When is the Next Bank Holiday in Ireland? 2026 Dates Guide

If you’re checking the calendar after Easter, you probably noticed there’s a gap before the next break arrives. Good Friday, April 3, 2026, is not actually a bank holiday in the Republic — one of the quirks that trips people up every year. The next one you can actually plan around is Monday, May 4, 2026. Here’s the full 2026 Ireland bank holiday calendar, verified across multiple sources so you know exactly what to expect.

Next bank holiday: Monday, May 4, 2026 · 2026 total: 10 · Monday holidays: 6 · Key source: HRLocker (employment law specialist)

The table below lists all ten Republic of Ireland public holidays for 2026, verified across multiple specialist sources.

Ireland has 10 public holidays in 2026, an increase from the previous 9 when St Brigid’s Day was added as the 10th holiday starting in 2023. The full list spans the entire calendar year, from New Year’s Day on January 1 through to St Stephen’s Day on December 26.

What date is the next bank holiday?

The next bank holiday after Easter is May Day on Monday, May 4, 2026. Multiple sources confirm this date, including HRLocker (an employment law specialist that compares Republic of Ireland and UK holidays) and Purple Tree (an employer guide with detailed substitution policy).

Six of the ten bank holidays in 2026 fall on Mondays, creating long weekends throughout the year. The pattern makes it easier to plan extended breaks, whether for a short getaway or a longer staycation.

Bank holidays apply uniformly across the Republic of Ireland with no regional variations. According to Ireland.com (official tourism source for Ireland), the same ten dates are observed nationwide. If you are in Northern Ireland, the dates differ — Northern Ireland has a different bank holiday calendar that includes the Battle of Boyne on July 13 and an extra May bank holiday on May 25.

After Easter Monday (April 6, 2026), there is a gap before the next bank holiday on May 4. Workers wanting to take additional leave may request time off during this period to create a longer break.

What are the 10 bank holidays in Ireland?

Ireland has 10 public holidays (bank holidays) in 2026. Eskimo eSIM’s Ireland guide lists the full calendar with confirmed dates across sources. Here is the complete list:

• New Year’s Day — Thursday, January 1, 2026
• St Brigid’s Day — Monday, February 2, 2026
• St Patrick’s Day — Tuesday, March 17, 2026
• Easter Monday — Monday, April 6, 2026
• May Day Bank Holiday — Monday, May 4, 2026
• June Bank Holiday — Monday, June 1, 2026
• August Bank Holiday — Monday, August 3, 2026
• October Bank Holiday — Monday, October 26, 2026
• Christmas Day — Friday, December 25, 2026
• St Stephen’s Day — Saturday, December 26, 2026

Bank holidays Ireland 2026

Six of the ten bank holidays in 2026 fall on Mondays: St Brigid’s Day, Easter Monday, May Day, June Bank Holiday, August Bank Holiday, and October Bank Holiday. Office Holidays (a specialist holiday database) confirms the August date as Monday, August 3, 2026. The remaining four holidays — New Year’s Day (Thursday), St Patrick’s Day (Tuesday), Christmas (Friday), and St Stephen’s Day (Saturday) — fall on other days of the week.

Under Irish law, when a bank holiday falls on a weekend, the following Monday does not automatically become a public holiday. Purple Tree’s employer guide explains that this creates a practical gap for workers: an employer may offer an extra day’s leave in lieu or additional pay, but there is no statutory automatic substitution as there is in some other jurisdictions.

Regional variations

Bank holidays in Northern Ireland differ from the Republic. Ireland.com notes the key differences: Northern Ireland includes the Battle of Boyne on July 13 and has an extra May bank holiday on May 25 (Spring Bank Holiday). The August Bank Holiday in Northern Ireland falls on August 31, not August 3.

For those planning cross-border travel or business, the differing schedules are worth noting — especially in the summer and spring months when the two jurisdictions are off on different dates.

Is there a bank holiday for St. Patrick’s Day 2026?

Yes. St Patrick’s Day in 2026 is Tuesday, March 17, and it is a public holiday. HRLocker confirms the date across its Republic of Ireland and UK comparison table. The holiday is always observed on March 17, regardless of which day of the week it falls on.

Some searches check whether March 16 is a bank holiday — it is not. The only official St Patrick’s Day bank holiday is March 17. In 2026, the holiday falls on a Tuesday, which means workers may need to take leave on Monday, March 16, to create a four-day break.

What dates are Good Friday and Easter Monday in 2026?

Easter in 2026 falls as follows: Good Friday is April 3 (Thursday), Easter Sunday is April 5, and Easter Monday is April 6, 2026 — a statutory bank holiday. HRLocker’s 2026 calendar confirms the Easter Monday date and provides the full Easter weekend sequence.

An important distinction: Good Friday (April 3, 2026) is not a statutory public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, even though many people assume it is. Danske CI’s official banking calendar (a financial institution with an Ireland-specific government document) clearly states this. Many employers do give the day off or offer it as an optional benefit, but it is not legally required.

October Bank Holiday Ireland 2026

The October Bank Holiday in 2026 falls on Monday, October 26. Eskimo eSIM’s guide and Purple Tree both confirm the date.

This autumn break is closely linked to the ancient tradition of Samhain, which is the precursor to modern Halloween. According to Irish Central, an Irish news outlet, the October Bank Holiday originated as a way to mark the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter — a tradition that stretches back centuries in Irish culture.

The August Bank Holiday on Monday, August 3, also signals the traditional end of the Irish summer break period. Irish Central notes that the August holiday marks a shift in the school calendar, with families often using this window for last-minute summer trips.

“Ireland observes 10 public holidays each year, increased from 9 in 2023 when St Brigid’s Day was added.”

— Purple Tree (employer guide)

“Under Irish law, the following Monday does not automatically become a public holiday.”

— Purple Tree (employer guide)

“This break is closely linked to the ancient tradition of Samhain, which is the precursor to modern Halloween.”

— Irish Central (Irish news outlet)

“The August Bank Holiday on Monday, August 3, also signals the traditional end of the Irish summer break period, with families often using this window for last-minute summer trips.”

— Office Holidays (specialist holiday database)