Bank and public holidays in Northern Ireland
The expected dates and days of Northern Ireland bank and public holidays for this year, and the next year, are listed below.
| Bank or Public Holiday | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Monday 1 January | Wednesday 1 January |
| St Patrick's Day | Monday 18 March* | Monday 17 March |
| Good Friday | Friday 29 March | Friday 18 April |
| Easter Monday | Monday 1 April | Monday 21 April |
| May Day Bank Holiday | Monday 6 May | Monday 5 May |
| Spring Bank Holiday | Monday 27 May | Monday 26 May |
| Battle of the Boyne / Orangemen's Day | Friday 12 July | Monday 14 July** |
| Summer Bank Holiday | Monday 26 August | Monday 25 August |
| Christmas Day | Wednesday 25 December | Thursday 25 December |
| Boxing Day | Thursday 26 December | Friday 26 December |
*In 2024, as St Patrick's Day falls on a Sunday, the public holiday is given as Monday 18 March 2024.
**In 2025, Monday 14 July 2025 is a substitute day as 12 July falls on a Saturday.
What are bank and public holidays?
Bank holidays are holidays when banks and many other businesses are closed for the day. Public holidays are holidays that have been observed through custom and practice, such as Christmas Day.
Special bank holidays
There are laws that allow the dates of bank holidays to be changed, or other holidays to be declared, for example, to celebrate special occasions.
Time off for staff on bank or public holidays
As an employer, you don't have to provide paid leave on bank and public holidays, though many employers will provide this. Any right to time off or extra pay for working on a bank holiday depends on the terms of the employment contract with your employees.
Find out about employees' rights on pay and time off on public and bank holidays and for more information about paid leave, see know how much holiday to give your staff.