Opening hours vary by restaurant and franchisee. This guide is based on McDonald’s UK’s established festive pattern and confirmed recent arrangements — check the McDonald’s UK app or restaurant locator for your local branch closer to the date. Last updated October 2026.
Boxing Day is one of the biggest shopping days of the year — and after a morning of sales queues, plenty of people want to know: is McDonald’s open on Boxing Day? With Boxing Day 2026 falling on a Saturday (26 December), here’s the full picture for the UK.
The short answer: yes, most McDonald’s are open on Boxing Day
The majority of McDonald’s restaurants in the UK open on Boxing Day, and many run close to normal hours. Unlike Christmas Day — when almost everything shuts — Boxing Day is business as (almost) usual for the golden arches.
Typical Boxing Day hours from recent years look like 8am–11pm for standard branches, with some city-centre and 24-hour sites running longer. A few branches trim an hour or two off each end of the day, but full closures are rare. As ever, around 80% of restaurants are franchised, so individual owners set their own hours — check your local branch in the app.
Why Boxing Day is so busy at McDonald’s
Boxing Day combines three things: shoppers refuelling between sales, families escaping the house, and the general “can’t be bothered to cook” mood of the festive week. Drive-thrus in particular get slammed around lunchtime. If you’re heading out on the 26th:
- Go before 12pm or after 2pm to dodge the worst of the lunch rush.
- Order ahead in the app — click-and-collect or kerbside pickup skips the counter queue.
- City-centre branches near shopping districts are the busiest; out-of-town drive-thrus tend to move faster.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: the wider picture
For context on the days around it:
- Christmas Eve (Thursday 24 December): most restaurants open, though many close earlier than usual in the evening.
- Christmas Day (Friday 25 December): almost all branches closed, with only a handful of London and motorway service station restaurants open. Our full guide to whether McDonald’s is open on Christmas Day 2026 has the details.
Breakfast and the festive menu on Boxing Day
Breakfast runs as normal on Boxing Day (until 11am), and the McDonald’s Christmas menu 2026 festive items are available right through the period — so the 26th is a good last-chance day for seasonal favourites before they disappear in the new year. Our Christmas menu guide has the full lineup and prices.
Making the most of Boxing Day at McDonald’s
A few practical tips for the 26th:
- Check the Saver Menu first — it’s an expensive week for most people, and the Saver range keeps a Boxing Day stop cheap.
- Festive items are still on sale — if you missed the Christmas menu in the December rush, Boxing Day is a good catch-up day.
- The app is your friend — beyond skipping queues, the Rewards and Offers section sometimes carries festive-week extras.
What about McDelivery on Boxing Day?
McDelivery (Uber Eats, Just Eat and Deliveroo) runs normally on Boxing Day, following each restaurant’s opening hours. It’s a busy day for delivery too, so allow extra time — and note that delivery follows the same festive hours as the restaurant itself.
How to check your local restaurant’s Boxing Day hours
- Open the McDonald’s UK app and use the restaurant locator — festive hours are published in December.
- Check Google Maps — Boxing Day hours are usually updated on business listings.
- When in doubt, call the restaurant directly.
Quick summary
| Date | Day | Expected opening |
|---|---|---|
| 24 December 2026 | Thursday (Christmas Eve) | Most open, some close early |
| 25 December 2026 | Friday (Christmas Day) | Almost all closed |
| 26 December 2026 | Saturday (Boxing Day) | Most open, typically ~8am–11pm |
Frequently asked questions
Is McDonald’s open on Boxing Day 2026 in the UK?
Yes — the majority of branches open on 26 December, many with near-normal hours (often around 8am–11pm).
Is McDonald’s open on Christmas Eve?
Yes, most restaurants open on Christmas Eve, though many close earlier than normal.
Is McDonald’s open on Christmas Day?
Almost all branches are closed on Christmas Day. See our Christmas Day 2026 guide for the exceptions.
Can I get McDonald’s delivered on Boxing Day?
Yes — McDelivery runs normally on Boxing Day via Uber Eats, Just Eat and Deliveroo, though it can be busy.
Will the drive-thru be busy on Boxing Day?
Very likely, especially 12–2pm near shopping areas. Order ahead in the app or go outside peak hours.
Are McDonald’s prices different on Boxing Day?
No — standard menu prices apply. Boxing Day isn’t a premium-pricing day; if anything, the festive period is when the app tends to carry extra offers, so check the Rewards and Offers section before you order.
Are the Christmas menu items still available on Boxing Day?
Yes — festive menu items are typically available right through the Christmas period, so Boxing Day works as a last-chance visit.
This is an independent guide and is not affiliated with or endorsed by McDonald’s. Opening hours vary by restaurant — always check locally before travelling.