How to use your annual leave in 2026 to make the most of Ireland’s Bank Holidays and get 70 days off work

You could get over 70 days off work.

Of course, this depends on your individual personal leave entitlement, but with some clever planning, here's how to make the most of your holidays for 2026.

How does it work?

Full-time employees in Ireland are entitled to 4 weeks of annual leave – which equates to 20 days.

Your employer may give you more time off. As such, you should plan out your annual leave based on the time off afforded to you.

Regardless of how much annual leave you are allocated, the same principle applies - by planning ahead, you can turn your annual leave into extended breaks by combining it with public holidays and weekends.

For example, a person with 30 days of annual leave could stretch it to cover over 70 days off in 2026 by booking specific dates.

Let’s break it down.

Key dates to maximise annual leave in 2025

February

The Bank Holiday for St Brigid’s Day will fall on Monday, February 2. So, if you take annual leave on February 3, 4, 5, and 6, you’ll get a total of nine days off work from Saturday, January 31, to Sunday, February 8.

March

St Patrick’s Day falls on Tuesday, March 17.

If you book annual leave for Monday, March 16, to Friday, March 20, you’ll enjoy another nine days off work from Saturday, March 14, to Sunday, March 22.

April (Easter)

Easter Monday falls on Monday, April 6.

If you take annual leave for April 7, 8, 9 and 10, you’ll get nine days off work from Saturday, April 4, to Sunday, April 12.

May

The May Bank Holiday falls on Monday, May 4.

Booking annual leave for May 5, 6, 7, and 8, this gives you another nine days off work, from Saturday, May 2, to Sunday, May 10.

June

The June Bank Holiday is on Monday, June 1.

By booking annual leave for June 2, 3, 4, and 5, you’ll enjoy another nine-day break, from Saturday, May 30, to Sunday, June 7.

August

The August Bank Holiday is on Monday, August 3.

Take leave on August 4, 5, 6, and 7, and you’ll get nine days off work, from Saturday, August 1, to Sunday, August 9.

October

The October Bank Holiday falls on Monday, October 26.

Booking leave for October 27, 28, 29, and 30 means another nine days off work, from Saturday, October 24, to Sunday, November 1.

Christmas and New Year

Christmas Day is on Friday, December 25, and St Stephen’s Day is on Saturday, December 26, with New Year’s Day falling on Friday, January 1, 2027.

By taking annual leave on December 24, 28, 29, 30, and 31, you’ll enjoy a 11-day break from Thursday, December 24, 2025, to Sunday, January 3, 2027, using five days of annual leave. St Stephen's Day falls on a Saturday, so workers will be entitled to a substitute benefit, so you may be able to use just four days of annual leave here instead.

Summary of Annual Leave Dates

This totals 74 days off work by using 31 days of annual leave. Workers will be entitled to a substitute benefit for St Stephen's Day too, so you may be able to use just 30 days of annual leave.

Ireland’s Public Holidays in 2026

Here’s a quick reference for the bank holidays in Ireland in 2026:

Final tips

• Check your annual leave entitlement with your employer—many companies offer more than the statutory 20 days.
• Plan your time off early, as popular dates tend to get booked quickly.
• Some employers also give extra days off, such as Good Friday.
• Start mapping out your holidays as soon as possible.