2026 United Kingdom heatwaves

During 2026, parts of the United Kingdom were severely affected by a series of record-breaking heatwaves, forming the western extent of a broader sequence of extreme heat events across Western and Central Europe.

The first heatwave started on 22 May and saw the country's record for hottest day during May broken on 25 May when 34.8 °C (94.6 °F) was recorded at Kew Gardens in London, surpassing the previous record of 32.8 °C (91.0 °F) set in 1922 by 2 °C (3.6 °F); this record was broken again when 35.1 °C (95.2 °F) was recorded in the same location the following day. Other records which were broken included the hottest May day in Guernsey, Jersey and Wales, as well as the highest minimum May temperature in the UK. Experts estimated that around 550 people died during this period of extreme heat.

The second heatwave started on 19 June and saw more records broken, including that for hottest day during June when 38.0 °C (100.4 °F) was recorded in Lingwood, Norfolk on 26 June, which is also the fifth hottest day in the UK ever. The previous record for June of 35.6 °C (96.1 °F) was set in 1957 and 1976. A further 2,200 deaths were estimated to have occurred during this heatwave, bringing the total to roughly 2,700.

A third heatwave began on 4 July, with temperatures peaking at 35.5 °C (95.9 °F) in Wisley, Surrey, on 9 July. This marked the first year when temperatures have reached 35 °C (95 °F) in three separate months, whilst the records for most days reaching both 34 °C (93 °F) and 35 °C (95 °F) in a single year were broken at nine and six respectively.

A fourth, shorter heatwave began on 28 July, occurring alongside severely dry conditions which prompted the Environment Agency to declare a drought across more than half of England and all of Wales.

A fifth heatwave began on 2 August, with a sixth slightly longer heatwave beginning on 9 August.