The St Patrick’s Day parade doesn’t have one universal start time – it depends on the city and year – but most major 2026 parades begin late morning, typically between 11:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.

Below is a quick guide for 2026 parade start times in some big cities:

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City (2026) Parade date Start time Notes
Dublin 17 March 2026 12:00 p.m. National St Patrick’s Day Parade, starts at Parnell Square and runs through the city centre.
Boston (South Boston) 15 March 2026 11:30 a.m. Start time moved earlier from 1 p.m. to reduce rowdy behaviour.
San Francisco 14 March 2026 11:30 a.m. Parade along Market Street to Civic Center Plaza.
London 15 March 2026 12:00 p.m. Parade starts at Hyde Park and passes Trafalgar Square.
Galway 17 March 2026 11:30 a.m. Through Galway city centre, about an hour long.
Because you didn’t specify a city, you’ll need to check your **local** St Patrick’s Day parade listing for the exact start time for your area, but using the pattern above you can safely assume it’s likely around late morning to noon.

TL;DR: When does the St Patrick’s Day parade start? Usually late morning. In 2026, big parades like Dublin and London start at 12:00 p.m., while Boston, San Francisco, and Galway step off around 11:30 a.m., but your local event may differ.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.