Briefly
Case Law

High Court of Justice: Summer Vacation Dates Announced for 2026

United Kingdom·Courts and Tribunals Judiciary·⏱️ 2 min readBriefly Analysis

Summary

  • The Royal Courts of Justice and Rolls Building will be closed on Monday, August 31, marking the start of the Summer Vacation period.
  • Only urgent applications will be dealt with in August, while parties may apply for their claims or matters to be heard in vacation if they require immediate attention.
  • Parties can apply for an order to have their claim or matter heard in vacation under CPR PD 2F.

What Happened

During this time, only urgent applications will be dealt with in August, while parties may apply for their claims or matters to be heard in vacation if they require immediate attention.

The High Court of Justice has announced its summer vacation notice for 2026. The Royal Courts of Justice and Rolls Building will be closed on Monday, August 31, marking the beginning of the Summer Vacation period. This year's vacation will run from Saturday, August 1, to 10am on Thursday, October 1. During this time, only urgent applications will be dealt with in August, while parties may apply for their claims or matters to be heard in vacation if they require immediate attention.

Legal Context

The High Court's summer vacation notice is governed by the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR), specifically Practice Direction – Court 39B. According to CPR PD 2F, one or more judges of each division may sit in vacation to hear cases that require immediate attention. Parties can also apply for an order to have their claim or matter heard in vacation if it requires prompt hearing. This provision is intended to ensure that urgent matters are addressed despite the court's closure during the summer months.

Why It Matters

Lawyers and parties involved in ongoing cases should take note of the High Court's summer vacation notice. While the court will be closed for most of August, urgent applications will still be dealt with. Parties may also apply to have their claims or matters heard in vacation if they require immediate attention. This provision is crucial for ensuring that justice is served despite the court's closure during the summer months.

Practical Implications

Lawyers should note that urgent applications will only be dealt with in August, and parties may apply to the Court for an order to have their claim or matter heard in vacation if it requires immediate attention.

Source

Source: Original reporting via High Court of Justice Summer Vacation Notice 2026

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