There’s that moment when you realise a long weekend is coming up and you haven’t checked the exact date yet. If you’re in Ireland and wondering when the next bank holiday is, the answer depends on the calendar year — but for 2026 the schedule is already set.

4 related posts

Number of public holidays in Ireland: 9 ·
Next bank holiday (2026): August Bank Holiday – 3 August 2026 ·
October bank holiday 2026: 26 October 2026 ·
Christmas Day 2026: 25 December 2026 ·
St. Stephen’s Day 2026: 26 December 2026 (or 27 December if Sunday)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Easter Monday’s exact date requires ecclesiastical calculation, though dates are known long in advance.
  • Whether St. Stephen’s Day falls on 26 or 27 December depends on the day of the week for that year.
  • Holiday dates beyond 2027 may not yet be officially published by government sources.
3Timeline signal
  • The next bank holiday after mid-2026 is the August Bank Holiday on 3 August 2026.
  • Followed by the October Bank Holiday on 26 October 2026.
  • Then Christmas Day (25 Dec) and St. Stephen’s Day (26 Dec, possibly 27th).
4What’s next
  • Plan around the August long weekend — bookings and travel fill up early. (nidirect.gov.uk)
  • Check employer policies: some private sector contracts treat bank holidays differently. (nidirect.gov.uk)
  • Northern Ireland follows a separate schedule under nidirect.gov.uk.
The upshot

Irish workers who plan around the full calendar rather than just the next holiday can maximise their long weekends. The August Bank Holiday on Monday 3 August 2026 is the next significant break — and booking early can save on travel costs, as demand spikes across the country.

When is the next bank holiday in Ireland?

As of mid-2026, the next bank holiday in the Republic of Ireland is the August Bank Holiday on Monday 3 August 2026. This date is confirmed by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), Ireland’s official employment rights body. The August holiday is set as the first Monday of August under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997.

What is the immediate next bank holiday date?

  • 3 August 2026 — August Bank Holiday (first Monday of August)
  • Followed by: 26 October 2026 — October Bank Holiday (last Monday of October)
  • Then: 25 December 2026 — Christmas Day; 26 December 2026 — St. Stephen’s Day

The Citizens Information (official Irish government information service) confirms these are public holidays and advises that employees are entitled to time off or additional pay if required to work.

How to check future bank holiday dates?

Official sources for upcoming dates include the gov.ie publications portal and the Workplace Relations Commission. Institutions like Danske Bank (bank-holiday notice PDF) also publish annual schedules. For the most reliable information, always check government domains — third-party aggregators like Public Holidays Ireland are useful but not authoritative.

Differences between bank holidays in Ireland and Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland operates under a separate system managed by the nidirect.gov.uk (Northern Ireland government portal). While the Republic has 9 public holidays, Northern Ireland has 10 bank holidays, including Good Friday and additional days tied to the UK calendar. For example, the August Bank Holiday in Northern Ireland falls on the last Monday of August, not the first.

Bottom line: The next bank holiday is 3 August 2026. Workers in the Republic should rely on government sources for accurate dates, while those crossing the border need to check the separate Northern Ireland schedule.

What are the 10 bank holidays in Ireland?

Ireland officially has 9 public holidays, though they’re often called bank holidays. The confusion arises because the Workplace Relations Commission actually lists 10 dates for 2026 — because St. Brigid’s Day (2 February) was added as a new public holiday in 2023.

The table below confirms every official holiday date for 2026, drawn from the WRC’s published schedule.

List of all 9 official public holidays

Holiday 2026 Date Type
New Year’s Day 1 January Fixed
St. Brigid’s Day 2 February Fixed (first Monday of February from 2023)
St. Patrick’s Day 17 March Fixed
Easter Monday 6 April Movable (ecclesiastical)
May Bank Holiday 4 May First Monday of May
June Bank Holiday 1 June First Monday of June
August Bank Holiday 3 August First Monday of August
October Bank Holiday 26 October Last Monday of October
Christmas Day 25 December Fixed
St. Stephen’s Day 26 December Fixed (may shift to 27th if Saturday/Sunday)

Nine distinct holidays, but the WRC lists 10 entries because St. Brigid’s Day is counted separately. The Oireachtas (Irish Parliament legislation) confirms the legal basis for each.

Which holidays are fixed vs movable?

  • Fixed: New Year’s Day, St. Brigid’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Christmas Day, St. Stephen’s Day — always on the same calendar date regardless of day of week.
  • Movable: Easter Monday (based on ecclesiastical calendar), May, June, August, and October bank holidays (based on Monday rules).

The FSSU (Schools Financial Services Unit) clarifies that fixed-date holidays can shift to a weekday if they fall on a weekend — the “in lieu” rule.

Do bank holidays include Easter Monday and St. Patrick’s Day?

Yes — both are public holidays in Ireland. St. Patrick’s Day on 17 March is a fixed holiday. Easter Monday falls on 6 April in 2026. However, the FSSU confirms Good Friday is not a public holiday in Ireland, despite some businesses closing on that day.

What this means: If you’re counting your days off, don’t assume Good Friday is included — only the Monday after Easter Sunday is a legal public holiday.

Why this matters

Employees who assume Good Friday is a bank holiday risk scheduling conflicts. The legal right to paid leave or premium pay applies only to the 9 official public holidays listed above.

What date is the October bank holiday in 2026?

The October bank holiday in 2026 falls on Monday 26 October. This is confirmed by the Workplace Relations Commission and aligns with the rule set in the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997: the last Monday of October.

Why is the October bank holiday on a Monday?

All four seasonal bank holidays in Ireland (May, June, August, October) are deliberately placed on Mondays to create long weekends. The October holiday is the last Monday of the month, a rule that has been consistent since the 1997 Act was enacted.

How is the date determined?

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment states that the October public holiday is calculated as “the last Monday of October.” This means the date shifts slightly each year — in 2026 it’s the 26th, in 2027 it will be the 25th.

What is the October bank holiday called?

Officially it’s the “October Public Holiday” or “October Bank Holiday.” Unlike the August and June holidays, it doesn’t have a widely used alternative name (some call it the Halloween Bank Holiday informally, but that’s not official).

The pattern: Ireland’s four Monday-based holidays create a predictable rhythm — workers get a three-day weekend every month from May through October, with a brief gap in July.

What is a bank holiday weekend?

A bank holiday weekend refers to a weekend that includes a Monday public holiday, giving workers a three-day break. In Ireland, four of the nine public holidays create this effect: May, June, August, and October all fall on Mondays.

What defines a bank holiday weekend?

According to Citizens Information, a bank holiday weekend is simply a public holiday that falls on a Monday, allowing for a continuous break from Saturday through Monday. Some retailers and services operate reduced hours on these weekends, though banks are typically closed.

Which holidays create a long weekend?

  • May Bank Holiday (first Monday of May) — always a long weekend.
  • June Bank Holiday (first Monday of June) — always a long weekend.
  • August Bank Holiday (first Monday of August) — always a long weekend.
  • October Bank Holiday (last Monday of October) — always a long weekend.

St. Patrick’s Day and Christmas Day do not automatically create a long weekend, as they can fall on any day of the week.

Is the October bank holiday a weekend?

Yes — the October bank holiday is a Monday, so it extends the preceding Saturday and Sunday into a three-day weekend. This makes it one of the most anticipated breaks in the Irish calendar, particularly for autumn travel.

The catch: While the October holiday creates a long weekend for most workers, those in retail, hospitality, and healthcare often work the Monday — and receive either a day in lieu or premium pay as compensation under the WRC guidelines.

Why is the 27th of December a public holiday?

If St. Stephen’s Day (26 December) falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday becomes the public holiday. This is the “in lieu” rule designed to ensure workers still get their day off when a fixed-date holiday coincides with a weekend.

When is St. Stephen’s Day?

St. Stephen’s Day is always 26 December. In 2026, it falls on a Saturday, which means the public holiday shifts to Monday 27 December 2026. The Citizens Information explains this adjustment clearly: “If a public holiday falls on a weekend, you get a day off on the next working day.”

Is 27 December a public holiday if Christmas falls on a weekend?

The same rule applies to Christmas Day. If 25 December falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday (or Tuesday, depending on the combination) becomes the public holiday. In 2026, Christmas Day is a Friday and St. Stephen’s Day is a Saturday — so the St. Stephen’s Day holiday shifts to Monday 27 December.

How are public holiday dates adjusted?

  • Fixed-date holidays: If they fall on a weekend, the next working day becomes the public holiday.
  • Monday-based holidays: These don’t shift because they’re already set on Mondays.
  • Easter Monday: Movable but doesn’t require adjustment — it always falls on a Monday.

The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 provides the legal framework for these adjustments, ensuring workers in Ireland receive the same number of public holidays each year regardless of calendar quirks.

Bottom line: In 2026, workers in Ireland get the St. Stephen’s Day holiday on 27 December, not 26 December. Anyone booking travel or requesting annual leave should check whether the holiday date they’re counting on has shifted.
Additional sources

eskimo.travel, facebook.com, ireland.com, facebook.com, irishcentral.com, bankofirelanduk.com

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Frequently asked questions

Do bank holidays include Good Friday in Ireland?

No. Good Friday is not a public holiday in Ireland, as confirmed by the FSSU and the Workplace Relations Commission. Some businesses close voluntarily, but there’s no legal entitlement to paid leave or premium pay.

What is the difference between a public holiday and a bank holiday?

In Ireland, the terms are used interchangeably. The FSSU states that public holidays are also referred to as bank holidays. The legal term in the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 is “public holiday.”

How many bank holidays are there in Northern Ireland?

Northern Ireland has 10 bank holidays, as listed by nidirect.gov.uk. These include Good Friday and the August Bank Holiday on the last Monday of August, differing from the Republic’s schedule.

Do I get paid extra if I work on a bank holiday?

Under the WRC guidelines, employees who work on a public holiday are entitled to either a paid day off in the following month, an additional day of annual leave, or premium pay — depending on their employment contract.

What happens if a public holiday falls on a weekend?

If a fixed-date holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday (or Tuesday for combined weekend holidays) becomes the public holiday. This is the “in lieu” rule under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997.

Is there a bank holiday on 16 March in Ireland?

No. St. Patrick’s Day is 17 March. Monday 16 March 2026 is a regular working day. There is no bank holiday on 16 March.

Are all bank holidays paid leave?

Full-time employees are generally entitled to paid leave on public holidays. Part-time workers who have worked at least 40 hours in the 5 weeks before the holiday are also entitled. The Workplace Relations Commission provides detailed guidance on eligibility.

Bottom line: Irish workers who understand the adjustment rules and their entitlements can avoid confusion around holiday dates. The key: check official government sources for the specific year, and remember that Good Friday is not a public holiday. For employers, clarity on “in lieu” rules can prevent disputes.

For anyone planning their 2026 breaks, the Citizens Information page remains the most reliable reference. Whether you’re booking an August getaway or wondering about the December schedule, the confirmed dates above give you a solid foundation for the year ahead.