Maximise 2026 holidays: How to double annual leave next year
Book smart when considering your holidays next year and you could more than double 28 days of annual leave to 63 days away from work in 2026 - here’s how.
Getting in early can be key to securing your desired holiday leave - and workers are being given tips on how to maximise their beloved time off. Time management tipsters predict most of us could bag a whopping 63 days away from work - using just 28 days of annual leave.
Clever calendar management could see employees ensure they at least double the length of their holidays by utilising weekends and bank holidays as they book their breaks.
And by booking smart - and early - people can make the most of the holiday season hack by booking specific days off. Read on to find out exactly when to book annual leave to spend more time away from the office in 2026.
January 2026 holidays:
Thursday, January 1 – Sunday, January 4 (four days for one). Booking a single day - January 2 - will give savvy selectors a four-day break, with January 1 being a bank holiday and the weekend following on.
March/April 2026 holidays
Saturday, March 28 – Monday, April 13 (16 days for eight). The Easter bank holidays are an ideal opportunity to maximise rest time. Diligent diary fillers can secure a whopping 16 days of downtime by booking holiday from March 30 to April 2, and April 7 to 10.
May 2026 holidays
Saturday, May 2 – Sunday, May 10 (nine days for four) and Saturday, May 23 – Sunday, May 31 (nine days for four). May Day and the Spring bank holiday breaks offer an easy extra-long rest for those who get in early and utilise the weekends around the Mondays.
August/September 2026 holidays
Saturday, August 30 – Sunday, September 7 (nine days for four). The final bank holiday on the UK calendar before Christmas gives holiday hopefuls a final chance to secure an extra-long break - booking around weekends and the Monday itself.
December 2026 holidays
Saturday, December 19 – Sunday, January 3, 2027 (16 days for seven). Christmas offers the chance to bag a long, long break for those willing to submit their form. Booking either side of the big day - utilising bank holidays - means a huge 16 days are up for grabs, by booking just seven off.