After the Christmas Day festivities, many households across the UK will be looking to restock their fridges and cupboards. With that in mind, major supermarket chains have now confirmed their operating schedules for Boxing Day, Friday 26 December 2025.
Which Supermarkets Are Closed on Boxing Day?
Shoppers should note that several retailers will give their staff the day off entirely. Aldi has announced that all of its stores will be closed. Rebecca Heley, Communications Director at Aldi, explained the decision, stating the company wants colleagues to have the chance to relax with family.
Similarly, Lidl will keep its doors shut, advising customers to verify local hours via its app or store finder. Marks & Spencer (M&S) will also be closed to the public, with Operations Director Jayne Wall noting the special nature of Christmas at the retailer. Some M&S staff will, however, be working behind the scenes to prepare for reopening on the 27th.
Waitrose has confirmed that the majority of its branches will be closed, though a select few will operate solely to fulfil orders for delivery services like Deliveroo and Uber Eats.
Revised Opening Hours for Open Stores
For those supermarkets trading on Boxing Day, hours will be significantly reduced compared to a standard trading day. It remains crucial to check the specific times for your local branch online, as smaller convenience formats may differ.
Tesco will open its larger stores from 9am until 6pm, while Tesco Express outlets will trade from 9am to 7pm.
Asda will also operate with shorter hours, opening its supermarkets from 9am to 6pm.
Sainsbury's follows suit, with its main supermarkets open 9am-6pm. Sainsbury's Local stores may have alternate schedules.
Morrisons stores in England and Wales will be open 9am-6pm. In Scotland, hours are slightly longer, from 8:30am to 6:30pm.
The Co-op supermarket chain will open its main stores from 10am to 7pm, with its convenience stores operating from 9am to 7pm. The company reminded shoppers that hours can vary during bank holidays.
Plan Your Festive Shop
With a mix of closures and reduced hours, planning your Boxing Day shopping trip is more important than ever. Always use the official store locator tools on supermarket websites or their mobile apps to get the most accurate and up-to-date information for your nearest branch. This ensures you won't face a wasted journey and can make the most of any post-Christmas deals or essential top-up shopping.
