Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland has ten bank holidays in 2026 — the longest calendar in the UK, with St Patrick's Day in March and the Battle of the Boyne in July.
Reviewed for the 2026 holiday year
| Holiday | Date (2026) | Day | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 1 January 2026 | Thursday | — |
| St Patrick's Day | 17 March 2026 | Tuesday | — |
| Good Friday | 3 April 2026 | Friday | — |
| Easter Monday | 6 April 2026 | Monday | — |
| Early May bank holiday | 4 May 2026 | Monday | — |
| Spring bank holiday | 25 May 2026 | Monday | — |
| Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day, substitute day) | 13 July 2026 | Monday | 12 July falls on a Sunday, so the holiday moves to Monday 13 July. |
| Summer bank holiday | 31 August 2026 | Monday | — |
| Christmas Day | 25 December 2026 | Friday | — |
| Boxing Day (substitute day) | 28 December 2026 | Monday | 26 December falls on a Saturday, so the holiday moves to Monday 28 December. |
As of late October 2026, the remaining Northern Ireland bank holidays are Friday 25 December (Christmas Day) and Monday 28 December (Boxing Day substitute day). The 26 December date falls on a Saturday, so the substitute bank holiday is observed on Monday 28 December. Earlier 2026 dates remain in the complete table above for reference.
For an employee who normally works Monday to Friday and receives bank holidays off, book Tuesday 29, Wednesday 30 and Thursday 31 December 2026 as annual leave. This creates 10 consecutive days away from work, from Friday 25 December 2026 through Sunday 3 January 2027, assuming Friday 1 January 2027 (New Year's Day) is also a non-working bank holiday.
If your employer requires you to work on bank holidays, or you follow a shift rota, this calculation will differ. Check your contract and obtain approval before booking travel.
For future planning, Northern Ireland observes St Patrick's Day on 17 March and the Battle of the Boyne holiday in July in addition to the eight dates observed in England and Wales. The 2026 July bank holiday fell on Monday 13 July because 12 July was a Sunday. These dates can affect local services and cross-border schedules, so check individual providers before arranging appointments.
Check the official UK bank holiday calendar for the published dates and consult the government guidance on holiday entitlement for employment rules. Bank holidays do not automatically have to be given as paid leave.
On top of the England and Wales calendar, Northern Ireland observes St Patrick's Day on Tuesday 17 March 2026 and the Battle of the Boyne, also called Orangemen's Day. As 12 July 2026 is a Sunday, the July holiday is taken on Monday 13 July 2026.
Around the July holiday, many businesses in Northern Ireland close for a longer period, and transport, waste collections and public services frequently run amended schedules. Plan appointments, deliveries and banking tasks either side of that week.
Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have separate holiday calendars. If you work or trade cross-border, expect days when one side is closed and the other is open — St Patrick's Day is a holiday on both sides, but the Battle of the Boyne is not.
Banking on Northern Ireland holidays
NORTHERN IRELAND HOLIDAY PLANNING GUIDE
Explore Northern Ireland bank holiday dates across three years, compare public holidays, discover long weekends and plan annual leave around important celebrations and substitute holidays.
Northern Ireland has a distinctive bank holiday calendar, including St Patrick's Day on 17 March and the Battle of the Boyne holiday in July. Whether you are checking previous holiday dates, arranging time off in 2026 or planning ahead for 2027, our dedicated year-by-year guides help you find the information you need for work, travel, school breaks and family activities.
Review the Northern Ireland bank holidays in 2025, including St Patrick's Day on 17 March, Good Friday on 18 April, Easter Monday on 21 April and the Battle of the Boyne substitute holiday on 14 July. Compare summer bank holiday dates, Christmas holidays and past public holiday arrangements for payroll, travel and employment records.
View Northern Ireland Bank Holidays 2025 →Discover the Northern Ireland public holiday calendar for 2026, including St Patrick's Day on Tuesday 17 March, Good Friday on 3 April, Easter Monday on 6 April and the Battle of the Boyne substitute holiday on Monday 13 July. Find key dates for long weekends, annual leave planning, bank closures and Christmas arrangements.
View Northern Ireland Bank Holidays 2026 →Plan ahead with the 2027 Northern Ireland bank holiday calendar, featuring St Patrick's Day on 17 March, Good Friday on 26 March, Easter Monday on 29 March and the Battle of the Boyne holiday on 12 July. Explore the May bank holidays, summer long weekends and Christmas substitute holidays on 27 and 28 December.
View Northern Ireland Bank Holidays 2027 →Northern Ireland holiday planning tip: Northern Ireland observes St Patrick's Day and the Battle of the Boyne as bank holidays, unlike England, Wales and Scotland. When a bank holiday falls on a weekend, a substitute weekday may apply. Bank holidays do not automatically guarantee paid leave, so always check your employment contract and the relevant year's official calendar.
Northern Ireland has 10 bank holidays in 2026, the most of any UK nation, because it observes St Patrick's Day and the Battle of the Boyne in addition to the England and Wales dates.
St Patrick's Day is Tuesday 17 March 2026 and is a bank holiday in Northern Ireland only.
12 July 2026 falls on a Sunday, so the Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day) bank holiday is observed on Monday 13 July 2026.
No. The Republic of Ireland sets its own public holidays, which include dates such as the June and October holidays that do not apply in Northern Ireland.