2026 in Northern Ireland

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Events from the year 2026 in Northern Ireland.

Incumbents

Events

January

  • 1 January – Provisional figures released by the Police Service of Northern Ireland indicate that 57 people were killed on Northern Ireland's roads during 2025.[1]
  • 2 January –
    • Two yellow weather warnings for snow and ice are issued for Northern Ireland, one for 2 January, and a second effective from 3 January to 5 January.[2]
    • Mike Nesbitt announces he is stepping down as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party.[3]
  • 3 January –
    • An easyJet flight from Belfast to Egypt is cancelled due to a "group of customers behaving disruptively onboard".[4]
    • Winter snow: Belfast Zoo is closed for the weekend, while some sports fixtures are affected by the adverse weather.[5]
  • 4 January –
    • With a yellow weather warning for snow set to remain in place until midday on Monday 5 January, a number of schools that are due to return following the Christmas holiday announce they will remain closed for the day.[6]
    • A memorial service to mark the 50th anniversary of the Kingsmill massacre takes place in the village of Bessbrook.[7]
  • 5 January – More that 150 schools announce closures for Tuesday 6 January following fresh warning for ice.[8]
  • 6 January –
    • Minister for Finance John O'Dowd publishes a draft multi-year budget covering 2026 to 2026–30 which, if approved by the Executive, would allow departments to plan longer term finances.[9]
    • Teachers in Northern Ireland are offered a 4% pay rise for 2025–26, backdated to 1 September 2025.[10]
  • 7 January – Two people are taken to hospital following a suspected gas explosion at a house in east Belfast.[11]
  • 8 January –
  • 9 January –
    • A major fire breaks out at an industrial estate in Bangor, County Down.[14]
    • A spokesman for the CCEA examination board says that unlike England, where school students taking GCSE exams will be able to receive their results online for the first time in 2026, there are no plans for this to happen in Northern Ireland.[15]
    • The Met Office issues a new yellow weather alert for snow in force from 5pm on Friday 9 January until 11am on Saturday 10 January.[16] The Northern Ireland Fire Service subsequently says that it believes the fire was accidental.[17]
  • 10 January – With the recent cold snap at an end, a yellow warning for rain comes into effect, lasting from 9pm on Saturday 10 January until 9pm on Sunday 11 January.[18] The alert is subsequently cancelled on the morning of 11 January.[19]
  • 12 January – Grok deepfake images controversy: Social Democratic and Labour Party MLA Cara Hunter, who was the victim of a deepfake video, quits social media platform X due to what she describes as a "complete negligence in protecting women and children online".[20]
  • 13 January – Unions representing teachers in Northern Ireland accept a pay rise worth 4% for 2025–26.[21]
  • 15 January –
    • Laurelhill Community College in Lisburn, County Antrim, suspends 19 male pupils for a day for "disruptive and disrespectful behaviour".[22]
    • Jon Burrows is the only candidate for the Ulster Unionist Party leadership election after deputy leader Robbie Butler announces he will not seek election to the post.[23]
  • 20 January – Following a trial at Derry Crown Court, John Garrett O'Sullivan, who stored his father's body in a refrigerator following his death in July 2024, is sentenced to three years in prison for the unlawfully preventing the burial of a body, with half of the sentence to be served in custody and half on licence.[24]
  • 21 January – MPs at Westminster vote to remove from the Troubles Legacy Act that a measure providing conditional immunity from prosecutions for Troubles-era crimes.[25]
  • 22 January – A £50m investment is announced for the Ulster Folk Museum.[26]
  • 23 January –
    • Belfast City Council's strategic and resources committee votes to suspend its use of X over concerns about the Grok AI tool, with the proposal to be put to the full council on 2 February.[27]
    • Following a trial at Belfast Crown Court, former teacher William Lloyd-Lavery is found guilty of indecently assaulting five girls at a South Belfast school during the 1970s.[28]
  • 24 January –
    • Three people are taken to hospital after getting into difficulty in the water at Helen's Bay beach.[29]
    • A Sinn Féin billboard near Newry that bears a pro-Palestine slogan is under investigation by council planners after being erected without permission.[30]
  • 25 January – A woman in her 60s dies in hospital after getting into difficulty in water at Helen's Bay beach the previous day.[31]
  • 26 January – It is announced that Northern Ireland will become the first part of the UK to introduce graduated driving licences in an attempt to reduce the number of fatal road crashes involving young people.[32]
  • 27 January – Thousands of people are left without power, and 350 schools are closed for the day, following disruption caused by Storm Chandra.[33]
  • 29 January – The Public Health Agency announces that Knockavoe Special School in Strabane, County Tyrone, will close for three days following an outbreak of scabies.[34]
  • 30 January – Heavy rain causes widespread disruption across Northern Ireland.[35]
  • 31 January – 2026 Ulster Unionist Party leadership election: Jon Burrows officially becomes leader of the Ulster Unionist Party.[36]

February

  • 1 February –
  • 2 February – Queen's University Belfast announces it will sever ties with Senator George Mitchell over his links to Jeffrey Epstein.[40]
  • 3 February –
  • 4 February – The Police Service of Northern Ireland confirms that some officers whose names were published during a data breach in 2023 have now had their names published on Northern Ireland court websites.[43]
  • 6 February – It is announced that Boucher Road Playing Fields in Belfast, which has hosted gigs by artists and groups such as Brice Springsteen and Snow Patrol, is to return to use as sports fields and the community, it is announced.[44]
  • 10 February – A review of Northern Ireland's gender identity services has indicated that Northern Ireland is to be part of a clinical trial to assess the risks and benefits of puberty-blocking drugs in children who question their gender.[45]
  • 13 February –
    • Pádraig Delargy, the Sinn Féin MLA for Foyle, confirms he will not be seeking re-election at the next Stormont Assembly election.[46]
    • Belfast City Council has decided to install sports pitches at Boucher Road Playing Fields.[47]
  • 14 February – The Met Office issues weather warning for snow and ice in parts of Northern Ireland.[48]

Scheduled

Holidays

Further information: Public holidays in Northern Ireland

Source:[50][51][52]

Deaths

See also

References

  1. ^ "Road deaths in NI: Fifty-seven people died in 2025". BBC News. BBC. 1 January 2026. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  2. ^ Glynn, Niall; Best, Barra (2 January 2026). "Weather warnings for snow and ice issued in Northern Ireland". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  3. ^ Gordon, Gareth (2 January 2026). "Ulster Unionist Party: Mike Nesbitt to stand down as leader". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  4. ^ "EasyJet: Belfast flight to Hurghada cancelled after police attend". BBC News. BBC. 3 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  5. ^ Best, Barra; Glynn, Niall (2 January 2026). "Weather warnings for snow and ice issued in Northern Ireland". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  6. ^ "School closures due to weather in Northern Ireland". BBC News. BBC. 4 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  7. ^ Campbell, Cormac (4 January 2026). "Kingsmills murders: 'When dad came home it was in a coffin', daughter of victim". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  8. ^ Fleck, Holly; Best, Barra (5 January 2026). "NI weather: New ice warning after schools and transport disrupted". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  9. ^ McCormack, Jayne (6 January 2026). "Stormont departments given funding proposals by finance minister". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  10. ^ Meredith, Robbie (6 January 2026). "NI Education: Teachers offered 4% pay rise". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  11. ^ "Belfast: Two in hospital after suspected gas explosion". BBC News. BBC. 7 January 2026. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  12. ^ McCormack, Jayne (8 January 2026). "Jon Burrows joins race for UUP leadership". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  13. ^ Sharkey, Kevin (8 January 2026). "David Ervine: Memorial garden for former PUP leader opens". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  14. ^ Gibson, Chloe; Telford, Lyndsey (9 January 2026). "Bangor: Large fire breaks out at industrial estate". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  15. ^ Meredith, Robbie (9 January 2026). "GCSEs: Students in NI won't receive exam results online in August". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  16. ^ Best, Barra (9 January 2026). "Met Office issues snow and ice warning for Northern Ireland". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  17. ^ McKee, Ross; Sharkey, Kevin (10 January 2026). "Bangor: Fire service say industrial estate blaze was accidental". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  18. ^ Best, Barra (10 January 2026). "NI weather: Rain warning comes into effect with wind warning also issued". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  19. ^ Best, Barra (11 January 2026). "NI weather: Met Office cancels wind and rain warnings". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  20. ^ Wilson, David (12 January 2026). "Grok: Northern Ireland politician Cara Hunter quits X over AI concerns". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  21. ^ Meredith, Robbie (13 January 2026). "NI education: Teaching unions accept 4% pay rise". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  22. ^ Meredith, Robbie (15 January 2026). "Laurelhill: School suspends 19 teenage pupils for 'disrespectful behaviour'". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  23. ^ McCormack, Jayne (15 January 2026). "UUP: Jon Burrows looks set to become next leader". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  24. ^ Tourish, Keiron (20 January 2026). "Londonderry: Man jailed for putting father's body in fridge". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  25. ^ McCormack, Jayne (21 January 2026). "Legacy Act: MPs remove conditional immunity measure for Trouble-era crimes". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  26. ^ McElhatton, Emmet (22 January 2026). "Ulster Folk Museum: Cultra heritage site set for £50m investment". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  27. ^ Hughes, Brendan (23 January 2026). "Belfast City Council set to suspend X use over AI deepfake concerns". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  28. ^ Fitzpatrick, Michael (23 January 2026). "William Lloyd-Lavery: Former teacher guilty of indecently assaulting five girls". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  29. ^ "Helen's Bay: Three people taken to hospital after 'getting into difficulty'". BBC News. BBC. 24 January 2026. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  30. ^ Hughes, Brendan (24 January 2026). "'Sinn Féin billboard' investigated by council planners". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  31. ^ "Helen's Bay: Woman dies after getting into difficulty". BBC News. BBC. 25 January 2026. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  32. ^ McCullough, Julie (27 January 2026). "Graduated driver licensing: Northern Ireland to bring in changes for young drivers". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  33. ^ "Power being restored after disruption caused by Storm Chandra". BBC News. BBC. 27 January 2026. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  34. ^ Meredith, Robbie (29 January 2026). "Scabies: Strabane special school to close after outbreak". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  35. ^ "Heavy rain across NI causes transport disruption". BBC News. BBC. 29 January 2026. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  36. ^ Gordon, Gareth (31 January 2026). "UUP: New leader John Burrows sets of aim of becoming largest unionist party". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  37. ^ Best, Barra (1 February 2026). "Yellow warning for ice issued in Northern Ireland". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  38. ^ "Northern Ireland should hold unity referendum by 2030, first minister says". Sky News. 31 January 2026. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  39. ^ "George Mitchell's name removed from scholarship over Epstein links". BBC News. BBC. 1 February 2026. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  40. ^ Halpin, Hayley; Murray, Fiona (2 February 2026). "Epstein files: Queen's University Belfast cuts ties with George Mitchell over Epstein links". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  41. ^ O'Neill, Julian (3 February 2026). "PSNI data breach: Staff offered £7,500 compensation". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  42. ^ Meredith, Robbie (3 February 2026). "RE in NI schools: Paul Givan says Christianity will remain central to syllabus". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  43. ^ O'Neill, Julian; Cox, Auryn (4 February 2026). "Police Service of Northern Ireland officer names published on courts website". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  44. ^ Simpson, Mark (6 February 2026). "Boucher Road Playing Fields: Venue to stop hosting music events". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  45. ^ Meredith, Robbie (10 February 2026). "Puberty blockers: NI to join trial to assess use of drugs". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  46. ^ "Pádraig Delargy: Sinn Féin MLA announces he will not seek re-election". BBC News. BBC. 13 February 2026. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  47. ^ Simpson, Mark (13 February 2026). "Boucher Road Playing Fields: Council agrees to sports pitches". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  48. ^ Daly, Cee (14 February 2026). "NI weather: Snow and ice warning for Saturday evening". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  49. ^ "Soccerway". www.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  50. ^ "Northern Ireland Bank Holidays 2026". Public Holidays Global. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  51. ^ "Bank Holidays in Ireland 2026". BankHolidays.ie. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  52. ^ "UK bank holidays". UK Government. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  53. ^ "Boxer Paul McCullagh Jr dies age 25 as father confirms heartbreaking cause of death". NationalWorld. 2 January 2026. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  54. ^ O'Hare, Columba (16 January 2026). "Former Newry and Armagh MP Mickey Brady Dies". www.newry.ie. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
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