2026 in England

← 2025 2024 2023 2026 in England → 2027 2028 2029
Centuries:	19th 20th 21st
Decades:	2000s 2010s 2020s
See also:	2025–26 in English football 2026 in the United Kingdom Other events of 2026

Events of the year 2026 in England.

Incumbent

Events

January

• 1 January – Convicted murderer Matthew Armstrong and two other prisoners, Daniel Washbourne and Aaron Thomas, abscond from HMP Leyhill in Gloucestershire.^[1]
• 2 January –
  • The Brighton Pier Group announces that it is putting the Brighton Palace Pier up for sale.^[2]
  • The number of flu cases is reported to have fallen, with the latest figures showing 2,676 people were in hospital with the virus, compared to just over 3,000 during the previous week.^[3]
  • HM Coastguard recover the bodies of a man and a woman after the man tried to rescue a mother and her teenage daughter who got into difficulty in the sea at Withernsea, East Yorkshire. A search for the girl is called off the following day.^[4][5][6] The body of the girl is recovered on 16 January.^[7]
• 3 January –
  • Damage to a gas pipe causes a gas outage in the Kingsbridge, Malborough and Salcombe areas of Devon.^[8]
  • Aaron Thomas, who escaped from HMP Leyhill on New Year's Day, is recaptured in Bristol.^[9]
• 6 January –
  • Fresh warnings for snow and ice are issued as Storm Goretti approaches England.^[10]
  • The annual animal count at London Zoo begins.^[11]
  • Jake Fahri, who was convicted of the 2008 murder of Jimmy Mizen, is recommended for open prison by the Parole Board.^[12]
  • A mother has been charged with murdering her four-year-old daughter in a house fire in Manchester.^[13]
  • Staff at two primary schools in Greater Manchester strike over claims their reports of violence and daily assaults are being ignored by senior leadership.^[14]
• 7 January –
  • Matthew Armstrong and Daniel Washbourne, who escaped from HMP Leyhill on New Year's Day, are recaptured, in Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire and Bristol City Centre respectively.^[15]
  • Three schoolchildren are injured after falling through an upstairs window of a double-decker bus in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Greater Manchester.^[16]
  • Former England striker and manager Kevin Keegan reveals he has been diagnosed with cancer.^[17]
• 8 January –
  • The UK government announces plans to give councils in England greater powers to fine motorists who cause disruption by parking on pavements.^[18]
  • Former English Premier League referee David Coote is sentenced to nine months in prison suspended for two years over a sexually explicit video of a teenage boy that was found on his laptop.^[19]
• 9 January –
  • At a hearing at Norwich Crown Court, Rodney Johnston is sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 16 years after he was earlier convicted of coercing a woman to have sex with more than 100 strangers over a period of three decades.^[20]
  • At a hearing at Blackburn Magistrates' Court, a 60-year-old man pleads guilty to sending abusive messages over social media to England footballer Jess Carter during the 2025 UEFA Women's Euros.^[21]
• 10 January –
  • Devon and Cornwall Police confirm that a man was found deceased after a tree fell on a caravan at Helston during Storm Goretti.^[22]
  • Three men are arrested after five emergency responders were struck by vehicles while attending an accident in South Benfleet, Essex.^[23]
• 11 January –
  • Four people are killed and five are injured in a car crash in Bolton, Greater Manchester.^[24]
  • A cyclist is killed in a road incident in Bristol.^[25]
  • Five people are arrested on suspicion of murder after a man is found dead in Stockton-on-Tees.^[26]
• 13 January – John McDonald, who knocked down and fatally injured Suzanne Cherry at Aston Wood Golf Course in Staffordshire while being pursued by police, is sentenced to 13 years and six months in prison.^[27]
• 14 January – Steve Wright, convicted of the 2006 Ipswich murders, is charged with the murder of Victoria Hall, who disappeared after a night out in Felixstowe in 1999.^[28]
• 15 January –
  • Jazz Reid, who posed as a fake Deliveroo driver and shot a man and his daughter while they sat in a car with other relatives at Ladbroke Grove in November 2024, is sentenced to 38 years in prison after earlier being convicted of attempted murder of the man and wounding the girl.^[29]
  • Zoe Treadwell, who killed a motorcyclist by mowing him down in a Range Rover in Bournemouth in April 2025, is sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 35 years following conviction for his murder.^[30]
• 16 January – A tribunal finds that eight female nurses at Darlington Memorial Hospital had their dignity violated after a transgender woman was allowed to use their changing room.^[31]
• 17 January – GPs in England are to be advised to seek a second opinion if a patient remains undiagnosed after three visits with the same symptoms.^[32]

Predicted and scheduled events

• 1 May – No-fault evictions are scheduled to be banned in England from this date.^[33]
• June to July – 2026 Women's T20 World Cup^[34][35]
• 10 to 16 August – 2026 European Athletics Championships^[36]

Holidays

Source:^[37][38]

• 1 January – New Year's Day
• 3 April – Good Friday
• 6 April – Easter Monday
• 4 May – Early May bank holiday
• 25 May – Spring May Bank Holiday
• 31 August – Summer Bank Holiday
• 25 December – Christmas Day
• 26 December – Boxing Day

Deaths

January

• 1 January – Gregory de Polnay, 82, English actor (Dixon of Dock Green, Doctor Who, Howards' Way).^[39]
• 2 January – Jenny Collins, 83, broadcaster and producer (BBC Radio Merseyside).^[40] (death announced on this date)
• 3 January – Terry Wharton, 83, English footballer (Wolverhampton Wanderers, Bolton Wanderers, Crystal Palace).^[41]
• 4 January – Alan Baker, 81, English footballer (Aston Villa).^[42] (death announced on this date)
• 5 January –
  • Andrew Bodnar, 71, English bass guitarist (The Rumour) and songwriter ("I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass").^[43] (death announced on this date)
  • Colin McDonald, 95, English footballer (Burnley, Headington United, national team).^[44] (death announced on this date)
  • Mike Wilson, 66, British kart racer, six-time Karting World Champion.^[45]
• 7 January –
  • Martin Chivers, 80, English footballer (Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, national team).^[46]
  • Tony Field, 79, English footballer (Blackburn Rovers, Southport, Memphis Rogues).^[47]
• 8 January – Howard Riley, 87, English footballer (Leicester City, Walsall, Barrow).^[48]
• 10 January – Derek Martin, 92, English actor (EastEnders).^[49]
• 11 January – Robert Hopkins, 64, English footballer (Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion, Shrewsbury Town).^[50]
• 12 January – Sheila Bernette, 94, English singer (The Good Old Days, The Black and White Minstrel Show) and actress (The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins).^[51]
• 13 January – David Collier, 70, English sports administrator, chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board (2004–2014).^[52]
• 15 January – Kenny Morris, 68, English drummer (Siouxsie and the Banshees).^[53] (death announced on this date)

References

1. Boobyer, Leigh (3 January 2026). "Police hunt two absconding prisoners including convicted murderer". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
2. Whittlesea, Peter; Pike, Danny; Barlow, Patrick (2 January 2026). "Brighton Palace Pier up for sale, chief executive says". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
3. Triggle, Nick (2 January 2026). "Hospital flu cases drop as NHS on cold weather alert". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
4. McKenna, David; White, Amanda; Murphy, Paul (2 January 2026). "Search under way for people 'in difficulty' in sea in Withernsea". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
5. Petrie, Emma; Lane, Jessica; Shoesmith, Kevin (2 January 2026). "Withernsea: Two die and third person missing after coastal search". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
6. Petrie, Emma (4 January 2026). "Hero named who tried to save mum and daughter at Withernsea". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
7. Madden, Richard (16 January 2026). "Withernsea: Body found in search for missing girl, 15". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
8. Morris, Jonathan (3 January 2026). "Gas outage hits Devon towns after mains pipe damage". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
9. Boobyer, Leigh; Ketibuah-Foley, Jasmine (3 January 2026). "Hunt for two prisoners continues as a third escapee is charged". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
10. "UK weather: Storm Goretti approaches UK as Met Office issues new snow and ice warnings". BBC News. 6 January 2026. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
11. "London Zoo's animal count begins as ZSL turns 200". BBC News. 6 January 2026. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
12. "Jake Fahri recommended for open prison over 'murder rap'". BBC News. 6 January 2026. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
13. "Woman charged with murdering daughter, 4, in Manchester house fire". BBC News. 6 January 2026. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
14. Docker, Georgie; Trewern, Mat (6 January 2026). "Greater Manchester school teachers strike over assault claims". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
15. Bullock, Clara (7 January 2026). "Murderer and fellow inmate who absconded from HMP Leyhill caught". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
16. Horsburgh, Lynette (7 January 2026). "Three children fall from window of double-decker bus". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
17. Sanghera, Mandeep (7 January 2026). "Kevin Keegan diagnosed with cancer: Former England player and manager undergoing treatment". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
18. Seddon, Paul (8 January 2026). "New powers for councils in England to fine pavement parkers". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
19. Patel, Asha; Hammond, Laura (8 January 2026). "Ex-Premier League referee David Coote sentenced over child image offence". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
20. Worden, Clare (9 January 2026). "Norfolk man who coerced woman into sex with 100 others jailed". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
21. Humphries, Jonny (9 January 2026). "Man admits racist abuse of footballer Jess Carter". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
22. "Man dies after tree falls on to caravan during Storm Goretti". Sky News. 10 January 2026. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
23. Dexter, Aimee (10 January 2026). "Arrests as emergency responders are hurt in South Benfleet crash". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
24. Whittingham, Stewart; Jahangir, Rumeana (11 January 2026). "Four killed and five injured in head-on crash in Bolton". BBC News. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
25. "Cyclist dies after crash on North Street in Bedminster". BBC News. 11 January 2026. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
26. "Five murder arrests as man found dead in Stockton". BBC News. 11 January 2026. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
27. Headley, Shannen; McIntyre, Alex; Sidwell, Ben (13 January 2026). "Police-chase van driver jailed for killing golfer Suzanne Cherry". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
28. Farmer, Brian; Cunningham, Alice (14 January 2026). "Serial killer Steve Wright charged with murder of Victoria Hall in Suffolk". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
29. Walker, George (15 January 2026). "Fake Deliveroo driver jailed for shooting girl, 8, and her father". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
30. "Zoe Treadwell jailed for Bournemouth feud e-bike murder". BBC News. BBC. 15 January 2026. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
31. Leatherdale, Duncan (16 January 2026). "Darlington hospital violated trans complaint nurses' dignity, tribunal rules". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
32. Walker, Amy (17 January 2026). "Jess's Rule to be advertised in all GP surgeries in England". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
33. Welsh, Tarah; Mewawalla, Tara (13 November 2025). "Renters' Rights Act: No-fault evictions banned from May 2026". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
34. "India set to host 2025 Women's ODI World Cup". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
35. "England to host 2026 T20 Women's World Cup". Sky Sports. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
36. "UK Athletics and Birmingham to host European Athletics Championships in 2026". UK Athletics. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
37. "England Bank Holidays 2026". Public Holidays Global. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
38. "UK bank holidays". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
39. "Avis de décès de Gregory, Peter DE POLNAY né DE POLNAY paru le vendredi, janvier 02, 2026". www.simplifia.fr. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
40. Bird, Daniel; Mutch, James (2 January 2026). "BBC Radio Merseyside founding member dies as tributes paid". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
41. "Terry Wharton: 1942–2026". Wolverhampton Wanderers FC. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
42. Cox, Lewis (4 January 2026). "Walsall confirm death of former Saddlers and Aston Villa creative favourite Alan Baker". Express and Star. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
43. Henk, Kremer (5 January 2026). "Bassist Andrew Bodnar (o.a. Graham Parker & The Rumour) overleden". hitzound.com. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
44. "Burnley pay tribute to their former great and England goalkeeper Colin McDonald". Burnley Express. 5 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
45. "Mike Wilson (1959–2026): 6-Time Karting World Champion dies". Kartcom. 5 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
46. "Obituary | Martin Chivers". Tottenham Hotspur. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
47. Kozlowski, Hannah (7 January 2026). "Former Memphis Rogues soccer star Tony Field dies at 79". actionnews5.com. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
48. "Howard Riley: 1938–2026". Leicester City FC. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
49. Fatima, Zahra (11 January 2026). "EastEnders actor Derek Martin dies aged 92". BBC News. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
50. "Football clubs pay tribute to 'cult hero' Hopkins". BBC Sport. BBC. 12 January 2026. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
51. Holt, James; Feric, Carla (12 January 2026). "Good Old Days and Coronation Street star dies aged 94". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
52. "Former ECB chief executive David Collier dies aged 70". Sky Sports. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
53. Murray, Robin (15 January 2026). "Siouxsie And the Banshees Drummer Kenny Morris Has Died". Clash Magazine. Retrieved 15 January 2026.

External links

• Online calendar