St Patrick’s Day — Northern Ireland Bank Holiday

St Patrick’s Day — Tuesday 2026/03/17. Applies in: Northern Ireland only.

When is St Patrick’s Day?

St Patrick’s Day falls on Tuesday, 2026/03/17 across Northern Ireland only.

History & meaning

Public holiday in Northern Ireland marking the patron saint of Ireland. Not a UK-wide bank holiday.

Where it applies

St Patrick’s Day is observed in: Northern Ireland only

Pay rights on St Patrick’s Day

UK law does not require employers to give workers paid leave on any bank holiday. Whether St Patrick’s Day is a paid day off, a normal working day with no enhancement, or a day with extra pay depends entirely on your contract. The most common arrangements are:

• Bank holidays included in 28-day annual leave — you get the day off but it’s deducted from your overall allowance.
• Bank holidays on top of leave — common in office jobs; you get 28 days plus the 8 bank holidays.
• No automatic day off — common in retail, hospitality, NHS rotas; you may work the day on normal pay or on enhanced “premium” pay if your contract includes it.

Read more on bank holiday pay and your entitlement.

What’s open and closed on St Patrick’s Day

• Banks: closed.
• Royal Mail: no delivery, no collection. More on Royal Mail.
• Big supermarkets: usually open with reduced hours.
• Shops on the high street: mostly open with shorter hours.
• Bins: usually delayed by one day.
• Schools: closed if it falls in term time.
• NHS GP surgeries: closed; A&E and 111 remain available.