St Patrick's Day 2027
A saint's day that the whole world borrows for an afternoon.
Countdown to St Patrick's 2027
Dates
When is St Patrick's Day?
St Patrick's Day 2027 falls from Saturday, 13 March 2027 to Wednesday, 17 March 2027.
The festival's own site lists 13–17 March 2027, ending on the feast day itself.
Date checked against stpatricksfestival.ie
| Year | Dates | Length | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 14 – 17 March 2026Sat – Tue | 4 days | Past |
| 2027 | 13 – 17 March 2027Sat – Wed | 5 days | Confirmed |
See every festival by date in the 2026 festival calendar and 2027 festival calendar.
The story
What it is, and why it matters
- Type
- Parade & Carnival
- Tradition
- Christian
- Where
- Dublin, Leinster
- Crowd
- Celebrated widely abroad; Dublin's parade draws very large crowds
- UNESCO
- Not inscribed
St Patrick's Day is celebrated wherever the Irish diaspora has settled, from Boston to Buenos Aires. Dublin is the natural host: a four-day festival that ends with the national parade on 17 March.
Patrick was a fifth-century missionary, born in Roman Britain, who was taken to Ireland as a young captive, escaped, and later returned to preach. 17 March is traditionally given as the date of his death, and it has been kept as his feast day in Ireland for many centuries.
For a long time the day was mainly religious, and its big parades were a product of Irish communities overseas. Dublin's modern festival was created in the mid-1990s to give the capital a celebration of its own, with music, street theatre, family events and a parade of community groups, bands and pageant companies through the city centre.
Culture
Traditions, food and music of St Patrick's
Traditions
What actually happens
- The National Parade — community groups, bands and large-scale pageants through central Dublin.
- Wearing green and shamrock — Patrick is said to have used the three-leaved plant to explain the Trinity.
- Mass on the feast day — still central for many Irish Catholics.
- Céilí dancing — traditional group dances at festival events.
Food
The table, widened
- Irish stew, soda bread and boxty potato pancakes.
- Bacon and cabbage in Ireland — corned beef is more of an Irish-American tradition.
Music
Sound of the crowd
Traditional sessions take over pubs, with fiddle, uilleann pipes, bodhrán and tin whistle. The festival programme also books contemporary Irish artists, and marching bands from abroad often join the parade.
Religion
Why this date
Patrick is a patron saint of Ireland, and the feast falls during Lent. Churches across Ireland hold services, and the day remains a holy day for many Catholics, alongside its role as a national celebration.
History
How it survived
Luke Wadding, an Irish Franciscan, helped place the feast in the universal Church calendar in the early seventeenth century. Ireland made 17 March a bank holiday in 1903. The Dublin festival in its present form dates from the mid-1990s.
History
How it got here
Luke Wadding, an Irish Franciscan, helped place the feast in the universal Church calendar in the early seventeenth century. Ireland made 17 March a bank holiday in 1903. The Dublin festival in its present form dates from the mid-1990s.
5th c.
Patrick's mission
Patrick preaches in Ireland; 17 March is later remembered as the day of his death.
17th c.
Feast day spreads
The day is added to the wider Catholic calendar.
1903
Bank holiday
17 March becomes a public holiday in Ireland.
1990s
Dublin festival
A multi-day national festival is created in the capital.
Travel & practical
Visiting Dublin for St Patrick's
Getting there
Dublin Airport is about 30 minutes from the centre by bus or taxi.
Watching the parade
Arrive early on O'Connell Street or near St Patrick's Cathedral; grandstand seats are sold in advance.
Practical notes
Hotels fill and prices rise. March weather is changeable, so bring layers and a waterproof.
Plan the trip with free AltFTool tools
FAQ
St Patrick's Day: common questions
Straight answers to what people ask most about St Patrick's Day.
When is St Patrick's Day in 2026 and 2027?
St Patrick's Day is always 17 March — a Tuesday in 2026 and a Wednesday in 2027. Dublin's St Patrick's Festival runs from 14 to 17 March 2026 and from 13 to 17 March 2027, with the parade on the 17th.
Is it a public holiday?
Yes, in both Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Why green?
Green became linked to Ireland and its national movements over time; the earliest colour associated with Patrick was actually blue.
Is the parade suitable for families?
Yes. The festival programme includes many family events across the four days.
Also in March 2027
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Other parade & carnival and christian festivals.
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