Everything We Know So Far About 2026's 'Disruptive' Tube Strikes

Here's when and where strikes are planned.

This week (April 20-27), multiple Tube strikes are scheduled across London.

These are expected to cause “significant disruption,” Transport for London (TfL) says on its site.

It’s the first of six scheduled strikes planned to take place in the city.

When are the Tube strikes planned?

They’re set for: APRIL

Midday Tuesday, 21 April until midday Wednesday, 22 April,

Midday Thursday, 23 April until midday Friday, 24 April.

Midday Tuesday, 19 May until midday Wednesday, 20 May,

Midday Thursday, 21 May until midday Friday, 22 May.

Midday Tuesday, 16 June until midday Wednesday, 17 June,

Midday Thursday, 18 June until midday Friday, 19 June.

However, while all planned strikes are set to run from 12:00pm on their first day to 12:00pm midday the next, TfL warns that disruptions are expected to continue into the afternoons and evenings following these periods.

On Wednesdays and Fridays, any services that do run are expected to start later than usual, with no service planned before 7:30am.

And on Tuesdays and Tuesdays, services will finish early: “you should aim to have completed your journey by [8pm]”.

Which services will be affected?

No service is expected on the Picadilly and Circle lines.

There isn’t expected to be any service on the Metropolitan line between Baker Street and Aldgate, or on the Central line between White City and Liverpool Street.

“Elizabeth line, DLR, London Overground, and tram services will be running normally on strike days,” said the TfL.

The strikes will have knock-on effects on the whole Tube network, they added. While a “reduced service” will run on most lines, “significant disruption is expected”.

The strike involves RMT members, but only half of the London Underground drivers are part of that group. 2025′s strikes involved both the RMT and Aslef, which meant almost all lines were affected.

Why are the Tube strikes happening?

It follows the introduction of a voluntary four-day working week, which would mean that drivers could elect to work longer days, but with fewer overall hours and over fewer days.

The current standard is a five-day work week across 36 hours. This option includes four working days and 35 hours, though their contractual hours won’t change thanks to paid work breaks.

It’s being tested on the Bakerloo line on a voluntary basis at the moment.

RMT says this would make the working day too long, which might make workers fatigued and risk safety.

Instead, they have asked for a 32-hour week across four days. TfL have responded saying that the current four-day option is voluntary.

RMT London’s transport regional organiser, Jared Wood, said that after first seeming interested in a discussion, the TfL have since said they’re “not prepared to discuss with us any further changes.

“It’s left our members in a position where they feel there is absolutely no alternative but to proceed with the strike action.”

Claire Mann, TfL’s chief operating officer, said the optional changes would bring the London Underground in line with the working practices of other train services, making them more flexible and reliable.

“The changes would be voluntary, there would be no reduction in contractual hours, and those who wish to continue a five-day working week pattern would be able to do so.”

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