Ireland has 10 public holidays in 2026, running from New Year’s Day on Thursday 1 January to St Stephen’s Day on Saturday 26 December.
The calendar includes six Monday holidays, plus New Year’s Day, St Patrick’s Day, Christmas Day and St Stephen’s Day. For anyone planning annual leave, work rotas, family visits or a short break, the weekday is just as useful as the date.
In Ireland, “bank holiday” and “public holiday” are often used interchangeably. The legal public-holiday calendar is the one that matters for workplace entitlements, while individual bank branches, shops, schools and attractions can set their own opening arrangements.
| Date | Day | Public Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2026 | Thursday | New Year’s Day |
| 2 February 2026 | Monday | St Brigid’s Day |
| 17 March 2026 | Tuesday | St Patrick’s Day |
| 6 April 2026 | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 4 May 2026 | Monday | May Bank Holiday |
| 1 June 2026 | Monday | June Bank Holiday |
| 3 August 2026 | Monday | August Bank Holiday |
| 26 October 2026 | Monday | October Bank Holiday |
| 25 December 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day |
| 26 December 2026 | Saturday | St Stephen’s Day |
After 27 July 2026, four public holidays remain on the calendar. The next is the August Bank Holiday on Monday 3 August, followed by the October Bank Holiday on Monday 26 October and the Christmas pair on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 December.
The August and October dates produce straightforward three-day weekends for people who work a standard Monday-to-Friday pattern. Christmas is more complicated: Christmas Day falls on a Friday, while St Stephen’s Day falls on a Saturday. The public-holiday dates do not move on the calendar simply because one lands at a weekend.
Several Irish public holidays fall on fixed dates. New Year’s Day is always 1 January, St Patrick’s Day is always 17 March, Christmas Day is always 25 December and St Stephen’s Day is always 26 December.
The remaining holidays follow weekday-based rules. Easter Monday follows Easter Sunday, while the May, June, August and October bank holidays fall on the first Monday of their respective months. That is why the 2026 dates are 4 May, 1 June, 3 August and 26 October.
St Brigid’s Day has its own rule. It is observed on the first Monday in February, except when 1 February is a Friday, when that Friday is the public holiday. In 2026, 1 February falls on a Sunday, so St Brigid’s Day is Monday 2 February.
The most useful dates for a standard Monday-to-Friday schedule are Easter Monday, the May Bank Holiday, the June Bank Holiday, the August Bank Holiday and the October Bank Holiday. Each sits on a Monday, creating a three-day break without using annual leave.
St Patrick’s Day lands on a Tuesday in 2026. Taking leave on Monday 16 March can create a four-day break from Saturday 14 March through Tuesday 17 March, subject to your employer approving the day off. It is a popular date for parades and local events, so transport and accommodation can be busier in places such as Dublin, Cork and Galway. Anyone fitting the holiday into a longer road trip can use this 7-day Ireland itinerary for first-time visitors to map out the rest of the week.
Christmas Day falls on a Friday, giving many Monday-to-Friday workers a natural three-day weekend through Sunday 27 December. St Stephen’s Day remains a Saturday public holiday, so do not assume a Monday closure or a replacement day without checking your workplace arrangements.
Good Friday, 3 April 2026, is not a statutory public holiday in Ireland. Some employers, banks, schools, shops and other organisations may close or operate shorter hours, but that is not the same as being on the national public-holiday list.
This catches people out because Good Friday comes immediately before Easter Monday. If you are arranging work cover, childcare or travel, confirm the plans of the specific employer, school, carrier or venue involved. Easter Monday, on 6 April 2026, is the statutory public holiday.
Public-holiday entitlements in Ireland are covered by the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. Eligibility and the form of benefit can depend on your work pattern, contractual terms and whether you work on the public holiday.
For that reason, a calendar alone cannot confirm what an individual will receive. Ask your employer or payroll team how it handles each date, especially if you work part-time, work variable shifts, have recently started a job or normally work weekends. The Workplace Relations Commission is the relevant body for guidance and disputes about employment rights.
Employers should also be precise in rotas and payroll systems. Calling Good Friday a bank holiday, or silently treating St Stephen’s Day as Monday 28 December, creates avoidable confusion. The official 2026 dates are the dates shown in the table above.
For holiday planning, save the full list now and check the dates against your own employer, school or service provider before making non-refundable arrangements. A public holiday can affect timetables and opening hours, but it does not guarantee that every business will close. For a break built around a long weekend, a three-day Ireland itinerary keeps the driving manageable.
Ireland has 10 public holidays in 2026. St Brigid’s Day is included, alongside the established New Year, St Patrick’s, Easter, summer, autumn and Christmas dates.
No. Good Friday falls on 3 April 2026, but it is not a statutory public holiday in Ireland. Easter Monday, 6 April 2026, is the public holiday.
The August Bank Holiday is Monday 3 August 2026. It is the first Monday in August.
The October Bank Holiday is Monday 26 October 2026. It falls on the final Monday of October that year.
St Stephen’s Day remains Saturday 26 December 2026 on the public-holiday calendar. Any time-off or payment entitlement depends on the applicable employment rules and your work arrangement, so check with your employer.
Yes. St Brigid’s Day is one of Ireland’s 10 public holidays. In 2026, it is observed on Monday 2 February.
Matt Hook is a Canadian writer of Scottish and Irish heritage. He built his writing career creating detailed gaming guides, turning complex mechanics, history and lore into useful information for readers. Matt brings that same research-focused approach to Ireland Wide, where he writes about Irish travel, heritage, history and culture. He also holds CMA and CPA designations as a professional accountant, giving him a strong background in research, accuracy and attention to detail.
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