The first working week of the year has a habit of arriving too soon. For many of us, the Christmas break is the main opportunity to truly switch off, yet it often proves anything but restful.
Between social commitments, travel logistics and family catch-ups, the so-called “holiday” can feel more like a marathon, leaving you back at your desk still craving proper downtime.
As a result, many of us begin the year already feeling depleted, juggling calendars, inboxes and the low-level dread of a year stretching endlessly ahead.
With a little foresight, however, 2026 offers a smarter alternative. By planning your leave strategically and anchoring it to weekends and public holidays, it’s possible to stretch your standard allowance far beyond its limits. In some cases, you can even double your time off without touching unpaid leave.
The secret isn’t taking more leave. It’s taking it more intentionally. When annual leave is booked to bridge public holidays and weekends, short absences expand into long, uninterrupted breaks that allow you to properly switch off.
With careful planning, and ideally a small buffer carried over from last year, those 20 to 30 days of annual leave can translate into close to 60 days away from the office, spread across five generous breaks throughout the year.
At a time when burnout has become almost universal and the boundary between work and life continues to blur, extended rest isn’t indulgent. It’s essential. Ambition thrives on energy, not exhaustion.
So if you’re scanning the calendar and weighing up when to submit those leave requests, consider this your go-to guide for booking time off in 2026.
The Best Dates To Take Annual Leave In 2026
An Overview
| Break | Dates Off | Public Holidays Used | Annual Leave Required | Total Days Off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia Day | Jan 24 – Feb 1 | Jan 26 (Australia Day) | Jan 27–30 (4 days) | 9 days |
| Easter | Mar 28 – Apr 12 | Apr 3 (Good Friday), Apr 6 (Easter Monday) | Mar 30–Apr 2 & Apr 7–10 (8 days) | 16 days |
| King’s Birthday (All states except QLD & WA) | Jun 6 – Jun 14 | Jun 8 (King’s Birthday) | Jun 9–12 (4 days) | 9 days |
| Labour Day / King’s Birthday (ACT, NSW, SA, QLD) | Oct 4 – Oct 11 | Oct 5 (Labour Day / King’s Birthday) | Oct 6–9 (4 days) | 9 days |
| Christmas & New Year | Dec 19 – Jan 3 | Dec 25 (Christmas Day), Dec 28 (Boxing Day), Jan 1 (New Year’s Day) | Dec 21–24 & Dec 29–31 (7 days) | 16 days |
Scroll on for a complete breakdown of each holiday.
Australia Day (January 26)
| Date | Type |
|---|---|
| January 24–25 | Weekend |
| January 26 | Public holiday |
| January 27–30 | Annual leave |
| January 31 – February 1 | Weekend |
Result: Take 4 days of annual leave and enjoy 9 days off from January 24 to February 1.
Easter
| Date | Type |
|---|---|
| March 28–29 | Weekend |
| March 30 – April 2 | Annual leave |
| April 3 | Public holiday (Good Friday) |
| April 4–5 | Weekend |
| April 6 | Public holiday (Easter Monday) |
| April 7–10 | Annual leave |
| April 11–12 | Weekend |
Result: Take 8 days of annual leave and enjoy 16 days off from March 28 to April 12.
King’s Birthday (All States Except QLD & WA)
| Date | Type |
|---|---|
| June 6–7 | Weekend |
| June 8 | Public holiday (King’s Birthday) |
| June 9–12 | Annual leave |
| June 13–14 | Weekend |
Result: Take 4 days of annual leave and enjoy 9 days off from June 6 to June 14.
Western Australia:
King’s Birthday falls on September 28. Take annual leave from September 29 to October 2 to enjoy 9 days off between September 26 and October 4.
Labour Day / King’s Birthday (ACT, NSW, SA & QLD)
| Date | Type |
|---|---|
| October 3–4 | Weekend |
| October 5 | Public holiday (Labour Day or King’s Birthday) |
| October 6–9 | Annual leave |
| October 10–11 | Weekend |
Result: Take 4 days of annual leave and enjoy 9 days off from October 4 to October 11.
Western Australia:
Labour Day falls on March 2. Take annual leave from March 3 to March 6 to enjoy 9 days off between February 28 and March 8.
Victoria:
Labour Day falls on March 9. The same strategy delivers 9 days off from March 7 to March 15.
Christmas & New Year
| Date | Type |
|---|---|
| December 19–20 | Weekend |
| December 21–24 | Annual leave |
| December 25 | Public holiday (Christmas Day) |
| December 26–27 | Weekend |
| December 28 | Public holiday (Boxing Day) |
| December 29–31 | Annual leave |
| January 1 | Public holiday (New Year’s Day) |
| January 2–3 | Weekend |
Result: Take 7 days of annual leave and enjoy 16 days off from December 19 to January 3.
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