Edinburgh has just four days a year when on-street parking charges are switched off, and three of them land over Christmas and New Year. Here are the exact days for 2026–27, what’s free on them, what’s still enforced, and the “bank holidays” that catch people out.
⏳ 14 days Got a ticket? It’s £100 — or £50 if you act within 14 days. My pay-or-appeal guide, incl. a free personal verdict on whether yours is worth fighting →Edinburgh parking holidays 2026–27
| Date | Day | On-street charges? |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 24 December 2026 | Christmas Eve | Normal charging day |
| Friday 25 December 2026 | Christmas Day | ✅ Free (parking holiday) |
| Saturday 26 December 2026 | Boxing Day | ✅ Free (parking holiday) |
| Sunday 27 December 2026 | Sunday | Normal Sunday: central zones charge 12:30pm–6:30pm |
| Monday 28 December 2026 | Substitute bank holiday | Normal charging day |
| Thursday 31 December 2026 | Hogmanay | Normal charging day, plus road closures and suspensions in the centre |
| Friday 1 January 2027 | New Year’s Day | ✅ Free (parking holiday) |
| Saturday 2 January 2027 | Saturday | Normal charging day |
| Monday 4 January 2027 | Substitute bank holiday | Normal charging day |
| Monday 29 March 2027 | Easter Monday | ✅ Free (the fourth parking holiday) |
The Council publishes the confirmed dates each year on its parking prices and times page. Bays can still be suspended for events on any day, so check the signs and lamp posts by your bay.
What’s free on a parking holiday
- Pay & display bays: free all day, no ticket or RingGo needed.
- Permit bays: anyone can park in them.
- Single yellow lines: not enforced.
What’s still enforced
- Double yellow lines: no parking at any time, holidays included.
- Disabled bays without a Blue Badge, loading bans (yellow kerb marks) and bus lanes.
- Suspended bays: a suspension overrides the holiday, and a car in a suspended bay can be moved.
- The Low Emission Zone runs 24/7, 365 days a year. A non-compliant car is fined £60 on Christmas Day too.
- Private car parks (retail parks, supermarkets, NCP and the like) set their own rules. The council holiday doesn’t apply to them.
2. “The holiday carries over to Sunday.” It doesn’t. Sunday 27 December is an ordinary Sunday: the central zones charge from 12:30pm.
Hogmanay and New Year
31 December is a normal charging day, and the city centre is closed off for the street party, with bay suspensions starting before it. New Year’s Day is free, but expect closures to still be in place in the morning. Hogmanay parking: closures and where to park →
Driving in over Christmas?
- Christmas shopping: where to park
- Parking for the Christmas market
- Christmas at the Botanics parking
- Flying home? Edinburgh Airport drop-off and parking
Quick answers
Is parking free in Edinburgh on Christmas Day?
Yes. It’s a parking holiday: council pay & display, permit bays and single yellows are free all day. Double yellows, disabled bays, bus lanes and the LEZ are still enforced.
Is parking free in Edinburgh on Boxing Day?
Yes. Boxing Day (Saturday 26 December 2026) is a parking holiday, so council bays are free all day.
Is parking free in Edinburgh on Christmas Eve?
No, Christmas Eve is a normal charging day. Central zones charge 8:30am to 6:30pm.
Is parking free in Edinburgh on bank holidays?
Only on the four parking holidays: Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and Easter Monday. Every other bank holiday, including the substitute days on 28 December and 4 January, is a normal charging day.
Is parking free in Edinburgh on New Year's Day?
Yes. New Year’s Day (Friday 1 January 2027) is a parking holiday, though Hogmanay closures may still be in place in the morning.
Is parking free on Hogmanay in Edinburgh?
No. 31 December is a normal charging day, with road closures and bay suspensions in the centre.
Parking on the street instead? Check it first
Type any of 2,600+ Edinburgh streets to see its zone, price and whether you have to pay right now.
Can I park here right now? →