Ireland Public Holidays 2026
Ireland has 10 public holidays in 2026, six of them on a Monday. Saint Stephen's Day (Dec 26) falls on a Saturday — and there is no automatic Monday substitute, only a legal duty for your employer to give you a benefit within a month.
Public holidays
10
Monday holidays
6
Longest break
Christmas · 3 days
Good Friday (Apr 3)
Not a public holiday
2026 Ireland calendar
01January
02February
03March
04April
05May
06June
07July
08August
09September
10October
11November
12December
Ireland public holiday list
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Thursday | New Year's DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| February 2, 2026 | Monday | Saint Brigid's DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| March 17, 2026 | Tuesday | Saint Patrick's DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| April 6, 2026 | Monday | Easter MondayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| May 4, 2026 | Monday | May DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| June 1, 2026 | Monday | June Bank HolidayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| August 3, 2026 | Monday | August Bank HolidayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| October 26, 2026 | Monday | October Bank HolidayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| December 25, 2026 | Friday | Christmas DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| December 26, 2026 | Saturday | Saint Stephen's DayFalls on a Saturday — no automatic substitute day; your employer owes you a benefit within a month.Public holiday | Public holiday |
Ireland long weekends in 2026
Saint Brigid's Day
3 daysJan 31 – Feb 2
Easter
3 daysApr 4 – 6
Good Friday (Apr 3) is not a public holiday in Ireland, so the break runs Saturday to Easter Monday.
May Day
3 daysMay 2 – 4
June Bank Holiday
3 daysMay 30 – Jun 1
August Bank Holiday
3 daysAug 1 – 3
October Bank Holiday
3 daysOct 24 – 26
Christmas
3 daysDec 25 – 27
Christmas Day (Fri) leads into the weekend; Saint Stephen's Day falls on the Saturday with no fixed substitute.
Is Good Friday a bank holiday in Ireland?
No. Good Friday (April 3, 2026) is not a statutory public holiday in Ireland. Banks close anyway, and many offices and schools shut for the day, which is why it so often appears on "bank holiday" lists — but there is no legal entitlement to the day off.
Whether you actually get Good Friday off depends entirely on your employment contract. Some employers grant it as a paid day; others treat it as a normal working day. Check your contract before assuming a four-day Easter weekend.
What happens when a holiday falls on a weekend?
Unlike the UK, Ireland has no automatic Monday substitute. Under the Organisation of Working Time Act, when a public holiday falls on a weekend, your employer must give you a benefit within a month of that day: a paid day off, an extra day of annual leave, or an extra day's pay. The choice — and the date — is the employer's, not the calendar's.
In 2026 this applies to Saint Stephen's Day, which falls on Saturday, December 26. There is no fixed substitute date — ask your employer how the benefit will be given.
Saint Brigid's Day: Ireland's newest public holiday
Saint Brigid's Day became a public holiday in 2023, making it Ireland's newest. It honours Brigid — patron saint and Celtic goddess — and marks the first day of spring in the old Gaelic calendar. It falls on the first Monday in February (February 2 in 2026), except when February 1 lands on a Friday, in which case the holiday is that Friday.
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Official sources & data
- Public holidays in IrelandVisit sourceCitizens Information
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does Ireland have in 2026?+
Ten. They are commonly called bank holidays, and six of the ten fall on a Monday in 2026, so three-day weekends come regularly through the year.
Is Good Friday a bank holiday in Ireland?+
No. Good Friday (April 3, 2026) is not a statutory public holiday. Banks and many offices close, but there is no legal right to the day off — it depends on your employment contract.
What happens when a public holiday falls on a weekend in Ireland?+
There is no automatic Monday substitute. The Organisation of Working Time Act requires your employer to give you a benefit within a month: a paid day off, an extra annual-leave day, or an extra day's pay. In 2026 this applies to Saint Stephen's Day, which falls on Saturday, December 26.
When is the next bank holiday after New Year's Day?+
Saint Brigid's Day on Monday, February 2, 2026. It is Ireland's newest public holiday, introduced in 2023, and falls on the first Monday in February.
What are the long weekends in Ireland in 2026?+
Six Monday holidays give three-day weekends, including Easter (Apr 4–6) and the October bank holiday (Oct 24–26). Christmas is a three-day break too (Dec 25–27), with Christmas Day on the Friday.
Is Saint Stephen's Day the same as Boxing Day?+
Yes. December 26 is called Saint Stephen's Day in Ireland and Boxing Day in the UK — same date, different name. In 2026 it falls on a Saturday; unlike the UK, Ireland grants no automatic substitute day.
