In this article we provide a list of the key dates that are likely to impact your finances in 2026. Below you will find a simple summary of the important dates that could impact your money this year, listed in chronological order running from January through to December.
January 2026
1st January
- The Energy Price Cap increases to £1,758 for the average dual-fuel household. Read our article 'Should I fix my energy prices' for more information and for details on whether you should consider fixing your energy tariff.
21st January
- The latest inflation figures are announced.
31st January
- Deadline for online self-assessment tax return for the 2024/25 tax year. Read our article '7 tips for your self-assessment tax return' for further guidance.
February 2026
5th February
- The Bank of England base rate review decision announcement is due.
18th February
- The latest inflation figures are announced.
25th February
- Energy price cap level announced for April
March 2026
2nd March
- Regulated rail fares will be frozen across England and Wales this year
- Free Wills Month begins offering those over the age of 55 the opportunity to arrange a will free of charge
3rd March
- The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that the Office for Budget Responsibility will publish a Spring Forecast on this date. No Budget announcement is expected as the government has committed to only one fiscal event each year. You can review the outcomes of the last fiscal review in our Budget 2025 Review.
19th March
- The Bank of England base rate review decision announcement is due.
25th March
- The latest inflation figures are announced.
April 2026
1st April
- The national living wage increases by up to 8.5%. We explain the increase in more detail in our Budget 2025 Review.
- Most councils in England and Wales can increase bills by up to 5% (otherwise a referendum would need to be called).
- Councils have begun to announce council tax increases for 2026/27 - the government caps increases at 5.0%. The average Band D council tax set by local authorities in England for 2025-26 was £2,280, which was an increase of £109 or 5.0% on the 2024-25 figure of £2,171.
- Colour TV licence increases from £174.50 to around £180 per year.
- New Energy Price Cap figures for the second quarter of 2026 will take effect.
- Water bills will increase, but individual water companies will set increases ahead of April to confirm the exact amount. The independent water commission detailed that water bills are to rise by 30% over the next five years.
5th April
- Final day of the 2025/26 tax year. Each tax year, adults are entitled to a £20,000 ISA allowance. You will need to ensure you take advantage of your allowance as it cannot be rolled over. Children are also entitled to a £9,000 tax-free allowance via a Junior ISA. Check out our best ISA cashback offers.
6th April
- Business Property Relief and Agricultural Property Relief of 100% on inheritance tax will be capped at £2.5 million per person
- Tax rates on dividends will increase by 2% - you will find more information in our article, "Dividend, property and savings tax rates to increase by 2%".
- Digital tax records will be mandatory for sole traders and landlords with a gross annual income of £50,000 in trading or rental income.
- Thresholds for income tax and national insurance are frozen so your tax rate may change if your income increases to exceed thresholds - you can read about the effects of this in our article, "Key tax changes in 2026".
- State pension will increase by 4.8% taking the current weekly payment from £230.25 to £241.30 - here is "how to boost your state pension".
- The two-child cap on benefits will no longer apply - read "Two-child benefit cap scrapped – what it means for families".
- Most benefits will increase by 3.8% in line with the CPI figures for September 2025 while Universal Credit payments will increase by CPI + 2.3%
22nd April
- The latest inflation figures are announced.
30th April
- The Bank of England base rate review decision announcement is due.
May 2026
20th May
- The latest inflation figures are announced.
27th May
- Energy price cap level announced for July
June 2026
17th June
- The latest inflation figures are announced.
18th June
- The latest Bank of England base rate announcement is due.
July 2026
1st July
- New Energy Price Cap figures for the third quarter will come into force.
22nd July
- The latest inflation figures are announced.
30th July
- The latest Bank of England base rate announcement is due.
August 2026
7th August
- The latest Bank of England base rate announcement is due.
26th August
- The latest inflation figures are announced.
31st August
- Energy price cap level announced for October
September 2026
16th September
- The latest inflation figures are announced.
17th September
- The latest Bank of England base rate announcement is due.
October 2026
1st October
- New Energy Price Cap figures for the final quarter of 2025 come into force.
5th October
- Registration deadline for those new to self-assessment.
21st October
- The latest inflation figures are announced.
31st October
- Deadline for postal self-assessment tax return for the 2025/26 tax year. Those wishing to complete their self-assessment tax return online have until 31st January 2027.
November 2026
5th November
- The latest Bank of England base rate announcement is due.
18th November
- The latest inflation figures are announced.
December 2026
16th December
- The latest inflation figures are announced.
17th December
- The latest Bank of England base rate announcement is due.
Additional dates to add to your personal finance diary in 2026
Alongside the dates listed above, there are several key dates that are likely to impact your own personal finances this year. Below, we summarise the additional dates you may wish to add to your diary in 2026.
Mortgage renewal date
If you have a fixed-rate mortgage, then dig out your paperwork and make a note of when the fixed-rate deal is set to expire. Most mortgage providers allow you to apply for a new fixed-rate deal up to 6 months before your current deal expires, so make sure you add a note in your diary 6 months prior to your fixed deal ending. Check out our guide on how to remortgage and get the best rate and for the best deals, check out our article 'Best remortgage deals in the UK' to easily find the best remortgage deals.
Car insurance renewal
Check to see whether your car insurance is set for automatic renewal. If it is, contact your provider and request for this option to be removed so that you have full control over the renewal process. Make a note of your renewal date and use a comparison site to find the cheapest car insurance policy. Read our article 'Best car insurance in the UK' to learn more.
Home insurance renewal
As with your car insurance renewal, check to see whether your home insurance is set for automatic renewal. Again, if it is, contact your provider and request for this option to be removed to gain control over the renewal process. Ensure you make a note of your renewal date and then use a comparison site to find the cheapest home insurance policy. Read our article 'Best home insurance in the UK' for more information.
Energy prices
Keep an eye on the latest energy price cap figures, released every quarter (1st January, 1st April, 1st July and 1st October). Depending on the latest figures and how competitive the energy market is, it may be worth fixing your energy tariff. Read our article 'Should I fix my energy prices'.
Savings accounts
Check the rate you are getting on your savings and when any limited-time deal is due to end. Make sure that you compare the best savings rates and look out for when any new rates and bonuses are set to expire.
Subscription renewals
Make a note of all of your subscriptions and when they renew. If you pay monthly, then you may be able to save money by paying annually, if you can afford to. Also, make sure that your subscriptions are not set to auto-renew and keep an eye out for offers. If you are paying monthly, then going through a cancellation process (even if you don't intend to do so) can sometimes trigger a special offer. Read our article 'How to find and cancel unwanted subscriptions'.