Sainsbury's has confirmed its festive opening schedule for the 2025 holiday period, with adjusted hours across its supermarket estate. Shoppers are urged to take note of the changes to avoid disappointment during the crucial last-minute food and drink run.
Key Opening Hours for Large Sainsbury's Stores
For the larger Sainsbury's supermarkets, the core festive schedule is now set. On Christmas Eve, Tuesday 24 December 2025, stores will welcome customers from 6am until 7pm.
As expected, all Sainsbury's supermarkets will be closed on Christmas Day. They will then reopen on Boxing Day, Friday 26 December, operating shorter hours from 9am to 6pm.
From Friday 27 December, standard trading hours resume until New Year's Eve. On Tuesday 31 December, larger stores will be open from 7am until 7pm. For New Year's Day, Wednesday 1 January 2026, the opening times will be 8am to 8pm.
Sainsbury's Local Convenience Store Schedule
The smaller Sainsbury's Local convenience shops will follow a slightly different pattern, offering longer opening times for essential items. On Christmas Eve, these stores will trade from 7am until 9pm.
They will also be closed on Christmas Day. However, on Boxing Day, Sainsbury's Local branches are scheduled to revert to their normal operating hours. On New Year's Eve, they will be open from 7am to 9pm, and on New Year's Day from 9am until 9pm.
Always Check Your Local Branch
Sainsbury's has emphasised that while these times are the planned schedule, there may be slight variations depending on your specific location. Customers are strongly advised to double-check the hours for their nearest store using the Sainsbury's store locator online before making a special trip.
The announcement on festive hours follows a significant summer update to the retailer's Nectar loyalty scheme. The personalised Your Nectar Prices discounts, which were previously only accessible via the SmartShop app or online, are now available at all checkouts nationwide.
Sainsbury's states that the scheme, which offers up to ten tailored discounts weekly based on shopping habits, could save the average shopper around £150 per year. Mark Given, the chief marketing, data and sustainability officer at Sainsbury's, commented: "We're leading the way by making loyalty personal... It's about giving customers those extra savings on the products they love and buy most."
