What should a UK small business post on social media for Christmas 2026?
Plan around the days your customers shop: Black Friday on 27 November, Small Business Saturday on 5 December, your last order or booking date, then Christmas Eve. Christmas Day and the Boxing Day bank holiday fall on 25 and 28 December, so post your opening hours early.
The UK Christmas dates for 2026, with what to post
| Date | Day | What it is | What to post |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 November | Friday | Black Friday | Your offer, announced a few days before so people plan for it |
| 30 November | Monday | Cyber Monday, and St Andrew's Day (a bank holiday in Scotland) | Online offers and gift cards; Scottish businesses post their hours |
| 1 December | Tuesday | The start of December | A run of posts to the big day: one tip, product or offer each day |
| 5 December | Saturday | Small Business Saturday UK | Why buying local matters, and what's on in store that day |
| Your date | Your last order or booking date | The deadline, posted a week ahead and again the day before | |
| 24 December | Thursday | Christmas Eve | Last-minute gift cards, your hours, and a thank-you |
| 25 December | Friday | Christmas Day (bank holiday) | A short, warm post from the team. Schedule it ahead |
| 26 December | Saturday | Boxing Day | Sales, if you run one, and your opening hours |
| 28 December | Monday | Boxing Day bank holiday (substitute day) | Your hours for the week between Christmas and New Year |
| 31 December | Thursday | New Year's Eve | Your best moments of 2026 and a thank-you to customers |
| 1 January | Friday | New Year's Day (bank holiday) | What's coming in 2027, and January offers or bookings |
As checked on : GOV.UK: UK bank holidays, Small Business Saturday UK. Bank holidays for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are from GOV.UK. Scotland also has a bank holiday on Monday 4 January 2027. Small Business Saturday UK's date is from its own site. Black Friday is the day after US Thanksgiving, and Cyber Monday the Monday after that.
12 Christmas post ideas that work for any small business
- A gift guide: your products or services by budget, such as under £10, under £25 and under £50.
- Gift cards: what they buy, where to get them and the last day to order.
- Your last order or booking date, posted twice: a week before and the day before.
- Christmas opening hours, as one clear image people can save.
- Behind the scenes: decorating the shop, wrapping orders, the team in Christmas jumpers.
- A customer favourite from this year, and why people keep coming back for it.
- A quick seasonal tip from your trade: how to keep a real tree fresh, how to protect hair from party season, how to store leftovers.
- A local shout-out to another small business on your street.
- A thank-you to your customers, with a photo of the team.
- Your year in numbers: orders packed, cuts done, cakes baked.
- A Boxing Day or January offer, announced before Christmas.
- A New Year post with what's coming in 2027.
Plan your Christmas posts in one sitting
Find your last date
The last day to order, book or post a gift. Everything before it is selling; everything after it is thanks and hours.
Mark the big days
Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Christmas Eve and the bank holidays from the table above. Keep only the ones your customers care about.
Work back from each date
A first post a week before, a reminder a day or two before, and a post on the day.
Write the posts in one go
Use the caption generator or the AI social media post generator for first drafts, then add your own prices and dates.
Schedule Christmas Day ahead
Nobody wants to post on Christmas morning. Schedule the bank holiday posts before you close.
What to focus on for your type of business
- Hair and beauty salons: party season bookings from late November, and gift vouchers.
- Cafes and restaurants: Christmas menus, group bookings and opening hours between Christmas and New Year.
- Bakeries: order deadlines for Christmas cakes and mince pies, posted early and often.
- Shops: gift guides, Small Business Saturday and the last day for delivery before Christmas.
- Gyms: a soft December, then a strong New Year post on 1 January.
- Trades and home services: last bookings before Christmas and your emergency contact over the holidays.
The easier way
- Socialhand plans your month with Christmas, the bank holidays and your own dates in it, and only uses a date where it fits your business.
- It makes the posts for each date in your brand, as reels, carousels and images, and posts them to all 8 platforms once you approve.
- Plans start at $97 a month for all 8 platforms, and you can try it free first.
Questions people ask
When is Small Business Saturday UK in 2026?
Saturday 5 December 2026. It's a week after Black Friday, so it's a good second push for local shops.
Is Boxing Day a bank holiday in 2026?
Boxing Day falls on Saturday 26 December 2026, so the bank holiday moves to Monday 28 December, across the whole UK.
When should I start posting for Christmas?
Mid November for gift guides and bookings. Anything with a deadline needs at least a week's notice, and a reminder the day before.
Sources
Read on . Prices and limits change, so check the page before you rely on a number.