diff --git a/CHANGELOG.txt b/CHANGELOG.txt
index 369bad45aa..845805d638 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.txt
+++ b/CHANGELOG.txt
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ Changelog
  * Fix: Remove duplicate labels in image gallery and image choosers for screen reader users (Helen Chapman)
  * Fix: Restore custom "Date" icon for scheduled publishing panel in Edit page’s Settings tab (Helen Chapman)
  * Fix: Added missing form media to user edit form template (Matt Westcott)
+ * Fix: Add a label to the modals’ “close” button for screen reader users (Helen Chapman, Katie Locke)
 
 
 2.5.1 (07.05.2019)
diff --git a/client/tests/stubs.js b/client/tests/stubs.js
index ad82e10d20..7a7a0a60a1 100644
--- a/client/tests/stubs.js
+++ b/client/tests/stubs.js
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ global.wagtailConfig = {
     EDITOR_CRASH: 'The editor just crashed. Content has been reset to the last saved version.',
     BROKEN_LINK: 'Broken link',
     MISSING_DOCUMENT: 'Missing document',
+    CLOSE: 'Close',
   },
 };
 
diff --git a/docs/releases/2.6.rst b/docs/releases/2.6.rst
index 44cd48aa9b..8601b1d669 100644
--- a/docs/releases/2.6.rst
+++ b/docs/releases/2.6.rst
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ Bug fixes
  * Remove duplicate labels in image gallery and image choosers for screen reader users (Helen Chapman)
  * Restore custom "Date" icon for scheduled publishing panel in Edit page’s Settings tab (Helen Chapman)
  * Added missing form media to user edit form template (Matt Westcott)
+ * Added a label to the modals’ “close” button for screen reader users (Helen Chapman, Katie Locke)
 
 
 Upgrade considerations
diff --git a/wagtail/admin/static_src/wagtailadmin/js/modal-workflow.js b/wagtail/admin/static_src/wagtailadmin/js/modal-workflow.js
index a470cf7565..4dddc71de8 100644
--- a/wagtail/admin/static_src/wagtailadmin/js/modal-workflow.js
+++ b/wagtail/admin/static_src/wagtailadmin/js/modal-workflow.js
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ function ModalWorkflow(opts) {
     $('body > .modal').remove();
 
     // set default contents of container
-    var container = $('<div class="modal fade" tabindex="-1" role="dialog" aria-hidden="true">\n    <div class="modal-dialog">\n        <div class="modal-content">\n            <button type="button" class="button close icon text-replace icon-cross" data-dismiss="modal" aria-hidden="true">&times;</button>\n            <div class="modal-body"></div>\n        </div><!-- /.modal-content -->\n    </div><!-- /.modal-dialog -->\n</div>');
+    var container = $('<div class="modal fade" tabindex="-1" role="dialog" aria-hidden="true">\n    <div class="modal-dialog">\n        <div class="modal-content">\n            <button type="button" class="button close icon text-replace icon-cross" data-dismiss="modal">' + wagtailConfig.STRINGS.CLOSE + '</button>\n            <div class="modal-body"></div>\n        </div><!-- /.modal-content -->\n    </div><!-- /.modal-dialog -->\n</div>');
 
     // add container to body and hide it, so content can be added to it before display
     $('body').append(container);
diff --git a/wagtail/admin/templates/wagtailadmin/admin_base.html b/wagtail/admin/templates/wagtailadmin/admin_base.html
index d9b62f0aa6..53ab50902e 100644
--- a/wagtail/admin/templates/wagtailadmin/admin_base.html
+++ b/wagtail/admin/templates/wagtailadmin/admin_base.html
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@
                 EDITOR_CRASH: "{% trans 'The editor just crashed. Content has been reset to the last saved version.' %}",
                 BROKEN_LINK: "{% trans 'Broken link' %}",
                 MISSING_DOCUMENT: "{% trans 'Missing document' %}",
+                CLOSE: "{% trans 'Close' %}",
 
                 MONTHS: [
                     "{% trans 'January' %}",