Ireland
2026 Irish long weekends
Holidays that create three-day or longer weekends in Ireland during 2026. Plan your time off around these extended breaks.
| Holiday | Holiday date | Weekend range | Days | Bridge strategy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1, 2026 | Thursday, January 1, 2026 – Sunday, January 4, 2026 | 4 | Take Jan 2, 2026 off |
| St Brigid's Day | Feb 2, 2026 | Saturday, January 31, 2026 – Monday, February 2, 2026 | 3 | Natural long weekend |
| St Patrick's Day | Mar 17, 2026 | Saturday, March 14, 2026 – Tuesday, March 17, 2026 | 4 | Take Mar 16, 2026 off |
| Easter Monday | Apr 6, 2026 | Saturday, April 4, 2026 – Monday, April 6, 2026 | 3 | Natural long weekend |
| May Day | May 4, 2026 | Saturday, May 2, 2026 – Monday, May 4, 2026 | 3 | Natural long weekend |
| June Bank Holiday | Jun 1, 2026 | Saturday, May 30, 2026 – Monday, June 1, 2026 | 3 | Natural long weekend |
| August Bank Holiday | Aug 3, 2026 | Saturday, August 1, 2026 – Monday, August 3, 2026 | 3 | Natural long weekend |
| October Bank Holiday | Oct 26, 2026 | Saturday, October 24, 2026 – Monday, October 26, 2026 | 3 | Natural long weekend |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25, 2026 | Friday, December 25, 2026 – Sunday, December 27, 2026 | 3 | Natural long weekend |
Source basis: Citizens Information — public holidays in Ireland. Last updated: June 2026.
Disclaimer: Long weekend dates are based on official government sources. Observed dates may vary by region or employer. Always verify important travel or leave dates with the relevant authority.
Frequently asked questions
- How many long weekends are there in 2026?
- Based on the Ireland holiday calendar, there are 9 potential long weekends in 2026 (including those requiring a bridge day).
- What is a bridge day?
- A bridge day is a normal working day that falls between a public holiday and the weekend (for example, a Friday when a holiday is on Thursday). Taking PTO on a bridge day turns a 1-day holiday into a 4-day weekend.
- What counts as a long weekend?
- A long weekend is when a public holiday falls next to a Saturday or Sunday, creating three or more consecutive days off. Some long weekends span four or more days when holidays align with existing weekend days.
- Do these long weekends apply to all states or regions?
- Public holiday dates can vary by state, province or territory. The dates shown are based on national-level holidays. Check with your local government or employer for regional variations.
- Can I download these long weekend dates?
- Yes — click the CSV button above to download a spreadsheet-ready file with all long weekend dates for 2026.
Long weekends by month
See long weekends for each month in 2026.
Maximize your time off
Use the PTO long weekend optimizer to bridge these 2026 holidays into longer breaks with the fewest possible PTO days.