Ireland has 10 statutory public holidays in 2026. These holidays are governed by Ireland’s employment-law framework and include fixed-date holidays such as New Year’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day, movable holidays such as Easter Monday, and several Monday public holidays during the year. Good Friday is not a statutory public holiday in Ireland.
On this pageTable of Content
Also Explore: Public Holiday in Israel
Next Public Holiday in Ireland
| Date | Day | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 26, 2026 | Monday | Last Monday in October | Confirmed |
Public Holidays in Ireland 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Thursday | New Year’s Day | Confirmed |
| February 2, 2026 | Monday | First Monday in February | Confirmed |
| March 17, 2026 | Tuesday | St. Patrick’s Day | Confirmed |
| April 6, 2026 | Monday | Easter Monday | Confirmed |
| May 4, 2026 | Monday | First Monday in May | Confirmed |
| June 1, 2026 | Monday | First Monday in June | Confirmed |
| August 3, 2026 | Monday | First Monday in August | Confirmed |
| October 26, 2026 | Monday | Last Monday in October | Confirmed |
| December 25, 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day | Confirmed |
| December 26, 2026 | Saturday | St. Stephen’s Day | Confirmed |
How Public Holidays Work in Ireland
Ireland has 10 public holidays each year. The official list includes New Year’s Day, the early-February public holiday, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter Monday, the first Mondays in May, June and August, the last Monday in October, Christmas Day and St. Stephen’s Day.
The Workplace Relations Commission publishes the statutory public-holiday dates and explains employee entitlements. The underlying legal framework is contained in the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997.
February Public Holiday and St. Brigid’s Day
Since 2023, Ireland has had an annual public holiday in early February. The holiday normally falls on the first Monday in February. If 1 February falls on a Friday, however, Friday 1 February becomes the public holiday instead.
Citizens Information describes the February holiday as marking St. Brigid’s Day. In 2026, the normal first-Monday rule applies.
Is Good Friday a Public Holiday in Ireland?
No. Good Friday is not a statutory public holiday in Ireland. Some schools, businesses or individual workplaces may close, but employees do not receive an automatic statutory public-holiday entitlement simply because it is Good Friday.
The Workplace Relations Commission describes Good Friday as a normal working day for statutory public-holiday purposes.
Are Public Holidays Paid in Ireland?
Eligible employees are entitled to a statutory benefit for a public holiday. The employer determines which of the permitted forms of benefit applies.
- A paid day off on the public holiday
- A paid day off within one month of the public holiday
- An additional day of annual leave
- An additional day’s pay
Full-time workers have an immediate entitlement to public-holiday benefit. A part-time employee normally qualifies where they have worked at least 40 hours during the five weeks ending on the day before the public holiday.
Employees who work on a public holiday remain entitled to their public-holiday benefit in addition to payment for the work performed, subject to the applicable employment rules.
What Happens When a Public Holiday Falls on a Weekend?
A public holiday does not automatically move to the following Monday simply because it falls on a Saturday or Sunday.
If a public holiday falls on a day that is not normally a working day for the business or employee, the employee may still qualify for the statutory public-holiday benefit. However, Irish law does not create an automatic right to take the next working day off.
This rule is particularly relevant around Christmas because Christmas Day and St. Stephen’s Day remain attached to their calendar dates even when one of them falls at the weekend.
Public Holidays, Bank Holidays and Business Closures
In everyday use, public holidays in Ireland are sometimes called bank holidays. For employment-rights purposes, however, the important category is the statutory public holiday.
Most businesses and schools close on public holidays, although opening arrangements vary by organisation. Public transport and other services may continue operating on reduced or special schedules, so travellers should check directly with the relevant provider.
Long Weekends in Ireland in 2026
Ireland’s holiday calendar creates several natural long weekends because the February, Easter, May, June, August and October public holidays fall on Mondays in 2026.
Christmas Day falls on a Friday in 2026, while St. Stephen’s Day falls on Saturday. Employees should not assume that the following Monday is automatically a statutory substitute holiday, because Ireland does not provide an automatic next-working-day entitlement when a public holiday falls at the weekend.
Who Sets Public Holiday Entitlements in Ireland?
Public-holiday employment entitlements are principally governed by the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 and related regulations. The Workplace Relations Commission provides official guidance for workers and employers on how these entitlements operate.
The statutory framework determines the available forms of public-holiday benefit, including paid time off, additional annual leave and additional pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many public holidays are there in Ireland in 2026?
Ireland has 10 statutory public holidays in 2026.
What is the next public holiday in Ireland?
The next public holiday changes throughout the year. The live VisaBoards section near the top of this page shows the next upcoming Irish public holiday from the current holiday database.
What is Ireland’s country code?
Ireland’s ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code is IE.
Is St. Patrick’s Day a public holiday in Ireland?
Yes. St. Patrick’s Day on 17 March is one of Ireland’s statutory public holidays.
Is Good Friday a bank holiday in Ireland?
Good Friday is not a statutory public holiday in Ireland. Some banks, schools or businesses may operate differently on that day, but there is no automatic statutory public-holiday entitlement to time off.
Is Easter Monday a public holiday in Ireland?
Yes. Easter Monday is a statutory public holiday in Ireland and its calendar date changes from year to year.
Do employees automatically get Monday off when a public holiday falls on Saturday?
No. There is no automatic statutory entitlement to take the following Monday off. Eligible employees remain entitled to one of the public-holiday benefits permitted under Irish employment law.
Do part-time workers receive public-holiday benefits in Ireland?
Part-time employees generally qualify where they have worked at least 40 hours during the five weeks ending on the day before the public holiday.
Are schools and businesses closed on Irish public holidays?
Most schools and many businesses close on public holidays, although individual opening arrangements vary. Public transport and other services may operate restricted schedules.
Who provides official information about public holidays in Ireland?
The Workplace Relations Commission provides official guidance on public holidays and employment entitlements. The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 provides the principal statutory framework.
Official Sources for Public Holidays in Ireland
- Workplace Relations Commission – Public Holidays: confirms Ireland’s statutory public holidays, the official 2026 dates, employee entitlements, Good Friday status and weekend rules.
- Irish Statute Book – Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, Section 21: sets out statutory employee entitlements in respect of public holidays.
- Citizens Information – Public Holidays: explains Ireland’s public-holiday calendar, the February holiday, Good Friday and practical closure information.
Join the conversation
Have thoughts on this topic? Share them with others.
Ask questions, share experience, and learn from the Visaboards Community.