Bank holidays
Banks and many other businesses close on bank holidays. Public holidays are days that have become holidays through custom and practice, such as Christmas Day. Find out about bank and public holidays in Northern Ireland, and whether employees have a right to time off or extra pay.
Bank and public holiday dates
The dates of upcoming bank and public holidays in Northern Ireland for 2026, 2027 and 2028 are listed at the following link:
When the usual date falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the 'substitute day' is normally the following Monday.
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 employees
You don't have a legal right to paid leave on bank and public holidays, though many people get the day off work. Any right to time off or extra pay for working on a bank holiday depends on the terms of your contract of employment.
Find out more about your right to paid leave:
British Summer Time
British Summer Time (BST) starts on the last Sunday in March. It ends on the last Sunday in October at 1.00 am Greenwich Mean Time (GMT):
- in spring the clocks go forward, losing an hour - at 1.00 am GMT the UK moves to 2.00 am BST
- in autumn the clocks go back, giving an extra hour - at 2.00 am BST the UK moves to 1.00 am GMT
Find out when the clocks change in 2026, 2027 and 2028 at the following link: