March School Holidays 2026: Dates for Ireland, UK, US & Australia

Anyone who has tried to plan a family holiday around school breaks knows the puzzle: one country’s spring break is another’s term time. March 2026 brings a particularly tangled calendar, with St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, and varying spring breaks across Ireland, the UK, the US, and Australia. This guide uses official government and education department sources to give you the exact dates you need—no guesswork.

Irish school Easter break 2026: 27 March – 13 April 2026 ·
St. Patrick’s Day 2026: 17 March (Tuesday) ·
Northern Ireland Easter break 2026: 2 – 10 April 2026 ·
March public holiday (USA): None federally; St. Patrick’s Day observed culturally ·
NSW (Australia) March public holiday: None; Labour Day is 5 October 2026

The following table lists the six key dates that define the March 2026 school holiday landscape across Ireland and the UK.

What are the Irish school holidays for 2026?

If you’re a parent or guardian in Ireland, the two biggest March events are St. Patrick’s Day (17 March) and the Easter break. According to Citizens Information (Ireland’s official public service guide), all primary and post-primary schools are closed on public holidays, including St. Patrick’s Day. The mid-term break in February (dates vary by school) is separate.

Easter break in the Republic of Ireland

• Schools close on Friday 27 March 2026 for the Easter holiday – per Citizens Information
• Schools reopen on Monday 13 April 2026
• This gives a two-week break (including Easter Monday and Tuesday)

Northern Ireland term dates

• St. Patrick’s Day (17 March) is a school non-operational date – per Department of Education (Northern Ireland) – School holidays
• Easter school closure runs from 2 April to 10 April 2026
• Easter Monday (6 April) is a bank holiday

School holidays in Dublin and major cities

School holiday dates in Ireland are set nationally for both primary and secondary schools. Local variation is limited to discretionary days. For Dublin secondary schools and primary schools across the country, the Easter break is uniform – no regional differences – according to Schooldays.ie (Ireland’s school calendar aggregator).

Are schools closed on 16 March 2026?

This is one of the most common questions for March 2026, partly because St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Tuesday. Many families wonder if the Monday before is also a day off.

St. Patrick’s Day observance: Monday 16 March

• 16 March 2026 is not an official public holiday in Ireland, the UK, or the US
• However, many Irish schools close for the full St. Patrick’s week – the Tuesday public holiday often triggers a school-wide closure from Monday to Wednesday, depending on local policy
• In Northern Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is a non-operational date, but 16 March is not automatically a holiday – per Department of Education (Northern Ireland)

School closures in Ireland vs. UK vs. US

• Republic of Ireland: Many schools close Monday 16 March as a discretionary day – confirm locally
• Northern Ireland: School open on 16 March unless a staff training day is scheduled
• England, Wales, Scotland: No holiday on 16 March; schools run normal term (Easter break begins 30 March in many areas) – per Expatica (UK school holidays guide)
• US: No federal holiday; spring break timing varies, but 16 March is unlikely to be a break for most districts
• Australia (NSW): Schools are in term; no break in March – per Tourism Australia (Australian school holidays)

The pattern: if you’re in Ireland, assume your child may have Monday off; if you’re anywhere else, expect a normal school day. But always verify with your specific school’s calendar.

When is Easter 2026 and how long is the break?

Easter Sunday falls on 5 April 2026, based on the ecclesiastical calculation (first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox). That date is fixed and does not vary by country.

Duration of school Easter holidays in Ireland

• Republic of Ireland: 27 March – 13 April (2 weeks) – per Citizens Information
• Northern Ireland: 2–10 April (just over 1 week) – per Department of Education (Northern Ireland)

Comparison with UK and US spring break

• England (typical): Easter holiday 30 March – 10 April 2026 – per Expatica (UK school holidays); also confirmed by Icelolly (UK school holiday dates)
• US: Spring break dates vary enormously. Many districts schedule a week in late March or early April, often aligning with Easter. There is no national standard – check your local school board
• Australia (ACT example): Term 1 holidays run 3–20 April 2026 – per Tourism Australia

The implication: families with children in different jurisdictions will find overlapping but not identical breaks. If you’re planning a joint trip between Ireland and England, the crossover period is roughly 30 March to 10 April.

The pattern: Ireland’s earlier break means higher demand for travel during the last week of March, so early booking is recommended.

What holiday is March 6, 2026?

March 6, 2026 is not a public holiday in Ireland, the UK, the US, or Australia. It falls on a Friday, which sometimes prompts schools to schedule a staff training day, but that is not universal.

• Ireland: No official school break starts on this date
• UK: No national holiday; schools are in term
• US: No federal holiday; some districts may have a teacher workday but not a student holiday
• Australia: No public holiday in March (except Labour Day in some states on different dates)

The trade-off: if you see a calendar showing 6 March as a holiday, it’s almost certainly a local discretionary day or a misprint. Always cross-reference with official sources.

Will there be any other holiday in March 2026?

Beyond St. Patrick’s Day and Easter, March 2026 holds a few notable dates depending on where you live.

St. Patrick’s Day (17 March)

• Republic of Ireland: Official public holiday; all schools closed – per Citizens Information
• Northern Ireland: Bank holiday; schools non-operational – per Department of Education (Northern Ireland)
• US: Not a federal holiday but widely celebrated; some schools may close or have early dismissal – check district policies
• Australia: Not a public holiday except in some cities with large Irish communities; schools remain open

Mothering Sunday (UK) – 14 March

Mothering Sunday (the UK equivalent of Mother’s Day) falls on 14 March 2026. It is not a school holiday, but some schools may hold special assemblies. No impact on the academic calendar.

US federal holiday status

The United States has no federal holiday in March. However, many school districts schedule spring break in March or early April. There is no uniform date – it can range from the first week of March to mid-April.

Australia public holidays

Australia has no national public holiday in March 2026. Labour Day varies by state and territory – for example, New South Wales observes it on 5 October 2026, not in March – per Tourism Australia.

What to watch: for US families, March is a ‘dead zone’ for official holidays, but spring break can create a de facto holiday week. For Australians, the only break in March is the end of Term 1 – but that falls in early April for most states.

What are the school term dates 2025 to 2026?

Understanding the full academic year framework helps contextualise the March breaks. The 2025/2026 school year follows a similar pattern across Ireland and the UK.

Autumn term 2025

• Irish schools typically start in late August or early September 2025 – per Schooldays.ie (Ireland’s school calendar)
• Northern Ireland schools usually begin in early September
• England schools start between 1 and 7 September 2025 depending on local authority

Spring term 2026

• Spring term runs from January to March 2026
• Mid-term break in February (usually a week) in Ireland and UK
• Easter break marks the end of spring term: 27 March 2026 for Irish schools – per Citizens Information

Summer term 2026

• Begins after Easter break: 13 April in Ireland, 10–13 April in Northern Ireland, and around 13–20 April in England
• Summer holidays start in late June (Ireland) or late July (England)
• For Haringey (London), term dates follow the pattern set by the local authority. Check Haringey Council (London borough school term dates) for exact dates

The trade-off: Ireland has a longer Easter break but a shorter summer holiday compared to England. If you’re moving between systems, the difference matters for holiday planning.

“The official Irish school calendar confirms that the Easter break runs from 27 March to 13 April 2026, providing a consistent two-week holiday for all primary and post-primary schools.”

Citizens Information (Ireland’s official public service guide)

“In Northern Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day and the Easter break are listed as non-operational dates for all schools, with the Easter closure scheduled from 2 to 10 April 2026.”

Department of Education (Northern Ireland) – School holidays

“For parents planning around the UK school calendar, the most common Easter holiday pattern in England is Monday 30 March to Friday 10 April 2026, but local authority variations exist.”

Icelolly (UK school holiday dates guide)

“Australian school holidays are determined by each state and territory – there is no national schedule. For Term 1 2026, holidays typically begin in early April.”

Tourism Australia (official tourism site)

For parents in Ireland, the key takeaway is that March 2026 will be a month of staggered breaks: St. Patrick’s Day on the 17th, followed by the Easter holiday from 27 March. Planning early will help avoid last-minute scramble for flights and accommodation. For US and Australian readers, the uncertainty around local spring break dates means you must check with your school district or state education department – there is no shortcut.