Bank holidays in Northern Ireland — 2026 at a glance

Northern Ireland has the longest bank holiday list of the four UK nations, with ten statutory days in 2026. It observes all eight England-and-Wales holidays plus two unique to NI: St Patrick’s Day (17 March) and the Battle of the Boyne (12 July, observed on Monday 13 July in 2026 because the actual date falls on a Sunday).

Both the additional holidays carry strong cultural significance — St Patrick’s Day for the broader Irish Catholic tradition, and the Battle of the Boyne (also known as Orangemen’s Day or ‘the Twelfth’) for the Protestant unionist tradition. They remain among the most-recognised civic dates on the Northern Irish calendar.

Full 2026 calendar

All bank holidays for the year, in chronological order. Past dates appear faded.

About these holidays

St Patrick’s Day in Northern Ireland

Although celebrated worldwide, St Patrick’s Day is a statutory bank holiday only in Northern Ireland within the United Kingdom. The Republic of Ireland also observes it, of course, but England, Wales and Scotland do not. The Belfast St Patrick’s Day Parade has run continuously since 1998.

The Battle of the Boyne — "the Twelfth"

The Battle of the Boyne fought on 1 July 1690 (under the Julian calendar then in use) marked William of Orange’s victory over the Catholic King James II. It became a Northern Irish bank holiday in 1926 and is observed on 12 July annually, with parades organised by the Orange Order in towns and cities across NI.

What’s open in Northern Ireland on bank holidays

Most banks, government offices and large supermarkets close. The Sunday Trading Act does not apply to Northern Ireland — large stores can open longer than in England on Sundays, but bank holidays are typically observed with reduced hours nonetheless.

Other UK regions

Bank holidays vary across the four nations. See how this calendar compares.

Common questions