Year

Northern Ireland Public Holidays 2026

United Kingdom

View the complete list of public holidays and bank holidays in Northern Ireland for 2026. Plan your year ahead with official dates, weekdays, and observances.

Turn a holiday into a long break

Choose how many days of leave you are willing to book. We work out which holiday gives you the longest run of days off for that spend, and mark the days to book in the calendar below. How this works →

How many days of leave will you book?

Showing the best break you can get with 2 leave days.

Best break this yearFriday, January 2, 2026

Nothing bookable is left in 2026 at this budget, so this past break is shown for reference.

New Year's Day

Thu, Jan 1 → Sun, Jan 4

4
days off in a row
1
leave day booked
We31
Th1
Fr2
Sa3
Su4
Mo5

Book the dashed days below. Combined with the holiday and the weekend around it, your 1 leave day turns into 4 days off in a row.

Other dates worth booking

9 of the 11 2026 holidays have already passed.

Public— 11Bank— 0Falls on a weekendToday
January 20261 holiday
No.MTWTFSS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
  • Thu
    01

    New Year's Day

    Thursday, January 1, 2026

February 2026—
No.MTWTFSS
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
    March 20261 holiday
    No.MTWTFSS
    9.
    10.
    11.
    12.
    13.
    14.
    • Tue
      17

      St Patrick's Day

      Tuesday, March 17, 2026

    April 20262 holidays
    No.MTWTFSS
    14.
    15.
    16.
    17.
    18.
    • Fri
      03

      Good Friday

      Friday, April 3, 2026

    • Mon
      06

      Easter Monday

      Monday, April 6, 2026

    May 20262 holidays
    No.MTWTFSS
    18.
    19.
    20.
    21.
    22.
    • Mon
      04

      Early May bank holiday

      Monday, May 4, 2026

    • Mon
      25

      Spring bank holiday

      Monday, May 25, 2026

    June 2026—
    No.MTWTFSS
    23.
    24.
    25.
    26.
    27.
      July 20262 holidays
      No.MTWTFSS
      27.
      28.
      29.
      30.
      31.
      • Sun
        12

        Battle of the Boyne, Orangemen’s Day

        Sunday, July 12, 2026

      • Mon
        13

        Battle of the Boyne (substitute day)

        Monday, July 13, 2026

      August 20261 holiday
      No.MTWTFSS
      31.
      32.
      33.
      34.
      35.
      36.
      • Mon
        31

        Summer bank holiday

        Monday, August 31, 2026

      September 2026—
      No.MTWTFSS
      36.
      37.
      38.
      39.
      40.
        October 2026—
        No.MTWTFSS
        40.
        41.
        42.
        43.
        44.
          November 2026—
          No.MTWTFSS
          44.
          45.
          46.
          47.
          48.
          49.
          • Today
          December 20262 holidays
          No.MTWTFSS
          49.
          50.
          51.
          52.
          1.
          • Fri
            25

            Christmas Day

            Friday, December 25, 2026

          • Mon
            28

            Boxing Day (substitute day)

            Monday, December 28, 2026

          About Public Holidays in Northern Ireland

          Public holidays in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom are official observances that may affect government offices, schools, banks, businesses, and public services. These holidays often include national celebrations, religious observances, and important civic dates.

          This calendar helps residents, travelers, employers, and families plan vacations, work schedules, school breaks, and business closures around official holiday dates.

          All Public Holidays in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom 2026

          DateDayHolidayType
          January 1, 2026ThursdayNew Year's DayPublic Holiday
          March 17, 2026TuesdaySt Patrick's DayPublic Holiday
          April 3, 2026FridayGood FridayPublic Holiday
          April 6, 2026MondayEaster MondayPublic Holiday
          May 4, 2026MondayEarly May bank holidayPublic Holiday
          May 25, 2026MondaySpring bank holidayPublic Holiday
          July 12, 2026SundayBattle of the Boyne, Orangemen’s DayPublic Holiday
          July 13, 2026MondayBattle of the Boyne (substitute day)Public Holiday
          August 31, 2026MondaySummer bank holidayPublic Holiday
          December 25, 2026FridayChristmas DayPublic Holiday
          December 28, 2026MondayBoxing Day (substitute day)Public Holiday

          All Public Holidays in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom 2027

          DateDayHolidayType
          January 1, 2027FridayNew Year's DayPublic Holiday
          March 17, 2027WednesdaySt Patrick's DayPublic Holiday
          March 26, 2027FridayGood FridayPublic Holiday
          March 29, 2027MondayEaster MondayPublic Holiday
          May 3, 2027MondayEarly May bank holidayPublic Holiday
          May 31, 2027MondaySpring bank holidayPublic Holiday
          July 12, 2027MondayBattle of the Boyne, Orangemen’s DayPublic Holiday
          August 30, 2027MondaySummer bank holidayPublic Holiday
          December 27, 2027MondayChristmas Day (substitute day)Public Holiday
          December 28, 2027TuesdayBoxing Day (substitute day)Public Holiday

          Dates are calculated from each holiday's official rule (fixed date, Easter or lunar calendar) using the open-source date-holidays dataset.

          Last updated November 13, 2026. Governments can move or add holidays at short notice, so confirm important dates with an official source.

          Northern Ireland Holidays Explained

          New Year's Day · January 1

          A bank holiday in every part of the UK on 1 January, or the following Monday if it falls on a weekend. Scotland also has a bank holiday on 2 January.

          Good Friday · April 3

          The Friday before Easter, when Christians remember the crucifixion of Jesus. It is a bank holiday throughout the UK, including Scotland, where Easter Monday is not.

          Easter Monday · April 6

          The day after Easter Sunday, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. Its date moves each year with Easter.

          Early May bank holiday · May 4

          Held on the first Monday in May in every part of the UK, often linked with traditional May Day celebrations.

          Spring bank holiday · May 25

          Held on the last Monday in May in every part of the UK, giving a second long weekend in May.

          Christmas Day · December 25

          Celebrates the birth of Jesus on 25 December and is a bank holiday across the UK. When it falls on a weekend, the following Monday or Tuesday becomes a substitute day off.

          Boxing Day (substitute day) · December 28

          Boxing Day falls on a weekend this year, so this weekday is the bank holiday in its place.

          Other Observances in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom 2026

          These dates are marked in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom but are not public holidays, so most offices, schools and shops stay open. Bank holidays only close banks and some businesses.

          DateDayHolidayType
          March 15, 2026SundayMother's DayObservance
          April 5, 2026SundayEaster SundayObservance
          June 21, 2026SundayFather's DayObservance

          Frequently Asked Questions

          How many public holidays are there in Northern Ireland?

          Northern Ireland, United Kingdom has 11 public holidays in 2026, 2 fewer than the global average of 13.

          Which public holidays fall on a weekend in Northern Ireland in 2026?

          5 public holidays fall on a weekend in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom in 2026: Battle of the Boyne, Orangemen’s Day (Sunday, July 12), Battle of the Boyne (Sunday, July 12), Battle of the Boyne (Sunday, July 12), Boxing Day (Saturday, December 26), Boxing Day (Saturday, December 26). Northern Ireland, United Kingdom gives a substitute day off for some of these but not others.

          Does Northern Ireland give a day off when a holiday falls on a weekend?

          It depends — Northern Ireland, United Kingdom moves some public holidays that fall on a weekend to the next working day, but not all of them.

          What is the longest break possible in Northern Ireland in 2026?

          With up to 5 days of leave, the longest break in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom in 2026 is 10 consecutive days off, December 25–January 3, by booking 3 days of leave. With just 1 day of leave, you can get 4 days off in a row, January 1–January 4.

          When is the next public holiday in Northern Ireland?

          The next public holiday in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom is Christmas Day on December 25, 2026.

          Which holidays in Northern Ireland change date each year?

          Good Friday, Easter Monday, Early May bank holiday, Spring bank holiday, Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Early May bank holiday (VE day), Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth's Funeral Day, King Charles III's Coronation, Summer bank holiday do not fall on the same date every year in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, since they are set by a lunar or other variable calendar rather than a fixed date.

          Related Holiday Calendars

          Other States in United Kingdom