion to set their own trading hours, which is why the schedules vary so much by chain.

Is Good Friday actually a bank holiday?

• Is Good Friday a bank holiday? Yes.
• Does it force shops to close? No.

Yes, Good Friday is a bank holiday across all UK nations. Unlike Christmas Day or Easter Sunday, however, there is no legal requirement for shops to close. Large supermarkets, high-street chains, and convenience stores all typically stay open, though many run reduced hours compared to a standard Friday. timeanddate.com specifically notes that while it is a public holiday, it is not a day of compulsory closure.

What are typical UK supermarket hours on Good Friday?

Tesco: 8am–10pm · ASDA: 7am–10pm · Morrisons: 7am–10pm · Aldi: 10am–6pm · M&S: 8am–8pm · Waitrose: Normal hours · Co-op: Normal (convenience)

Seven major retailers, one consistent pattern: almost everyone opens on Good Friday, but the schedule shifts by chain. The Manchester Evening News (local UK reporting) covers Tesco, Aldi, Morrisons, and Marks & Spencer for 2026:

• Tesco large stores: 8am to 10pm
• Aldi: 10am to 6pm
• Morrisons: 7am to 10pm
• Marks & Spencer: 8am to 8pm

The Good Housekeeping UK (consumer advice publication) adds ASDA at 7am–10pm and notes that Waitrose generally opens with normal hours, subject to local variation.

Metro (UK newspaper) confirms that Co-op stores remain open as usual throughout the Easter period, particularly in convenience-format branches, and that Tesco Express stores operate normal schedules. A separate community-focused site, El-Balad.com (community coverage), lists Sainsbury’s opening from 7am to 11pm on Good Friday — though this has not been confirmed by the retailer directly.

The full picture for Good Friday 2026 looks like this:

The pattern is clear: Good Friday is a business-as-usual day for most UK supermarkets, just on slightly compressed schedules. The real closure event is Easter Sunday, not Good Friday.

Is Good Friday a public holiday in Ireland?

No — Good Friday is not a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland. This is a fundamental difference from the UK, where the day enjoys bank-holiday status. In Ireland, retailers set their own Good Friday trading hours without any overarching legal restriction to close.

Are Good Friday and Easter Monday public holidays?

• Good Friday: Not a public holiday in Ireland.
• Easter Monday: Public holiday in Ireland.

Easter Monday is a public holiday in Ireland, while Good Friday is not. This means the calendar of closures looks completely different on the two islands. The editorial research indicates that Irish retailers treat Good Friday as a normal trading day, while Easter Monday becomes the main holiday closure.

What is the difference between a bank holiday and a public holiday?

The legal names look similar on paper, but each operates on a different trading rule book.

The consequence for shoppers is direct: the entire rhythm of Easter shopping shifts depending on which country you are in.

The UK/Ireland split means any cross-border Easter shopping trip needs to be checked twice — once for each country’s holiday calendar.

Is Aldi open on Good Friday 2026?

Yes, Aldi is open in both countries, but on notably different timetables that illustrate the cross-border divergence perfectly.

Is Lidl open on Good Friday?

Lidl 2026: Details not yet published by provided sources

Lidl’s 2026 Easter hours were not reported in the provided UK and Ireland round-ups, but the chain typically follows industry patterns similar to Aldi. Shoppers are advised to check the Lidl store locator for branch-level confirmation.

Is Morrisons open on Good Friday 2026?

Morrisons: 7am–10pm (Manchester Evening News)

Yes. The Manchester Evening News reports that Morrisons stores operate from 7am to 10pm on Good Friday 2026.

Is M&S open on Good Friday 2026?

M&S: 8am–8pm (Manchester Evening News)

Yes. The same Manchester Evening News round-up places Marks & Spencer hours at 8am to 8pm for most locations on Good Friday.

The contrast between Aldi UK and Aldi Ireland on Good Friday is the clearest proof that holiday rules diverge by country.

Is Tesco open over Easter?

Tesco is one of the most reliable options, but format and location determine the details.

Is Aldi open on Easter Monday?

• UK: Aldi opens on Easter Monday with Sunday-style hours.
• Ireland: Easter Monday is a public holiday, so Aldi Ireland schedule should be confirmed locally.

In the UK, Aldi typically opens on Easter Monday with Sunday-style hours. In Ireland, Easter Monday is a public holiday, so Aldi Ireland’s schedule should be confirmed locally before travelling.

Is Tesco open on Easter Sunday in Ireland?

• Large stores: Closed.
• Express stores: May open on reduced hours.

Large Tesco stores in Ireland are generally closed on Easter Sunday. Express stores may open on reduced hours, so checking the specific branch is essential.

Are shops open on Easter Monday?

UK: Open (standard bank holiday). Ireland: Public holiday (many closed).

In the UK, yes — most shops operate on bank-holiday hours. In Ireland, Easter Monday is a public holiday, meaning many retailers close or run on Sunday-style schedules. The difference is stark and catches many cross-border shoppers off guard.

What are Dunnes Stores Easter opening hours?

Dunnes Stores 2026: No consolidated schedule in provided sources

Dunnes Stores 2026 Easter hours are not detailed in the available sources. Shoppers are advised to check the Dunnes Stores official website for branch-level updates as the holiday approaches.

Are UK supermarkets open on Easter Sunday?

In short: mostly no — but the rule varies by nation within the UK itself.

Is M&S closed on Easter Sunday?

• Large stores (England/Wales/NI): Closed.
• Food halls: Check locally — size determines the rule.

Marks & Spencer large stores in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland are generally closed on Easter Sunday. M&S food halls may open depending on their size and format, but the policy is not consistently confirmed across all sources.

Shops open Easter Sunday Ireland

Ireland Easter Sunday: No legal restriction, many retailers reduce hours

In the Republic of Ireland, Easter Sunday trading is not restricted by law, but many retailers choose to close or reduce hours voluntarily. The legal framework in Ireland is entirely different from the UK.

The regional split within the UK is significant. Good Housekeeping UK (consumer advice) and Metro (UK newspaper) both confirm that large shops in England and Wales must close on Easter Sunday. In Scotland, the restrictions do not apply. In Northern Ireland, major supermarkets were reported to close under local trading rules, according to Metro.

A shopper crossing the Irish Sea this Easter will see the same holiday land on different days in different ways.

Easter 2026 timeline: key shopping dates

• Good Friday 2026 – April 3. UK bank holiday; most shops open on reduced hours (timeanddate.com).
• Easter Saturday 2026 – April 4. Normal Saturday trading for most retailers.
• Easter Sunday 2026 – April 5. Large England/Wales/NI stores closed; Scotland open (Good Housekeeping UK, Metro).
• Easter Monday 2026 – April 6. Public holiday in Ireland; variable UK bank-holiday hours.

The weekend before Easter is the most predictable stretch; afterwards the calendars split.

What we know for certain — and what’s still unclear

The confirmed facts here come from official holiday calendars and established consumer publishers; the unclear items are where local confirmation still matters.

What the sources say

Summary

Easter 2026 presents a split screen between the UK and Ireland. In the UK, Good Friday is a wide-open shopping day with compressed hours, while Easter Sunday shuts most large stores in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In the Republic of Ireland, Good Friday runs without restriction, but Easter Monday becomes the main obstacle. For UK shoppers, the smartest strategy is to treat Good Friday as your primary stock-up day. For Irish shoppers, Easter Monday is the closure to watch. Regardless of country, checking your local store’s published hours a week ahead is the only way to avoid a closed door.

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