Anyone who has ever woken up on a random Tuesday wondering Is today a bank holiday? knows the feeling. With nine public holidays each year — many of them on Mondays — keeping track of the next day off can get confusing. This guide uses official government sources to give you a clear answer for 2026 and beyond, whether you’re planning a break or just checking tomorrow.

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Number of public holidays in Ireland: 9 per year ·
Next public holiday (2026): June Bank Holiday (Monday, 1 June 2026) ·
Most recent public holiday (2026): May Bank Holiday (Monday, 4 May 2026)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • After 4 May 2026, the next public holiday is 1 June 2026 (June Bank Holiday) — 28 days away.
  • Then 3 August 2026 (August Bank Holiday), followed by 26 October 2026 (October Bank Holiday).

The table below distills the key numbers for quick reference.

Key facts: Irish public holidays at a glance
Label Value Source
Total public holidays per year 9 Citizens Information (official government guidance)
Next holiday (as of May 2026) June Bank Holiday, 1 June 2026 Irish Central (Irish diaspora news site)
Most common holiday day Monday (5 of 9 holidays on a Monday) Eskimo eSIM (travel resource)
Official source citizensinformation.ie/public-holidays Citizens Information (official government guidance)

The implication: four data points cover the essentials — total count, next date, common pattern, and where to verify.

What holiday is it in Ireland right now?

If you are reading this in mid-2025 or later, the most likely answer is: no public holiday today, unless it happens to be one of the nine dates on the official calendar. But checking is straightforward.

How to check if today is a public holiday

  • Visit Citizens Information (official government guidance) for the full list.
  • Compare today’s date against the 2026 calendar: 1 Jan, 17 Mar, 6 Apr, 4 May, 1 Jun, 3 Aug, 26 Oct, 25 Dec, 26 Dec.
  • If a date falls on a weekend, the public holiday typically moves to the following Monday (Wikipedia (public holidays overview)).

Is tomorrow a public holiday?

For the week starting 5 May 2026, the next public holiday is 1 June 2026 (June Bank Holiday). Tomorrow (6 May 2026) is a regular working day.

What is the date of the next upcoming holiday?

The next public holiday after 4 May 2026 is Monday, 1 June 2026 — the June Bank Holiday (Irish Central (Irish diaspora news site)).

Bottom line: As of early May 2026, there is no holiday today or tomorrow. The next day off is the June Bank Holiday on 1 June 2026 — 28 days away.

Is next Monday a bank holiday in Ireland?

Many Irish bank holidays land on Mondays, but not every Monday is a holiday. For any given week, you need to check the official calendar.

List of bank holidays that fall on Mondays

  • Easter Monday (6 Apr 2026) — Monday
  • May Bank Holiday (4 May 2026) — Monday
  • June Bank Holiday (1 Jun 2026) — Monday
  • August Bank Holiday (3 Aug 2026) — Monday
  • October Bank Holiday (26 Oct 2026) — Monday

Five of the nine public holidays in 2026 are on Mondays. Good Friday (3 Apr 2026) is a bank holiday but not a public holiday (Wikipedia (public holidays overview)).

How to confirm Monday holiday status for any week

Use the official Citizens Information (official government guidance) calendar. For 2026, the next Monday that is a public holiday after 4 May is 1 June. The Monday after that (8 June) is not a holiday.

The pattern

Anyone planning a long weekend should focus on the five Monday holidays. But a quick check saves disappointment: not every Monday is a bank holiday.

The implication: if you are asked “Is next Monday a bank holiday?” for the week of 11 May 2026, the answer is no — the next Monday holiday is 1 June.

Why is 27 October a bank holiday?

Some readers search for “27 October bank holiday Ireland” because they recall that date from a previous year. The correct answer: 27 October 2026 is not a public holiday. However, the October Bank Holiday is observed on the last Monday of October, which in 2026 falls on Monday, 26 October.

History of the October Bank Holiday

The October Bank Holiday was introduced in 1977, replacing the old October Monday holiday (Wikipedia (public holidays overview)). It is always the last Monday of the month.

Why is it on the last Monday of October?

The date was standardised to give workers a consistent autumn break. In 2026, the last Monday is 26 October, not 27. The confusion likely comes from years when the last Monday falls on the 27th (e.g., 2019).

Is 27 October 2026 a public holiday?

No. The correct date for the October Bank Holiday 2026 is Monday, 26 October (Irish Central (Irish diaspora news site)). Tuesday 27 October is a normal working day.

What date are all the holidays?

Nine public holidays in 2026. One pattern: the dates are fixed or follow a simple rule (first Monday in June, last Monday in October).

2026 public holidays in Ireland

  • 1 January (Thursday) — New Year’s Day
  • 17 March (Tuesday) — St. Patrick’s Day
  • 6 April (Monday) — Easter Monday
  • 4 May (Monday) — May Bank Holiday
  • 1 June (Monday) — June Bank Holiday
  • 3 August (Monday) — August Bank Holiday
  • 26 October (Monday) — October Bank Holiday
  • 25 December (Friday) — Christmas Day
  • 26 December (Saturday) — St. Stephen’s Day (observed Monday 28 December because of weekend) (Irish Central (Irish diaspora news site))

2027 public holidays in Ireland

  • 1 January (Friday) — New Year’s Day
  • 17 March (Wednesday) — St. Patrick’s Day
  • 29 March (Monday) — Easter Monday
  • 3 May (Monday) — May Bank Holiday
  • 7 June (Monday) — June Bank Holiday
  • 2 August (Monday) — August Bank Holiday
  • 25 October (Monday) — October Bank Holiday
  • 25 December (Saturday) — Christmas Day (observed Monday 27 December)
  • 26 December (Sunday) — St. Stephen’s Day (observed Tuesday 28 December)

Good Friday (26 March 2027) is a bank holiday but not a public holiday. Many schools and businesses close voluntarily (Wikipedia (public holidays overview)).

The trade-off

Workers in Ireland get nine guaranteed public holidays — one fewer than the EU average of 10. The upside: most fall on Mondays, giving three-day weekends for those who don’t work them.

The catch: the nine-holiday count means fewer days off than in most of Europe, but Monday timing maximises long weekends.

What are the 4 main holidays?

While all nine are official, four stand out for cultural and economic impact.

St. Patrick’s Day (March 17)

A national public holiday recognised globally. In 2026 it falls on a Tuesday (Eskimo eSIM (travel resource)). Parades and closures are widespread.

Christmas Day (December 25)

The biggest winter holiday. Combined with St. Stephen’s Day (26 Dec, observed Monday 28 Dec in 2026), it gives a long Christmas break.

Easter Monday

Variable date — 6 April 2026. Marks the end of the Easter weekend. Schools and many businesses close for the full week.

June Bank Holiday

The first Monday in June (1 June 2026) traditionally kicks off the summer tourism season (Irish Central (Irish diaspora news site)).

Why these four matter: they drive school schedules, retail closures, and the highest travel demand.

2026 public holiday timeline

  • — New Year’s Day (public holiday)
  • — St. Patrick’s Day (public holiday)
  • — Easter Monday (public holiday)
  • — May Bank Holiday (public holiday)
  • — June Bank Holiday (public holiday)
  • — August Bank Holiday (public holiday)
  • — October Bank Holiday (public holiday)
  • — Christmas Day (public holiday)
  • — St. Stephen’s Day (observed, public holiday)

Certainty check

Confirmed facts

  • Public holiday dates for 2026 and 2027 are published by the Irish government via Citizens Information (official government guidance).
  • The next bank holiday after May 2026 is 1 June 2026 (Irish Central (Irish diaspora news site)).

What’s unclear

  • Whether a specific Monday (e.g., 16 March 2026) is a holiday depends on the year — in 2026, 16 March is not a public holiday.
  • Bank holiday pay rules for part-time workers vary by employer and contract; no single national rule exists (Citizens Information (official government guidance)).

What official sources say

“There are nine public holidays in Ireland each year. The dates are set by the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997.”

— Citizens Information (official government guidance)

“2026 public holidays in Ireland: New Year’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter Monday, May Day, June Bank Holiday, August Bank Holiday, October Bank Holiday, Christmas Day, St. Stephen’s Day.”

— Publicholidays.ie (holiday calendar aggregator)

For anyone living in Ireland or planning a trip, the next holiday after 4 May 2026 is the June Bank Holiday on 1 June. That gives a clear 28-day window. The implication for workers is straightforward: if you want a long weekend, book it around 1 June or 3 August. For employers, the pattern of Monday holidays means consistent scheduling — but don’t forget that St. Stephen’s Day shifts to Monday 28 December in 2026. For the forgetful among us, bookmark Citizens Information (official government guidance) and check before asking “Is tomorrow a holiday?”

Additional sources

danskeci.com, ireland.com, officeholidays.com

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Frequently asked questions

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

In Ireland, “public holiday” is the official term under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. “Bank holiday” is a colloquial term. Good Friday is a bank holiday but not a public holiday (Wikipedia (public holidays overview)).

Is Good Friday a public holiday in Ireland?

No. Good Friday is a bank holiday but not a public holiday. Many businesses and schools close voluntarily, but it is not a statutory day off (Wikipedia (public holidays overview)).

When is St. Stephen’s Day 2026?

26 December 2026, which is a Saturday. The public holiday is observed on Monday 28 December (Irish Central (Irish diaspora news site)).

How many public holidays are there in Northern Ireland?

Northern Ireland (part of the UK) has 10 public holidays, including some not observed in the Republic, such as Easter Monday and the Battle of the Boyne on 12 July (Wikipedia (public holidays overview)).

What happens if a public holiday falls on a weekend?

The public holiday is usually observed on the following Monday. This affects St. Stephen’s Day in 2026 (Saturday -> Monday 28 Dec) (Irish Central (Irish diaspora news site)).

Are schools closed on bank holidays?

Yes, schools are closed on all public holidays. Many also close on Good Friday and during the Easter and Christmas breaks.

Do part-time workers get paid for bank holidays?

Part-time workers are entitled to public holiday benefits, but the exact arrangement (paid day off, extra pay, or an alternative day) depends on their employer contract (Citizens Information (official government guidance)).