10 days off for 3 days of annual leave
Bank holidays 2027 in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland has 10 bank holidays in 2027, every one of them on a weekday. Book 3 days of annual leave for 25 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 and you are off for 10 days straight.
- Bank holidays 2027
- 10
- on weekdays
- 10
- bridge days
- 0
- off for 3 days of annual leave
- 10 days
Northern Ireland in 2027 at a glance
Northern Ireland has 10 bank holidays in 2027, as published by GOV.UK. Most employers give them as paid days off on top of, or as part of, the 5.6 weeks of statutory annual leave, so placing your leave around them is how a short break becomes a proper holiday.
Scotland
EnglandEvery bank holiday falls on a weekday this year. Across the UK the lists differ: Northern Ireland 10 days, Scotland 9 days and England and Wales 8 days.
ScotlandEnglandAll bank holidays 2027 in Northern Ireland, one by one
Here is each day off in date order, what it marks, and the quickest way to turn it into a longer break.
- Friday 1 January: New Year's Day. New Year's Day is a bank holiday across the UK, a quiet day after the midnight celebrations. When it falls on a weekend, the day off moves to the following weekday. You get 3 free days in a row, 1 to 3 January, with no leave needed.
- Wednesday 17 March: St Patrick's Day. St Patrick's Day, Ireland's national day, is a bank holiday in Northern Ireland. Belfast and towns across the province hold parades, music and festivals. Take Monday 15 March and Tuesday 16 March off and you have 5 days in a row, 13 to 17 March.
- Friday 26 March: Good Friday. Good Friday is a bank holiday across the UK. It opens the Easter weekend, which often overlaps with school Easter holidays, so book trips early. You get 4 free days in a row, 26 to 29 March, with no leave needed.
- Monday 29 March: Easter Monday. Easter Monday is a bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland but not in Scotland. Together with Good Friday it creates a four day Easter weekend, a peak time for UK breaks. You get 4 free days in a row, 26 to 29 March, with no leave needed.
- Monday 3 May: Early May bank holiday. The Early May bank holiday falls on the first Monday of May, often with May Day fairs and morris dancing. It opens the spring season of long weekends in the UK. You get 3 free days in a row, 1 to 3 May, with no leave needed.
- Monday 31 May: Spring bank holiday. The Spring bank holiday on the last Monday of May lines up with half term in many schools, making it one of the busiest weeks for UK breaks at home and abroad. You get 3 free days in a row, 29 to 31 May, with no leave needed.
- Monday 12 July: Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day). The Twelfth marks the Battle of the Boyne and is a bank holiday in Northern Ireland. Parades take place across the province, and many people use the week around it for a summer holiday. You get 3 free days in a row, 10 to 12 July, with no leave needed.
- Monday 30 August: Summer bank holiday. The Summer bank holiday closes the school summer. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland it falls on the last Monday of August, in Scotland on the first; beaches, festivals and roads get busy. You get 3 free days in a row, 28 to 30 August, with no leave needed.
- Monday 27 December: Christmas Day. Christmas Day is a bank holiday across the UK, when almost all shops and public transport close. Booking leave in the days between Christmas and New Year gives a long break for few days of leave. The date itself, Saturday 25 December, falls on a weekend, so the day off is Monday 27 December. You get 4 free days in a row, 25 to 28 December, with no leave needed.
- Tuesday 28 December: Boxing Day. Boxing Day, 26 December, brings football fixtures, winter walks and the big sales. With Christmas Day it gives two bank holidays in a row, the start of the longest break of the year. The date itself, Sunday 26 December, falls on a weekend, so the day off is Tuesday 28 December. That makes 4 days off in a row without using any leave, 25 to 28 December.
The best breaks in 2027, explained
Each break below starts and ends on a free day, contains at least one bank holiday, and needs no more than 10 days of annual leave. They are ranked by how many days off each day of leave brings.
25 December 2026 to 3 January 2027: 3 days of annual leave (29 to 31 December) around Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day give 10 days off, 3.3 days for every day used.
Around St Patrick's Day, 2 days of annual leave on Mon 15 March and Tue 16 March unlock 5 days away, 13 to 17 March.
20 to 29 March: 4 days of annual leave (22 to 25 March) around Good Friday and Easter Monday give 10 days off, 2.5 days for every day used.
Around Early May bank holiday, 4 days of annual leave on Tue 4 May, Wed 5 May, Thu 6 May and Fri 7 May unlock 9 days away, 1 to 9 May.
Around Spring bank holiday, 4 days of annual leave on Tue 1 June, Wed 2 June, Thu 3 June and Fri 4 June unlock 9 days away, 29 May to 6 June.
25 December 2027 to 3 January 2028: 3 days of annual leave (29 to 31 December) around Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day give 10 days off, 3.3 days for every day used.
The best breaks 2027 in Northern Ireland
Every row is a run of weekends, bank holidays and days of annual leave. The highlighted row brings the most days off per day of leave.
| Dates | Result | Leave on | Bank holidays | School holidays | Plan a trip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 25 Dec to Sun 3 Jan | 10 days offfor 3 days of annual leave, 3.33 days off per day of leave | Tue 29 Dec · Wed 30 Dec · Thu 31 Dec | Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat 13 Mar to Wed 17 Mar | 5 days offfor 2 days of annual leave, 2.5 days off per day of leave | Mon 15 Mar · Tue 16 Mar | St Patrick's Day | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat 20 Mar to Mon 29 Mar | 10 days offfor 4 days of annual leave, 2.5 days off per day of leave | Mon 22 Mar · Tue 23 Mar · Wed 24 Mar · Thu 25 Mar | Good Friday, Easter Monday | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat 1 May to Sun 9 May | 9 days offfor 4 days of annual leave, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Tue 4 May · Wed 5 May · Thu 6 May · Fri 7 May | Early May bank holiday | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat 29 May to Sun 6 Jun | 9 days offfor 4 days of annual leave, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Tue 1 Jun · Wed 2 Jun · Thu 3 Jun · Fri 4 Jun | Spring bank holiday | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat 10 Jul to Sun 18 Jul | 9 days offfor 4 days of annual leave, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Tue 13 Jul · Wed 14 Jul · Thu 15 Jul · Fri 16 Jul | Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day) | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat 28 Aug to Sun 5 Sept | 9 days offfor 4 days of annual leave, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Tue 31 Aug · Wed 1 Sept · Thu 2 Sept · Fri 3 Sept | Summer bank holiday | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat 25 Dec to Mon 3 Jan | 10 days offfor 3 days of annual leave, 3.33 days off per day of leave | Wed 29 Dec · Thu 30 Dec · Fri 31 Dec | Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day | none | Plan a trip |
What 1 to 10 days of annual leave bring
For each budget, the longest run of days off in 2027.
2 days of annual leave
5 days
13 March to 17 March
St Patrick's Day
3 days of annual leave
10 days
25 December to 3 January
Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day
5 days of annual leave
11 days
18 December to 28 December
Christmas Day, Boxing Day
8 days of annual leave
17 days
13 March to 29 March
St Patrick's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday
10 days of annual leave
19 days
17 March to 4 April
St Patrick's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday
2027 calendar for Northern Ireland
- Bank holiday
- Annual leave in a break
- Weekend
- School holidays
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
The maths: days of annual leave in, days off out
Three days stretch to 10 days off (25 December 2027 to 3 January 2028). Five days, a typical week, become 11 days off around Christmas Day and Boxing Day, 18 to 28 December.
Ten days, the most this planner books in one go, give 19 days in a row, 17 March to 4 April. For nine days or more away you need 3 days of annual leave.
Full-time workers in the UK are entitled to 28 days including bank holidays, so a few days around Easter and Christmas usually leave plenty for a summer fortnight.
Season by season in Northern Ireland
Winter: New Year's Day on 1 January, Christmas Day on 27 December and Boxing Day on 28 December. The pick of the season is 25 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 with 3 days of annual leave for 10 days off.
Spring: St Patrick's Day on 17 March, Good Friday on 26 March, Easter Monday on 29 March, Early May bank holiday on 3 May and Spring bank holiday on 31 May. The pick of the season is 20 to 29 March with 4 days of annual leave for 10 days off.
Summer: Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day) on 12 July and Summer bank holiday on 30 August. The pick of the season is 10 to 18 July with 4 days of annual leave for 9 days off.
Autumn has no bank holiday in Northern Ireland this year, which makes it the time to use a full week of annual leave for a longer trip.
Northern Ireland compared with other nations
Northern Ireland leads the list with 10 bank holidays in 2027, England and Wales the fewest with 8.
Its best break, 25 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, returns 3.3 days off per day of leave. 1 nation gets a better ratio this year, mostly thanks to an extra bank holiday next to a weekend.
Bank Holiday Planner 2027 for Northern Ireland as a PDF
Every stretch, holiday and school break in NI on one printable page. Plus The Sunday Getaway every week and a note whenever a long weekend is worth it.
Where to on the long weekends?
For the six strongest stretches: places with the right climate that month, flights from BFS, BHD.
25 December to 3 January: 3 days of leave, 10 days off
Warm, up to 4 hours away in December, flights from BFS
iPhoto: Darymaister · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsWestern Sahara24 °C by day · Flight about 3 h 56Plan a trip for these daysSee Western Sahara
iPhoto: Lviatour · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsLanzarote20 °C by day · Sea 20 °C · Flight about 3 h 44Plan a trip for these daysSee Lanzarote
iPhoto: Marco Riss · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsAgadir22 °C by day · Sea 18 °C · Flight about 3 h 26Plan a trip for these daysSee Agadir
25 December to 3 January: 3 days of leave, 10 days off
Warm, up to 4 hours away in December, flights from BFS
- iPhoto: Darymaister · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsWestern Sahara24 °C by day · Flight about 3 h 56Plan a trip for these daysSee Western Sahara
- iPhoto: Lviatour · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsLanzarote20 °C by day · Sea 20 °C · Flight about 3 h 44Plan a trip for these daysSee Lanzarote
- iPhoto: Marco Riss · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsAgadir22 °C by day · Sea 18 °C · Flight about 3 h 26Plan a trip for these daysSee Agadir
20 March to 29 March: 4 days of leave, 10 days off
Warm, up to 4 hours away in March, flights from BFS
- iPhoto: Darymaister · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsWestern Sahara28 °C by day · Flight about 3 h 56Plan a trip for these daysSee Western Sahara
iPhoto: This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves . Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author. I would · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsMarrakech22 °C by day · Flight about 3 h 14, directPlan a trip for these daysSee Marrakech
13 March to 17 March: 2 days of leave, 5 days off
Short flight in March, flights from BFS
Seville20 °C by day · Flight about 2 h 28Plan a trip for these daysSee Seville
Rome16 °C by day · Flight about 2 h 16, directPlan a trip for these daysSee Rome
Lisbon16 °C by day · Sea 15 °C · Flight about 2 h 24, directPlan a trip for these daysSee Lisbon
1 May to 9 May: 4 days of leave, 9 days off
Warm, up to 4 hours away in May, flights from BFS
- iPhoto: This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves . Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author. I would · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsMarrakech29 °C by day · Flight about 3 h 14, directPlan a trip for these daysSee Marrakech
Antalya25 °C by day · Sea 21 °C · Flight about 3 h 58Plan a trip for these daysSee Antalya
iPhoto: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsCosta Blanca25 °C by day · Sea 18 °C · Flight about 2 h 18Plan a trip for these daysSee Costa Blanca
29 May to 6 June: 4 days of leave, 9 days off
Beach in June, flights from BFS
Dubai33 °C by day · Sea 31 °C · Flight about 6 h 52, directPlan a trip for these daysSee Dubai
Cyprus33 °C by day · Sea 24 °C · Flight about 4 h 21, directPlan a trip for these daysSee Cyprus
iPhoto: Tanya Dedyukhina · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsSharm el-Sheikh37 °C by day · Sea 26 °C · Flight about 5 h 03Plan a trip for these daysSee Sharm el-Sheikh
Bank holidays 2027 in Northern Ireland
| Date | Weekday | Bank holiday | Applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Friday | New Year's Day | nationwide |
| 17 March | Wednesday | St Patrick's Day | across the nation |
| 26 March | Friday | Good Friday | nationwide |
| 29 March | Monday | Easter Monday | across the nation |
| 3 May | Monday | Early May bank holiday | nationwide |
| 31 May | Monday | Spring bank holiday | nationwide |
| 12 July | Monday | Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day) | across the nation |
| 30 August | Monday | Summer bank holiday | across the nation |
| 27 December | Monday | Christmas Day | nationwide |
| 28 December | Tuesday | Boxing Day | nationwide |
Where to go on a long weekend from Northern Ireland
Northern Irish weekends lead along the Causeway Coastal Route to the Giant's Causeway in summer, to the Mourne Mountains for walking in spring and autumn, and to Fermanagh's lakes. Dublin and Donegal are close for a short trip.
Your strongest breaks this year fall in December, March and May, so pick the trip that suits that season, and book early: everyone else in Northern Ireland has the same days off.
Northern Ireland in other years
2026 and 2028 are planned as well, each with its own dates and breaks.
Holiday dates move every year: fixed-date days change their weekday, and Easter moves between late March and late April, which is why the best breaks are never the same twice.
Where these dates come from
Every date on this page comes from the official source for Northern Ireland: GOV.UK bank holidays, read directly and compared day by day with an independent second source. A year appears once its official list is published, and we never fill a gap with another nation's dates.
The planner treats weekends and full bank holidays as free days and works out where your days of annual leave turn into the longest time off. Days kept in part of Northern Ireland or as observances are shown but never counted. Last checked on 1 October 2026.
Bank Holiday Planner 2027 in NI: frequently asked questions
How many bank holidays does Northern Ireland have in 2027?
10 bank holidays: New Year's Day on 1 January, St Patrick's Day on 17 March, Good Friday on 26 March, Easter Monday on 29 March, Early May bank holiday on 3 May, Spring bank holiday on 31 May, Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day) on 12 July, Summer bank holiday on 30 August, Christmas Day on 27 December and Boxing Day on 28 December.
What is the best long weekend in Northern Ireland in 2027?
25 December 2026 to 3 January 2027: 3 days of annual leave give 10 days off around Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
How many days of annual leave do I need for nine days off in 2027?
3 days of annual leave: take 29 to 31 December off and you are off 25 December 2027 to 3 January 2028.
Is Easter Monday a bank holiday in Northern Ireland in 2027?
Yes. Easter Monday is a full day off on Monday 29 March.
Is St Andrew's Day a bank holiday in Northern Ireland in 2027?
No. St Andrew's Day is not on Northern Ireland's official list for 2027, so it is a regular workday unless your employer gives it.
2027 in the other nations
- England and Wales
- Scotland
- Northern Ireland
How the Bank Holiday Planner works
Holidays: the public holidays from the official list in NI, checked date by date. The planner counts only days off for the whole region.
Stretches: start and end on a day off, include at least one holiday and at most 10 days of annual leave. Ranked by days off per day of leave; Saturday and Sunday count as free.
School holidays: officially published dates only, checked every month. Trip ideas: the month's climate and flights from the region's main airport.
