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Ireland public holidays 2026
Dublin schools close for Ireland's public holidays as well as for the standardised school breaks. There are ten public holidays in 2026, and most fall on a Monday to create a long weekend. The dates are below.
| Public holiday | Date 2026 |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thursday 1 January |
| St Brigid's Day | Monday 2 February |
| St Patrick's Day | Tuesday 17 March |
| Easter Monday | Monday 6 April |
| May Bank Holiday | Monday 4 May |
| June Bank Holiday | Monday 1 June |
| August Bank Holiday | Monday 3 August |
| October Bank Holiday | Monday 26 October |
| Christmas Day | Friday 25 December |
| St Stephen's Day (observed) | Monday 28 December |
St Patrick's Day on 17 March falls inside the spring term and is a single closure rather than a break. Saint Stephen's Day falls on a Saturday in 2026, so the public holiday moves to Monday 28 December, inside the Christmas school break.
Standardised term dates 2025 to 2026
The Department of Education standardises three breaks so that schools across the country close at the same time. For the 2025 to 2026 year the agreed breaks are below. The October and February mid term breaks and the Easter break are common to all schools, while the summer finish date varies, with primary schools normally closing in late June and post primary a little earlier.
| Break | Dates |
|---|---|
| October mid term | Mon 27 to Fri 31 October 2025 |
| Christmas break | from Fri 19 December 2025, reopen early January 2026 |
| February mid term | Mon 16 to Fri 20 February 2026 |
| Easter break | around two weeks across Easter (Easter Sunday 5 April 2026) |
| Summer holiday | from late June 2026 |
Schools hold a small number of discretionary closure days they can place around these breaks, which is why some schools extend the February mid term to a full week. Always check your school's own calendar for the exact start and finish days.
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International school term dates
Most international families in Dublin use schools that follow the standardised Irish calendar, so the breaks above apply. A smaller number of international schools run an English style three term year with autumn and spring half terms, which adds two short October and February breaks beyond the standardised pattern. A representative international shape is below.
| Term | Dates (English-style schools, indicative) |
|---|---|
| Autumn term | September to mid December 2025, half term late October |
| Spring term | January to late March 2026, half term mid February |
| Summer term | mid April to late June 2026 |
| Summer holiday | from late June 2026 |
These schools still close for Irish public holidays, so the calendars overlap closely. For how the Irish and international curricula compare, see our curriculum guides, and for the national picture our Ireland country guide.
Planning the year
Two planning notes. First, because the Christmas, February and Easter breaks are standardised, Dublin travel demand spikes hard in those exact weeks and fares to the UK and continental Europe rise, so book early. The October mid term is a quieter and often cheaper window. Second, the long summer break from late June to late August is the time for bigger trips and for settling in moves, when the city is quietest. When you are ready to compare schools, the Dublin schools directory lists them by sector and curriculum.
Exam season and where families settle
Exam season in Dublin is shaped by the state examinations. The Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate written papers run in June, so the late spring and early summer weeks are dominated by study leave for older students before the long summer break. International schools running an English style year sit GCSE, A level or IB examinations in May and June, a similar window. Expatriate families tend to settle in the south Dublin suburbs around Ballsbridge, Donnybrook, Blackrock and Dun Laoghaire, and in the commuter towns to the south and west, where many of the larger schools and the international options are based. Because the Christmas, February and Easter breaks are standardised nationally, the exam timetable is the main variable that decides which weeks of the summer term are genuinely free.
Common questions
When do schools break up in Dublin? Dublin schools break for the October mid term from 27 to 31 October 2025, for Christmas from around 22 December, for the February mid term from 16 to 20 February 2026, for Easter around the end of March, and for the summer in late June 2026.
How long is the summer holiday in Dublin? Primary schools close in late June and reopen at the end of August, around nine weeks. Post primary schools finish a little earlier, giving a slightly longer summer break.
When does the 2026 school year start in Dublin? The 2026 to 2027 Irish school year starts in late August or early September 2026. Individual schools set the exact day within the agreed window.
Are Dublin school holidays the same at every school? The Christmas, February and Easter breaks are standardised nationally, so the main holidays match. Start and finish days and discretionary closure days vary, so check your school's calendar.
Is St Patrick's Day a school holiday in Dublin? Yes. St Patrick's Day on 17 March is a public holiday and all schools close, but it is a single day during the spring term rather than a longer break.