MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR ANNUAL LEAVE IN 2026

How to maximise days off in 2026? 

You’ve likely seen this ‘hack’ on TikTok; it’s gone viral for its brilliance.  

But if not, and you’re wondering what ‘maximising your annual leave’ is, essentially, because public holidays don’t eat into your annual leave balance, if you’re strategic with which days you take off, you can get more days off for less leave.  

For example, if a public holiday falls on a Monday and you take the Tuesday to Friday off, you’ve just turned four days of annual leave into a nine-day break from work. Score! 

What days to take off to maximise annual leave in 2026? 

Here’s a complete breakdown of the best way to maximise your annual leave in 2026.  

Note: Public holidays vary by state, so check which ones apply to you. 

Australia Day (All States and Territories)  

Australia Day falls on a Monday in 2026. So, if you take from Tuesday January 27 to Friday January 30 off (four days of annual leave), you score a full nine days off from Saturday January 24 through to Sunday February 1.

Labour Day (WA Only) 

Labour Day is a Western Australia public holiday that falls on Monday, March 2, 2026. If you take four days of annual leave from Tuesday March 3 to Friday March 6, you’ll get a nine-day break running from Saturday February 28 to Sunday March 8. 

Canberra Day (ACT Only) 

If you live in Australia’s capital territory, you’ll celebrate Canberra Day on Monday, March 9 in 2026. Take Tuesday, March 10 to Friday, March 13 (four days of annual leave) for a nine-day break – Saturday, March 7 to Sunday, March 15. 

Easter (All States and Territories) 

Easter is the undisputed GOAT when it comes to maximising annual leave.  

In 2026, Good Friday falls on Friday, April 3 and Easter Monday falls on Monday, April 6.  

Take just four days of annual leave from Tuesday, April 7 to Friday, April 10 and get 10 days off (Friday, April 3 to Sunday, April 12). 

ANZAC Day (NSW, ACT and WA Only) 

ANZAC Day falls on Saturday 25 April 2026, which unfortunately means most states miss out on a public holiday this year. However, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia will observe a substitute Monday holiday on Monday, April 27. 

If you live in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory or Western Australia, take Tuesday April 28 to Friday May 1 off (using four days annual leave) for a nine-day break from Saturday April 25 through to Sunday May 3.  

Labour Day (QLD Only) 

Queenslanders can enjoy nine days off (from Saturday May 2 to Sunday May 10) for just four days of annual leave if they take Tuesday May 5 to Friday May 8 off.  

Reconciliation Day (ACT Only) 

Take Tuesday, June 2 to Friday, June 5 off for a nine-day break (Saturday May 30 to Sunday June 7), all thanks to the Reconciliation Day public holiday on Monday, June 1. 

King’s Birthday (ACT, NSW, SA, TAS, and VIC Only) 

The King’s Birthday public holiday falls on Monday, June 8, across most states (NSW, the ACT, SA, TAS, VIC) in 2026.  

So, for those living in those states, take Tuesday, June 9 to Friday, June 12 off for nine days off (Saturday June 6 to Sunday June 14)! 

AFL Grand Final Friday (VIC Only) 

If you live in Victoria, the AFL Grand Final public holiday falls on Friday, September 25, 2026.  

So, if you take four days of annual leave from Monday, September 21 to Thursday, September 24, you’ll be rewarded with nine days off from work. 

King’s Birthday (WA Only) 

Western Australia observes the King’s Birthday on Monday, September 28. Take Tuesday, September 29 to Friday, October 2 for nine days off from Saturday, September 26 to Sunday, October 4. 

King’s Birthday (QLD Only) 

Queensland observes the King’s Birthday on Monday, October 5. Take Tuesday, October 6 to Friday, October 9 to have from Saturday, October 3 to Sunday, October 11 off. 

Melbourne Cup (VIC Only) 

Victorians can use the Melbourne Cup public holiday – which falls on Tuesday, November 3 this year – to their advantage in a few ways.  

You can either take Monday, November 2 off and get a four-day break with just one annual leave day.  

Or you can take that Monday as well as Wednesday, November 4 to Friday November 6 off for a full nine days away from work (from Saturday October 31 to Sunday November 8) using only four days of annual leave. 

Christmas and New Year (All States and Territories) 

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas Day falls on Friday, December 25 this year, and Boxing Day falls on Saturday, December 26 – meaning all states and territories observe a substitute public holiday on Monday, December 28. 

Pair that with New Year’s Day on Friday, January 1, 2027, you can get two weeks off for just seven days of annual leave.  

How? Take Monday, December 21 to Thursday, December 24 off (four days of annual leave) and Tuesday, December 29 to Thursday, December 31 (three days of annual leave) and you’ll be away from work from Saturday, December 19, 2026, to Sunday January 3, 2027.  

Why take annual leave?

Numerous studies have shown that stepping away from work is *really* good for both your mental and physical health; whether it's a weekend at home or a two-week trip overseas. But if you are jetting off somewhere, make sure you've got travel insurance sorted before you go...

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