As 2025 winds down, millions of workers across the UK are already looking ahead to next year's holiday calendar. The reset of annual leave entitlements in January presents a golden opportunity for savvy planners to secure an impressive amount of time off.
The Strategic Plan for Maximum Time Off
For the typical full-time employee with the standard 28 days of paid annual leave, a clever scheduling strategy can unlock a staggering 63 days away from the desk in 2026. The secret lies in strategically placing your booked leave around the fixed bank holidays in England and Wales, creating extended breaks while using minimal allowance.
Career guidance experts at targetJobs have mapped out the precise dates to target. The plan kicks off with the New Year period. Since January 1st is a bank holiday, simply booking Friday, January 2nd off uses just one day of leave to gift yourself a four-day weekend.
Mastering the Spring and Summer Holidays
The next major opportunity arrives around Easter. The bank holidays for Good Friday (April 3rd) and Easter Monday (April 6th) create a natural four-day break. By booking March 30th to April 2nd and April 7th to 10th, you use eight days of annual leave but are rewarded with a phenomenal 16 consecutive days off.
May offers two bank holidays: the Early May Bank Holiday on May 4th and the Spring Bank Holiday on May 25th. By booking the four working days following each (May 5th-8th and May 26th-29th), you secure two separate nine-day breaks using only eight days of your allowance.
Later in the summer, the August 31st bank holiday provides another chance. Booking September 1st to 4th afterwards turns a single day into a relaxing nine-day stretch.
The Grand Finale: Christmas and New Year
The year concludes with a favourable calendar for holidaymakers. In 2026, Christmas Day falls on a Friday and Boxing Day on a Saturday. This means the substitute bank holiday will be on Monday, December 28th.
To capitalise, book the week leading up to Christmas (December 21st to 24th) and the days between the bank holiday and New Year's Eve (December 29th to 31st). This investment of seven days' leave results in an unbeatable 16-day festive holiday, perfect for a long winter getaway or quality time at home.
By following this structured plan, employees can transform their standard entitlement into a year punctuated by significant breaks. The key is forward planning and coordinating these requests with your workplace well in advance to ensure you can make the most of every precious day off in 2026.
