Northern Ireland Bank Holidays & Public Holidays 2026: All 10 Official Dates

Northern Ireland has 10 public holidays (bank holidays) in 2026 — more than any other UK nation. It observes all 8 bank holidays of England and Wales, plus two additional days that reflect Northern Ireland's distinct civic and cultural calendar: St Patrick's Day on 17 March and the Battle of the Boyne on 12 July (observed as a substitute on Monday 13 July in 2026).

Northern Ireland public holiday dates 2026

The two Northern Ireland-only public holidays

Two of Northern Ireland's 10 bank holidays are not observed anywhere else in the UK. Both reflect aspects of Northern Ireland's history and identity that have no equivalent in Great Britain.

St Patrick's Day — 17 March (Tuesday)

St Patrick's Day marks the feast day of Ireland's patron saint and is one of the most recognisable cultural celebrations associated with Ireland worldwide. As a bank holiday it is observed in Northern Ireland only — it is a working day in England, Wales and Scotland. In 2026 it falls on a Tuesday, which means it does not create a long weekend on its own. St Patrick's Day is widely marked with parades, cultural events and community gatherings across Northern Ireland. For expats new to Northern Ireland, it is worth noting that the atmosphere and scale of celebrations can vary significantly by area.

Battle of the Boyne — 13 July 2026 (Monday, substitute)

The Battle of the Boyne bank holiday, officially observed on 12 July each year, commemorates the battle fought on that date in 1690 in which William III defeated the forces of James II. It is also known as Orangemen's Day or the Twelfth and is marked by Orange Order parades across Northern Ireland. In 2026, 12 July falls on a Sunday, so the bank holiday is observed on Monday 13 July. This substitute date carries the same employment rights as the original date. The Twelfth is observed in Northern Ireland only — it is not a bank holiday in any other part of the UK.

Each public holiday explained

New Year's Day — 1 January (Thursday)

Observed across all four UK nations. Unlike Scotland, Northern Ireland does not observe 2nd January as a separate public holiday — New Year's Day is a single day off.

Good Friday — 3 April (Friday)

Observed across all four UK nations. Good Friday is technically a common law holiday rather than a statutory bank holiday but appears on all official government listings and is universally observed by employers, banks and public services.

Easter Monday — 6 April (Monday)

Easter Monday is observed in Northern Ireland, England and Wales, but not in Scotland. Together with Good Friday it creates a four-day Easter weekend in Northern Ireland from Friday 3 April to Monday 6 April 2026.

Early May bank holiday — 4 May (Monday)

The first Monday in May, observed across all four UK nations. In 2026 that is 4 May.

Spring bank holiday — 25 May (Monday)

The last Monday in May, observed across all four UK nations. In 2026 that is 25 May. Together with the Early May bank holiday, it gives Northern Ireland two three-day weekends within the same month.

Summer bank holiday — 31 August (Monday)

Northern Ireland's Summer bank holiday falls on the last Monday of August, which is 31 August in 2026 — the same date as England and Wales. This is one of the key differences from Scotland, whose Summer bank holiday falls four weeks earlier on 3 August 2026.

Christmas Day — 25 December (Friday)

Observed across all four UK nations. In 2026 Christmas Day falls on a Friday, which with the Boxing Day substitute on Monday 28 December creates a four-day Christmas weekend.

Boxing Day (substitute) — 28 December (Monday)

Boxing Day (26 December) falls on a Saturday in 2026, so the bank holiday is observed on Monday 28 December. This is the same substitute date as England, Wales and Scotland.

Bank holidays and your rights at work

The employment law framework governing bank holidays in Northern Ireland broadly mirrors that of Great Britain, though employment law in Northern Ireland is devolved and administered separately. The core position is the same: there is no automatic legal right to time off on a bank holiday. Your entitlement depends on your employment contract. Employers must provide a statutory minimum of 5.6 weeks of annual leave per year and may include bank holidays within this or grant them as additional days.

For expats working in Northern Ireland for the first time, the two additional bank holidays — St Patrick's Day and the Battle of the Boyne — are worth raising with your employer or HR team when you start. If your contract was issued by a company headquartered in England, it may specify English bank holidays only, in which case you would not automatically receive these two additional days off. Clarifying this at the outset avoids confusion later. For a broader overview of working in the UK see our Working in the UK section.

Northern Ireland's bank holiday calendar is the most extensive in the UK, and the two additional dates — St Patrick's Day and the Battle of the Boyne — are not simply administrative additions. They carry real cultural weight and mark days when the character of public life in Northern Ireland is distinctly different from the rest of the UK. For expats arriving from elsewhere in the UK or from abroad, they represent an early introduction to the particular civic identity of the place.

The practical implications are straightforward. Ten bank holidays means more potential long weekends, but only if your contract reflects Northern Ireland's calendar. The substitute date rules for Boxing Day and the Battle of the Boyne in 2026 are both on Mondays, so neither creates any unusual leave planning complexity. The Summer bank holiday falling in line with England and Wales — rather than Scotland's earlier date — means late August is the quieter end-of-summer long weekend shared with most of the rest of the UK.

If you are planning your move to Northern Ireland or the wider UK, the UK Relocation Guide covers the groundwork and Visas & Immigration has every visa route explained. For things to do over a bank holiday weekend, the Lifestyle and Living sections of the Expat Directory are a useful starting point.

Frequently asked questions