There’s a quiet satisfaction in looking at a calendar and seeing a string of long weekends lined up. This guide walks through confirmed holiday dates, strategic leave planning, and the Easter timing that anchors much of the year.
Public holidays in Ireland 2026: 10 ·
US federal holidays 2026: 11 ·
Easter Sunday 2026: April 5, 2026 ·
Expected salary increase for South African public servants 2026: 4%
Quick snapshot
- Ireland has 10 public holidays in 2026, all confirmed by the Workplace Relations Commission (Ireland’s employment regulator)
- US federal holidays number 11 for 2026, per the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (federal workforce authority)
- Easter Sunday is 5 April 2026, confirmed by astronomical calculation (Royal Observatory Greenwich (astronomical authority))
- Whether Ireland will add a new permanent bank holiday in 2026 — proposals exist but are not yet law (Malacañang (Philippines executive branch))
- Exact school holiday dates for Ireland depend on individual school calendars, not national mandate (Malacañang (Philippines executive branch))
- Whether additional special non-working days will be declared in the Philippines for 2026 (proclamation expected mid-2025 per Malacañang (Philippines executive branch))
- Easter weekend (3-6 April) creates a 4-day window in Ireland via Good Friday and Easter Monday
- Six Irish public holidays land on Mondays, guaranteeing long weekends
- Official Philippines holiday proclamation expected by mid-2025 from Malacañang
- Irish school calendars for the 2025/2026 year typically published by March 2025
Key facts about 2026 public holidays across countries:
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Ireland Public Holidays 2026 Count | 10 |
| US Federal Holidays 2026 Count | 11 |
| Easter Sunday 2026 | 5 April 2026 |
| Easter Monday 2026 (Ireland public holiday) | 6 April 2026 |
| Total long weekends from Irish public holidays | 6 |
| India National Holidays 2026 | 3 (Republic Day, Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti) |
How Many Public Holidays Are There in 2026 in Ireland and Other Countries?
Ireland: 10 public holidays
- New Year’s Day — 1 January 2026 (Thursday)
- St. Brigid’s Day — 2 February 2026 (Monday)
- Saint Patrick’s Day — 17 March 2026 (Tuesday)
- Easter Monday — 6 April 2026 (Monday)
- May Bank Holiday — 4 May 2026 (Monday)
- June Bank Holiday — 1 June 2026 (Monday)
- August Bank Holiday — 3 August 2026 (Monday)
- October Bank Holiday — 26 October 2026 (Monday)
- Christmas Day — 25 December 2026 (Friday)
- St. Stephen’s Day — 26 December 2026 (Saturday)
These dates are confirmed by the Office Holidays (holiday data aggregator). All six of the Monday-falling holidays automatically create long weekends.
“Official list of Irish public holidays 2026: 1 January 2026; 2 February 2026; 17 March 2026; 6 April 2026; 4 May 2026; 1 June 2026; 3 August 2026; 26 October 2026; 25 December 2026; 26 December 2026.” — Workplace Relations Commission
The pattern: Ireland’s public holiday calendar is one of the most predictable in Europe — every bank holiday lands on a Monday, and the only variable is Easter’s position. Workers who know the dates can plan leave efficiently.
United States: 11 federal holidays
- New Year’s Day — 1 January 2026 (Thursday)
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day — 19 January 2026 (Monday)
- Presidents’ Day — 16 February 2026 (Monday)
- Memorial Day — 25 May 2026 (Monday)
- Juneteenth — 19 June 2026 (Friday)
- Independence Day — 4 July 2026 (Saturday, observed 3 July by many employers)
- Labor Day — 7 September 2026 (Monday)
- Columbus Day — 12 October 2026 (Monday)
- Veterans Day — 11 November 2026 (Wednesday)
- Thanksgiving Day — 26 November 2026 (Thursday)
- Christmas Day — 25 December 2026 (Friday)
The Absentify (leave management platform) lists these 11 holidays for federal employees. Five of them (MLK Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day) fall on Mondays.
“US federal holidays for 2026 include New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.” — U.S. Office of Personnel Management
The implication: US workers have more Monday-holidays than workers in most peer countries — five guaranteed long weekends without taking any leave. That foundation makes US 2026 one of the most annual-leave-friendly calendars among large economies.
Philippines: 10 regular holidays
- New Year’s Day — 1 January 2026 (Thursday)
- Araw ng Kagitingan — 9 April 2026 (Thursday)
- Labor Day — 1 May 2026 (Friday)
- Independence Day — 12 June 2026 (Friday)
- National Heroes’ Day — 25 August 2026 (Tuesday)
- Bonifacio Day — 30 November 2026 (Monday)
- Christmas Day — 25 December 2026 (Friday)
- Rizal Day — 28 December 2026 (Monday)
- Ninoy Aquino Day — 21 August 2026 (Friday) (special non-working)
- Additional special non-working days announced by Malacañang
The official list is published by Malacañang (Philippines executive branch). The proclamation for 2026 is expected in mid-2025, following the pattern of previous years.
The trade-off: The Philippines combines regular holidays with special non-working days, yielding one of the highest total holiday counts in Asia. However, the split between “regular” and “special” affects pay calculation — workers on a daily wage earn double pay on regular holidays but not on special days.
India: 3 national holidays plus state-specific
- Republic Day — 26 January 2026 (Monday)
- Independence Day — 15 August 2026 (Saturday)
- Gandhi Jayanti — 2 October 2026 (Friday)
India’s three national holidays are fixed by the Government of India (central government calendar authority). Republic Day lands on a Monday, creating a natural three-day weekend. Gandhi Jayanti on a Friday creates another. Independence Day on a Saturday may be observed on Friday by some employers.
The catch: India’s actual holiday count is far higher — each state declares its own list (e.g., Diwali, Holi, Pongal). The three national holidays merely anchor the calendar; the real planning variable is state-specific.
What Are the Public Holidays in Order for 2026?
Ireland public holiday calendar
Below is the chronological list of Ireland’s public holidays.
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2026 | Thursday | New Year’s Day |
| 2 February 2026 | Monday | St. Brigid’s Day |
| 17 March 2026 | Tuesday | Saint Patrick’s Day |
| 6 April 2026 | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 4 May 2026 | Monday | May Bank Holiday |
| 1 June 2026 | Monday | June Bank Holiday |
| 3 August 2026 | Monday | August Bank Holiday |
| 26 October 2026 | Monday | October Bank Holiday |
| 25 December 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day |
| 26 December 2026 | Saturday | St. Stephen’s Day |
US federal holiday calendar
Chronological list of US federal holidays.
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2026 | Thursday | New Year’s Day |
| 19 January 2026 | Monday | Martin Luther King Jr. Day |
| 16 February 2026 | Monday | Presidents’ Day |
| 25 May 2026 | Monday | Memorial Day |
| 19 June 2026 | Friday | Juneteenth |
| 4 July 2026 | Saturday | Independence Day |
| 7 September 2026 | Monday | Labor Day |
| 12 October 2026 | Monday | Columbus Day |
| 11 November 2026 | Wednesday | Veterans Day |
| 26 November 2026 | Thursday | Thanksgiving Day |
| 25 December 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day |
Philippines regular holiday calendar
Chronological list of Philippines regular holidays.
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2026 | Thursday | New Year’s Day |
| 9 April 2026 | Thursday | Araw ng Kagitingan |
| 1 May 2026 | Friday | Labor Day |
| 12 June 2026 | Friday | Independence Day |
| 21 August 2026 | Friday | Ninoy Aquino Day |
| 25 August 2026 | Tuesday | National Heroes’ Day |
| 30 November 2026 | Monday | Bonifacio Day |
| 25 December 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day |
| 28 December 2026 | Monday | Rizal Day |
India national holiday dates
India’s national holiday dates.
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 26 January 2026 | Monday | Republic Day |
| 15 August 2026 | Saturday | Independence Day |
| 2 October 2026 | Friday | Gandhi Jayanti |
The pattern across all four countries: Easter Sunday on 5 April 2026 anchors the spring calendar, while the December holiday cluster (Christmas, St. Stephen’s Day, Rizal Day) provides the year’s longest break. For planners, the key variable is not the total count but the placement — which days are Mondays, Fridays, or adjacent to weekends.
How to Maximize Annual Leave in 2026
Strategic leave planning around long weekends
The single most effective leave strategy: take one or two days off between a public holiday and the nearest weekend. In 2026, this pattern is especially favorable because several holidays fall on Fridays or Mondays.
- Ireland: Take Tuesday 18 March (after St. Patrick’s Day) for a 4-day weekend. Take the full week between Easter Monday and the following Monday for a 10-day break using 4 leave days.
- US: Take Friday 2 January for a 4-day New Year’s weekend. Take Monday 6 July (after Independence Day observed Friday) for a 4-day break.
- India: Republic Day (Monday 26 Jan) already gives a 3-day weekend — take Tuesday 27 for a 4-day break. Gandhi Jayanti (Friday 2 Oct) gives a 3-day weekend naturally.
- Philippines: Christmas Day (Friday 25 Dec) + Rizal Day (Monday 28 Dec) = 4-day weekend using zero leave. Take Tuesday 29 for a 5-day break.
An Irish worker taking the 4 days between Easter Monday and the next Monday can secure a 10-day break for only 4 annual leave days — the highest leave-to-break ratio on the 2026 calendar. The same pattern works in the US around Thanksgiving (Thursday 26 Nov): take Friday 27 for a 4-day weekend.
Best days to take off in 2026 for Ireland
- 17 March (St. Patrick’s Day, Tuesday): take Monday 16 for 4-day weekend
- 6 April (Easter Monday): take Tue 7 to Fri 10 for 10-day break
- 25 December (Christmas Day, Friday): holiday alone gives 3-day weekend
- 26 December (St. Stephen’s Day, Saturday): take Monday 28 for 4-day weekend
Best days to take off in 2026 for the US
- 1 January (New Year’s Day, Thursday): take Friday 2 for 4-day weekend
- 4 July (Independence Day, Saturday): take Friday 3 (if observed) or Monday 6 for extended break
- 25 November (Thanksgiving Day, Thursday): take Friday 27 for 4-day weekend
- 25 December (Christmas Day, Friday): holiday alone gives 3-day weekend
Which Are the Long Weekends in 2026?
Ireland long weekends in 2026
- St. Brigid’s Day (Monday 2 Feb) — 3-day weekend
- Easter Monday (Monday 6 Apr) — 4-day weekend (with Good Friday 3 Apr)
- May Bank Holiday (Monday 4 May) — 3-day weekend
- June Bank Holiday (Monday 1 June) — 3-day weekend
- August Bank Holiday (Monday 3 Aug) — 3-day weekend
- October Bank Holiday (Monday 26 Oct) — 3-day weekend
- Christmas (Friday 25 Dec) — 4-day weekend (with St. Stephen’s Saturday + Sunday)
Six of Ireland’s 10 public holidays automatically produce a long weekend because they land on Mondays. Easter transforms into a four-day break thanks to Good Friday (not a public holiday but widely observed as a day off) and Easter Monday (Office Holidays (holiday data aggregator) confirms this pattern).
India long weekends in 2026
- Republic Day (Monday 26 Jan) — 3-day weekend
- Independence Day (Saturday 15 Aug) — observed Friday by some, creating 3-day weekend
- Gandhi Jayanti (Friday 2 Oct) — 3-day weekend
Based on the ClearTax list of Indian holidays, these three national dates anchor the long-weekend calendar. Additional long weekends arise from state-specific festivals (Diwali in October/November, Holi in March).
US long weekends in 2026
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Monday 19 Jan) — 3-day weekend
- Presidents’ Day (Monday 16 Feb) — 3-day weekend
- Memorial Day (Monday 25 May) — 3-day weekend
- Independence Day (Saturday 4 Jul, observed Friday 3 Jul by many) — 3-day weekend
- Labor Day (Monday 7 Sep) — 3-day weekend
- Columbus Day (Monday 12 Oct) — 3-day weekend
- Thanksgiving (Thursday 26 Nov) — 4-day weekend with Friday off
- Christmas Day (Friday 25 Dec) — 3-day weekend
The Absentify (leave management platform) notes that US workers have 5 Monday-based federal holidays — the highest Monday count among these four countries.
Ireland School Holidays and Easter 2026 Dates
Easter 2026: date and significance
Easter Sunday falls on 5 April 2026, with Good Friday on 3 April and Easter Monday on 6 April. Easter Monday is a public holiday in Ireland. The astronomical calculation by the Royal Observatory Greenwich (astronomical authority) confirms this date, which follows the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox.
Ireland school term dates and mid-term breaks
- Christmas break: typically late December 2025 to early January 2026
- Mid-term break (February): aligns with St. Brigid’s Day (Monday 2 Feb) — often a full week off
- Easter break: typically the two weeks around Easter (late March to mid-April 2026)
- Summer break: end of June to late August
- October mid-term: aligns with October Bank Holiday (Monday 26 Oct) — often a week off
Exact dates vary by school, as the Department of Education (Ireland’s education authority) sets term boundaries but individual schools set precise start/end dates. Parents should check school calendars by early 2025.
For Irish families, the February and October mid-term breaks already align with public holidays — meaning zero leave days needed for those breaks. The Easter break gives 2 weeks off for most schools. The real planning challenge is bridging the summer break (8-9 weeks) with annual leave, especially when the August Bank Holiday (Monday 3 Aug) falls mid-break.
The implication: Irish families can plan their annual leave around these predictable school breaks to maximize family time off.
theessentialcalendar.com, getblend.com, do.usembassy.gov, qppstudio.net, support.microsoft.com
For a detailed breakdown of how the Republic and Northern Ireland differ, see the guide to Irish public holidays 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is Good Friday a public holiday in Ireland?
Good Friday (3 April 2026) is not a public holiday in Ireland. However, most businesses and schools close, and it is widely observed as a day off. It is not listed among Ireland’s 10 official public holidays by the Workplace Relations Commission.
Are all US federal holidays observed on the same dates in every state?
No. While 11 federal holidays are recognized by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management for federal employees, states may differ — for example, some states observe Lincoln’s Birthday or Washington’s Birthday on different dates. Private sector observance also varies.
What is the difference between a public holiday and a bank holiday in Ireland?
In Ireland, the terms are used interchangeably. All bank holidays are public holidays, and vice versa. The Workplace Relations Commission lists all 10 as “public holidays” under the Organisation of Working Time Act.
Do schools in Ireland close on all public holidays?
Yes, all schools in Ireland close on public holidays. Schools also close for mid-term breaks that often align with public holiday dates like St. Brigid’s Day and the October Bank Holiday.
How can I check if a specific date is a public holiday in my country in 2026?
For Ireland, check the Workplace Relations Commission (Ireland’s employment regulator). For the US, check the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (federal workforce authority). For the Philippines, check the Official Gazette of the Philippines (government records). For India, check state government calendars.
Are there any special non-working days in the Philippines in 2026?
Yes. In addition to the 10 regular holidays, the Philippines typically declares special non-working days (e.g., Chinese New Year, EDSA People Power Revolution anniversary). The official proclamation for 2026 is expected from Malacañang by mid-2025.
Can I use annual leave to extend a long weekend in India?
Yes. Republic Day (Monday 26 Jan) already gives a 3-day weekend. Taking Tuesday 27 Jan gives a 4-day break. Gandhi Jayanti (Friday 2 Oct) gives a 3-day weekend naturally; taking Thursday 1 Oct gives a 4-day break.
The 2026 public holiday calendar offers significant opportunities for workers in Ireland, the US, India, and the Philippines to maximize their time off with strategic planning. By aligning annual leave with the long weekends identified in this guide, workers can achieve a better work-life balance.
Related reading
- Ireland public holidays 2026 list — full calendar with links to official sources
- US federal holidays calendar — includes observed dates and private sector variations
- How to calculate annual leave — maximize PTO in any country
- Best travel deals for public holiday weekends — plan trips around 2026 breaks
Ryan Hughes is Senior Reporter at Coast Pulse, covering breaking stories and explainers.