The start of a new year often focuses on career ambitions, but savvy planners are already looking at how to secure the ultimate prize: more time off. For UK employees with the standard 28 days of annual leave, a strategic approach to booking time off in 2026 can yield an impressive 57 days away from the desk.
The Strategic Approach to Holiday Booking
Travel expert Jo Forey, operations manager at Away Resorts, advises clustering leave around public holidays. "Group annual leave around bank holidays and seasonal events like Easter and Christmas, as this will make holidays feel longer," she says. "More time off is more time for us to do what we love, with those we love." This method, however, is primarily effective for those working a typical Monday-to-Friday week with bank holidays off.
Your 2026 Holiday Calendar: Key Dates to Book
By targeting specific clusters of dates throughout the year, you can dramatically extend your time off. Here is the breakdown for maximising leave in 2026.
April's Extended Easter Break
With Good Friday on April 3 and Easter Monday on April 6, booking leave from March 30 to April 2 and April 7 to 10 uses just eight days of allowance. This clever planning grants a continuous 16-day break, perfect for a spring getaway.
Annual leave days used: 8 | Days off work: 16
May's Double Bank Holiday Bonanza
May offers two prime opportunities. Taking four days around the Early May bank holiday (May 5-8) and another four around the Spring bank holiday (May 26-29) uses nine days of leave. The reward? A total of 18 days off, covering more than half the month.
Annual leave days used: 9 | Days off work: 18
The Late Summer Link-Up
The August bank holiday falls on Monday, August 31. By booking annual leave for September 1 to 4, you can link it with the preceding and following weekends. This creates a seamless nine-day break using only four days of your allowance.
Annual leave days used: 4 | Days off work: 9
A Fortnight for Christmas 2026
Christmas Day 2026 is on a Friday, with Boxing Day moving to Monday, December 28 as a substitute holiday. To capitalise, book leave from December 21 to 24 and December 29 to 31. This uses seven days of leave to secure a luxurious 14-day festive break.
Annual leave days used: 7 | Days off work: 14
The Grand Total for Your Travel Plans
By following this strategic calendar, you will have used your full 28 days of statutory annual leave. In return, you will enjoy a collective 57 days off work. This provides ample opportunity for multiple holidays, from winter sun escapes to summer adventures, ensuring 2026 is a year filled with rest and exploration.
