Northern Ireland has the highest number of bank holidays in the UK, with ten official dates throughout the year. These include the standard UK-wide holidays plus two specific regional days: St Patrick’s Day and the Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day).
2027 Bank Holiday Dates in Northern Ireland
| Date | Day of the week | Bank Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Friday | New Year’s Day |
| 17 March | Wednesday | St Patrick’s Day |
| 26 March | Friday | Good Friday |
| 29 March | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 3 May | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| 31 May | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| 12 July | Monday | Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day) |
| 30 August | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| 27 December | Monday | Christmas Day (substitute day) |
| 28 December | Tuesday | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
Regional Highlights
- St Patrick’s Day: Falling on Wednesday 17 March in 2027, this creates a mid-week break. Many people choose to book the Monday and Tuesday or Thursday and Friday off to create a five-day weekend.
- The July Fortnight: The Battle of the Boyne on Monday 12 July is a major holiday in Northern Ireland. Because it falls on a Monday in 2027, it creates a natural three-day weekend, which many use as the start of a longer summer break.
Planning for 2027
With ten holidays to work with, there are plenty of ways to stretch your annual leave entitlement. The substitute days at Christmas (Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December) mean you can have a long winter break with minimal leave used.
Simplify Your Planning with Offdays
Managing ten different bank holidays alongside your personal annual leave allowance can be complicated. The Offdays app makes it easy by giving you a visual overview of the Northern Ireland holiday calendar.
By using Offdays, you can spot the best “leave-stacking” opportunities—like the St Patrick’s Day mid-week break—and ensure you’re making the most of every single day off in 2027. Download Offdays today and start planning your best year yet.