Holy Days of Obligation in Scotland — 2026
Besides every Sunday, Scotland observes 5 holy days of obligation, set by the Bishops' Conference of Scotland with the approval of the Holy See. Here is each one with its 2026 date and whether the obligation binds this year.
The holy days in 2026
The Ascension of the Lord
Thursday, May 14
Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
Monday, June 29 · observed Sunday, June 28
Falls on a Monday in 2026, so it is observed — and the obligation discharged — on Sunday, June 28.
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Saturday, August 15 · observed Sunday, August 16
Falls on a Saturday in 2026, so it is observed — and the obligation discharged — on Sunday, August 16.
All Saints
Sunday, November 1
The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
Friday, December 25
How the rule works
Scotland observes five holy days of obligation besides Sundays. Note the Ascension is kept on Thursday in Scotland. When Saints Peter and Paul or the Assumption fall on a Saturday or a Monday, the day of obligation is celebrated on a Sunday (Saturday to the following Sunday, Monday to the preceding Sunday, per the Bishops' Conference's published practice). All Saints transfers only from a Saturday — if it falls on a Monday it remains a day of obligation (Diocese of Aberdeen, verbatim: 'If All Saints falls on a Monday then that day is a day of obligation').
Celebrated on Sunday in Scotland
These solemnities are transferred to a Sunday, so they are covered by the ordinary Sunday obligation:
- The Epiphany of the Lord — Sunday, January 4. Permanently celebrated on Sunday in Scotland.
- The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) — Sunday, June 7. Permanently celebrated on Sunday in Scotland.
Not days of obligation in Scotland
These feasts of canon 1246 are kept as solemnities on their dates, without a Mass obligation:
- Mary, the Holy Mother of God (1 January)
- The Immaculate Conception (8 December)
- Saint Joseph (19 March)
- Saint Andrew (30 November) — Scotland's patronal solemnity, but not a day of obligation
Fasting & abstinence in Scotland
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting and abstinence in Scotland: fasting binds ages 18-59, abstinence from meat binds ages 14-59 (Bishops' Conference of Scotland). Under the universal law, every Friday of the year is a penitential day (canon 1250); the Scottish bishops have not published a national norm specifying particular forms of ordinary-Friday penance.
The complete list is enumerated in print in The Catholic Directory for Scotland; online it is confirmed by two independent official diocesan enumerations (Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh; Diocese of Aberdeen) consistent with all Bishops' Conference announcements 2019-2026.
Common questions
How many holy days of obligation are there in Scotland in 2026?
Besides every Sunday, Scotland observes 5 holy days of obligation. In 2026, the obligation to attend Mass binds on 5 of them.
Who sets the holy days of obligation in Scotland?
Canon 1246 of the Code of Canon Law lists ten holy days for the universal Church, but each national bishops' conference may, with the approval of the Holy See, suppress some or transfer them to a Sunday. The list on this page follows the Bishops' Conference of Scotland.
What are the fasting rules in Scotland?
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting and abstinence in Scotland: fasting binds ages 18-59, abstinence from meat binds ages 14-59 (Bishops' Conference of Scotland). Under the universal law, every Friday of the year is a penitential day (canon 1250); the Scottish bishops have not published a national norm specifying particular forms of ordinary-Friday penance.
Rules verified against the Bishops' Conference of Scotland and vatican.va. Sources: https://www.bcos.org.uk/Home/Article-Details/ArticleID/941/Please-note-that-Saturday-29th-June-2024-is-NOT-a-Holy-Day-of-Obligation-in-Scotland · https://archedinburgh.org/some-key-dates-for-2025/ · http://web.archive.org/web/20191208074019/https://peterfraserparish.rcda.scot/days-of-obligation-2020 · https://www.bcos.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/BCOS%20Pastoral%20Letter%20221121.pdf