Something that doesn’t happen very often is getting a new collection of census records released to the public. In the case of Ireland census records, it has certainly been a while. The last release was the 1911 census, made available to the public in 1961, with digital records placed online in 2009. For those doing family history research in Ireland, this is a great opportunity to find clues, as Irish research can be notoriously difficult.

The National Archives of Ireland site has provided the following summary information …

The 1926 Irish Census will be released online for free on April 18, 2026. The National Archives of Ireland will publish over 700,000 digitized, fully searchable household returns 100 years after the census was taken, marking the first new census to be released since the 1911 Census.

• Where to Find It: The records will be available on the National Archives of Ireland website.
• What it Includes: The database will cover nearly 3 million people, including searchable details such as names, ages, addresses, occupations, and Irish language proficiency.
• Privacy Opt-Out: Individuals, or their families, can opt out of having their personal details listed, allowing for redaction of specific records
• Significance: This release will bridge the gap between 1911 and modern records, providing a crucial snapshot of post-Irish Free State life. 

The link to the 1926 Census record collection will be added to The Family History Guide shortly after the release, as well as help information.