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World Cup 2026 licensing information
The UK government has confirmed that licensing hours for pubs and bars in England and Wales will be relaxed during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The UK government has confirmed that licensing hours for pubs and bars in England and Wales will be relaxed during the 2026 FIFA World Cup to support England and Scotland during the tournament's knockout stages.
Approved licensing extensions
Licensed premises (on-trade only) can extend their hours without a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) under the following conditions:
- Kick-off at or before 9pm BST: Premises can remain open and serve alcohol until 1am the following morning.
- Kick-off between 9pm and 10pm BST: Premises can remain open and serve alcohol until 2am the following morning.
- Kick-off after 10pm BST: No relaxation applies. A standard TEN must be submitted for any extensions.
Specific matches covered
The relaxation is specifically targeted at matches involving England or Scotland from the round of 16 through to the final, provided they progress:
| Stage | Potential date | Condition | Relaxed closing time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last-16 | Mon 29 June | If Scotland win their group | 1am |
| Last-16 | Wed 1 July | If England win their group | 1am |
| Last-16 | Sat 4 July | If Scotland come 2nd and win last-32 | 1am |
| Semi-Final 1 | Tue 14 July | England or Scotland playing | 1am/2am (closing time depends on the specific BST kick-off time for those matches) |
| Semi-Final 2 | Wed 15 July | England or Scotland playing | 1am/2am (closing time depends on the specific BST kick-off time for those matches) |
| World Cup Final | Sun 19 July | England or Scotland playing | 1am/2am (closing time depends on the specific BST kick-off time for those matches) |
Key restrictions and requirements
- On-Premises Only: This applies only to venues already licensed to sell alcohol for consumption on-site (e.g., pubs, bars, clubs).
- Off-Licences: The relaxation does not apply to supermarkets or off-licences.
- Mandatory Progression: Extensions for the semi-finals and final are conditional on England or Scotland actually reaching those stages.
- Earlier Rounds: No national relaxation is currently in place for the group stages or the round of 32. Venues wishing to stay open later for these games must apply for a Temporary Event Notice (TEN).