A New Study Just Ranked the Most St. Patrick’s Day–Obsessed States in America for 2026
Search data, bar density, and beer habits reveal where Americans go hardest for March 17 — and which states barely turn a shade of green.
St. Patrick’s Day might technically be one day on the calendar, but in some parts of the U.S., it’s basically a late-winter sport. Think weeks of pub crawl planning, green outfit shopping, and Googling “Irish bar near me” on repeat.
A new nationwide analysis from NailThatGift looked at where that pre-St. Paddy’s build-up is strongest heading into 2026, and it’s not just the usual Irish heritage clichés. By blending search behavior with bar and restaurant density and state beer consumption, they ranked how intensely each state leans into March 17 — and which ones are perfectly happy to sit this one out.
The 10 States Most Obsessed With St. Patrick’s Day
NailThatGift pulled Google search data from March 2025 for St. Patrick’s Day–related terms, then combined it with how many bars and restaurants each state has per capita and how much beer residents drink. Search activity made up half the score, while hospitality density and beer consumption each counted for 25%.
1. Massachusetts
Massachusetts lands in first place with sky-high search intensity (980 St. Patrick’s Day–related searches per 100,000 residents) and a strong bar and restaurant footprint. That tracks for a state where Boston’s Irish heritage is front and center, and parades are treated like serious business. (There are so many fun things to do in Boston, too!)
It’s not just big-city energy, either. Smaller communities across the state also lean into March 17 with local pub nights and neighborhood events, which helps keep overall engagement well above the national average.
2. New York
New York comes in second, pairing elevated search activity (850 searches per 100,000 residents) with one of the highest densities of bars and restaurants in the country. Between Manhattan’s massive parade, outer-borough pub crawls, and upstate celebrations, there’s no shortage of ways to go green.
The strong hospitality scene means residents don’t have to look far for Irish pubs, themed cocktails, or specials, which shows up clearly in the data.
3. Illinois
Illinois rounds out the top three with 830 searches per 100,000 people and a solid bar and restaurant presence. Chicago dying its river green is one of the most over-the-top St. Patrick’s Day visuals in the U.S., and the numbers suggest the hype translates into real planning behavior. (Love Chicago for St. Patrick’s Day and beyond… these are some of my favorite things to do there.)
Between downtown festivities and celebrations in smaller cities, the state keeps interest high across all three metrics, including relatively strong per capita beer consumption.
4. Colorado
Colorado is the top Western state on the list, driven by 790 searches per 100,000 residents and one of the highest beer consumption figures in the top 10 (1.08 per capita in the study’s index).
Denver’s bar scene and the state’s love of craft beer clearly play a role, but the data suggests enthusiasm stretches beyond one metro area. From pub events to themed brewery releases, Colorado’s version of St. Patrick’s Day is very much a drinking-forward holiday.
5. Rhode Island
Rhode Island ranks fifth, with especially dense hospitality options (124.2 bar and restaurant establishments per capita in the study’s measure) and steady search activity. For a small state, it punches above its weight in terms of how many places you can actually go out and celebrate.
That mix of walkable city neighborhoods and plenty of bars helps keep interest high, even if the overall population is tiny compared to the big states above.
6. New Hampshire
New Hampshire lands in sixth place with reasonably strong search activity and very high beer consumption (1.6 per capita in the index — the highest among the top 10). The study suggests that while search intensity isn’t quite Boston-level, residents definitely show up on the consumption side.
Local bars and small-town celebrations appear to carry a lot of the weight here, rather than huge destination parades.
7. Florida
Florida comes next, mixing 690 searches per 100,000 residents with a broad hospitality scene. Between Orlando, Tampa, and South Florida’s nightlife, there’s no shortage of bars ready to pour green beer or run themed specials.
Tourism likely plays a role too: visitors planning spring break trips layer their St. Patrick’s Day searches on top of locals’, which helps lift overall interest.
8. Oregon
In eighth place, Oregon stands out for its extremely dense bar and restaurant landscape (121.8 establishments per capita in the study’s measure) and above-average beer consumption. The search volume (490 per 100,000 residents) is more low-key than the East Coast heavy hitters, but there’s infrastructure everywhere to support a night out.
Think less giant parade, more neighborhood pubs, craft beer releases, and city-specific events spread across Portland and beyond.
9. Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania lands in ninth with 570 searches per 100,000 residents and solid scores on both bar density and beer consumption (1.31 per capita in the index). Cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh anchor the celebrations, but smaller towns contribute plenty of local events.
From classic Irish pubs to big-city parades, the state’s mix of urban and small-town celebrations helps keep its ranking comfortably inside the top 10.
10. Nevada
Nevada rounds out the most-obsessed list with 560 searches per 100,000 residents, a strong bar and restaurant presence, and relatively high beer consumption (1.26 in the index). Between Las Vegas nightlife and Reno’s bar scene, the state is built for themed drinking holidays.
St. Patrick’s Day here tends to skew heavily toward bars, casinos, and late nights out — exactly the kind of environment that shows up clearly when you combine search data with hospitality density.
Where St. Patrick’s Day Barely Registers
At the opposite end of the list, Mississippi has the lowest overall score, with just 180 searches per 100,000 residents and fewer bars and restaurants per capita than most states above. Alabama and Arkansas also sit near the bottom, reflecting more subdued engagement across search behavior, hospitality options, and consumption.
NailThatGift’s heatmap shows a clear regional pattern: New England, the broader Northeast, and parts of the Midwest usually score above average, while much of the Deep South and some Mountain West states trend lower. Utah ranks 47th, weighed down in part by low beer consumption, even though its search numbers are a bit stronger than some of its neighbors.
Thinking Beyond Green Beer
If this has you in the mood to lean into your Irish side a bit more literally, you don’t have to stop at your local pub crawl. A trip to Ireland itself is surprisingly doable with a bit of planning — I’ve put together a detailed guide to things to do in Dublin that covers everything from classic historic sights to cozy pubs and beyond.
And if you’re dreaming bigger than one city, my 11-day Ireland road trip itinerary lays out how to connect Dublin with castles, coastal drives, and countryside stops that feel a lot more memorable than another overcrowded bar line on March 17.
