Bank Holidays Ireland 2026: Complete Guide to Public Holiday Entitlements

Understanding public holidays in Ireland matters for every employer. Whether you call them bank holidays or public holidays, these 10 statutory days carry specific legal obligations under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. Getting them wrong can lead to payroll errors, employee disputes, and WRC claims. This guide covers all bank holidays in Ireland for 2026, your obligations as an employer, and the bank holiday entitlements your employees are owed. For ongoing compliance support, explore our HR Essentials service.

Bank Holidays Ireland 2026: Complete List of Dates

Ireland observes 10 public holidays each year, increased from 9 in 2023 when St Brigid’s Day was added. Below is the full list of bank holidays for 2026.

Note: Good Friday is not a public holiday in Ireland. While some businesses choose to close, employees have no automatic entitlement to a day off on Good Friday (3 April 2026).

How Many Bank Holidays Are There in Ireland?

There are 10 public holidays in Ireland each year. This has been the case since 2023, when St Brigid’s Day was introduced. The 10 holidays are fixed in legislation. Individual employers cannot designate their own public holidays or substitute alternative dates without the employee’s agreement.

St Brigid’s Day: What Employers Need to Know

St Brigid’s Day was introduced by S.I. No. 50 of 2022, the Organisation of Working Time (Covid-19 Commemoration) Regulations 2022, made under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. The date follows a specific rule for payroll and scheduling:

• The public holiday falls on the first Monday in February.
• Exception: If 1 February falls on a Friday, then that Friday is the public holiday.

In 2026, 1 February falls on a Sunday, so the public holiday is Monday 2 February 2026. All standard entitlement rules apply. Ensure your HR policies and procedures reflect this additional holiday.

Bank Holiday Entitlements Ireland: What Employees Are Owed

Most employees are entitled to paid leave on each of Ireland’s 10 bank holidays in 2026. These entitlements also interact with annual leave rules, so understanding both matters.

Full-Time Employees

Full-time employees have an immediate entitlement from the first day of employment. No minimum service required.

If the employee is required to work on the public holiday, the employer must provide one of:

1. A paid day off within one month
2. An additional day of annual leave
3. An additional day’s pay

The choice rests with the employer. However, if an employee asks (at least 21 days before the holiday) which option will apply and the employer does not respond at least 14 days beforehand, the employee is entitled to the actual day off with pay.

Part-Time Employee Entitlements

Part-time employees qualify for bank holiday entitlements provided they have worked at least 40 hours in the 5 weeks before the public holiday.

• Holiday falls on a normal working day: Paid day off, or extra day’s pay if they work.
• Holiday falls on a non-working day: One-fifth of normal weekly pay as compensation.

Even employees who never work on public holidays are entitled to compensation if they meet the 40-hour threshold. Part-time workers must also receive at least the minimum wage for all hours, including public holiday hours.

Bank Holiday Pay Ireland: How to Calculate It

The rules are set out in the Organisation of Working Time (Determination of Pay For Holidays) Regulations (SI 475/1997).

Salaried Employees

A salaried employee who gets a paid day off simply receives their normal day’s pay within their monthly salary. No additional calculation is needed.

Hourly or Variable-Hours Employees

Take the total pay earned in the 2 weeks immediately before the public holiday, divide by the number of days worked in those 2 weeks. This gives the appropriate daily rate.

For one-fifth of weekly pay (when the holiday falls on a non-working day), divide the 2-week total by 2, then by 5.

These calculations differ by employee and pay period, which is where public holiday pay quietly goes wrong and turns into a WRC complaint. Our outsourced payroll that applies public-holiday pay correctly uses the right daily rate and one-fifth calculation for every worker automatically, so each of the 10 holidays is paid right the first time, all within our fixed monthly HR pricing.

When a Public Holiday Falls on a Weekend

In 2026, St Stephen’s Day (26 December) falls on a Saturday. Under Irish law, the following Monday does not automatically become a public holiday. The public holiday remains on its calendar date.

Employees are still entitled to bank holiday entitlements. For those who do not normally work Saturdays, they receive one-fifth of weekly pay. Some employers give the following Monday off as a goodwill gesture, but this is not required. Apply your approach consistently to avoid disputes. See our HR policies and procedures page for guidance.

Employer Obligations for Bank Holidays in Ireland

Failure to comply can result in a WRC complaint and award against your business. Ongoing HR and employment-law support for Irish employers keeps these obligations covered across every pay run.

Key Obligations

• Provide the entitlement: Every eligible employee must receive one of the four options.
• Respond to requests: If an employee asks 21 days in advance, respond at least 14 days before.
• Pay correctly: Use the appropriate calculation, not a flat rate.
• Include part-time workers who meet the 40-hour threshold.
• Maintain records: Track entitlements, payments, and any substitute days. Our HR Essentials service can help.

Employees on Leave

Employees on maternity, adoptive, paternity, parent’s, parental, or domestic violence leave remain entitled to public holiday benefit. Family leave carries its own set of obligations beyond public holidays; our guide to maternity leave employer mistakes covers where Irish employers most often go wrong. Employees called for jury service must also be paid as normal while they serve, and our guide to jury duty employer obligations in Ireland explains how to handle that absence.

Employees on sick leave are generally entitled, with two exceptions: absence beyond 26 weeks due to ordinary illness, or beyond 52 weeks due to an occupational accident.

Employees on Lay-Off

Entitled to public holiday benefit for the first 13 weeks of a lay-off. After 13 weeks, the entitlement ceases.

Employment Ending Before a Public Holiday

If employment ends during the week before a public holiday and the employee worked in the previous 4 weeks, they are entitled to an additional day’s pay. This is often overlooked. Understanding how public holidays interact with the redundancy process is particularly relevant during restructuring.

Planning Ahead: Key Dates for Employers in 2026

Midweek Holidays

Two bank holidays fall midweek in 2026:

• New Year’s Day (Thursday 1 January): Expect leave requests for Friday 2 January.
• St Patrick’s Day (Tuesday 17 March): Expect requests for Monday 16 March. Peak period for hospitality and retail.

Long Weekends

Six of the 10 bank holidays fall on a Monday in 2026, creating natural long weekends: St Brigid’s Day, Easter Monday, May, June, August, and October bank holidays.

Christmas Period

Christmas Day 2026 falls on a Friday. St Stephen’s Day falls on Saturday, so employees who do not normally work Saturdays receive one-fifth of weekly pay. Communicate arrangements early. If you host a Christmas party or other staff event over this period, be aware of employer liability for harassment at work events.

When Is the Next Bank Holiday in Ireland?

Ireland’s public holidays are fixed in legislation at the start of each year, so the full 2026 calendar is known well in advance. The complete list, running from New Year’s Day on 1 January to St Stephen’s Day on 26 December, is set out in the table above. To find the next bank holiday at any point in the year, check today’s date against that list.

Getting Public Holidays Right

The key points for 2026:

• Ireland has 10 public holidays, including St Brigid’s Day.
• All eligible employees are entitled to benefit, whether full-time, part-time, or on leave.
• When a public holiday falls on a weekend, the following Monday is not automatically a day off.
• Proper payroll calculation and record-keeping are required.

If you need help reviewing your public holiday policies or payroll processes, our employment advice team is here to help. Get in touch with PurpleTree today.

This article is for general information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. For queries specific to your business, contact the Workplace Relations Commission or seek professional employment advice.

Related Employer Resources

Explore more of our guides to Irish employment law and employer obligations:

• Minimum Wage Ireland 2026: Complete Employer Guide to Current Rates
• Bereavement Leave Ireland: Employer Guide to Compassionate Leave Policies
• Sick Pay Ireland 2026: Statutory Sick Leave Entitlements for Employers
• Annual Leave Ireland: Complete Guide to Holiday Entitlements for Employers