The 2026 Annual Leave Masterplan: turn 20 annual leave days into 45 days of holidays
07 Jan 2026
With the Christmas tinsel barely back in the box, your mind might still be in holiday mode. Instead of fighting it, why not lean in by plotting your 2026 Annual Leave Masterplan.
Strategically pairing your leave with public holidays, here’s how to hack the 2026 calendar to turn 20 days of annual leave into 45 days of pure holiday bliss (counting weekends as well).
1. The Australia Day long weekend
Kick off the year with a quick coastal escape. Since Australia Day falls on a Monday in 2026, taking just one Friday off creates a four-day break.
When: Friday 23 January – Monday 26 January
Annual leave days: 1
Total days away: 4
2. The Easter extravaganza
This is the big one for 2026. By capitalising on the short weeks surrounding the Easter long weekend, you can score over two weeks of travel time for just eight days of leave.
Pro tip: Fly out on Friday night to squeeze every second out of the trip.
When: Saturday 28 March – Sunday 12 April
Annual leave days: 8
Total days away: 16
The ANZAC Day clause
ANZAC Day 2026 presents a challenge for holiday hackers. One of our most important national days falls on a Saturday, which means in every region except WA and ACT, there is no Monday-off substitution. This means no extra-long weekend for most of the country—so don’t count on it for your travel plans.
3. The winter getaway
Break up the mid-year slump by using the King’s Birthday long weekend (NSW, Vic, SA, TAS, ACT, NT). Four days of leave gets you nine days off—perfect for a trip to the snow or a flight north to chase the sun.
When: Saturday 6 June – Sunday 14 June
Annual leave days: 4
Total days off: 9
4. The Christmas special
By the time December rolls around, you’ll be ready for a super-sized break. In 2026, you can secure 16 straight days of Out-of-Office messages by burning just seven days leave.
When: Saturday 19 December – Sunday 3 January
Annual leave days: 7
Total days away: 16
2026 Masterplan summary
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| Holiday | Dates (inclusive) | Annual leave required | Total days away |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia Day | Fri 23 Jan – Mon 26 Jan | 1 | 4 |
| Easter | Sat 28 Mar – Sun 12 Apr | 8 | 16 |
| Winter break | Sat 6 Jun – Sun 14 Jun | 4 | 9 |
| Christmas & New Years | Sat 19 Dec – Sun 3 Jan | 7 | 16 |
| TOTAL | 20 | 45 |
Other ways to boost your leave balance
If you’ve already burnt through your leave, there are other ways to find extra time away from the desk:
- Birthday leave: Many large organisations now offer a free day off for your birthday. If your company doesn’t, it might be time to ask.
- Wellness leave: No need to chuck a sickie. Many employers now offer wellness leave ( for some that means 3 days for lifestyle and cultural leave), while others offer ‘Life Leave’ (5 days) to help employees switch off.
- Time in Lieu: If you’ve been putting in overtime, check your contract for time-in-lieu clauses to reclaim those extra hours.
- Move to Victoria (!): If you want the most holidays possible, move to the ACT or Victoria. While NSW and WA traditionally have fewer public holidays, WA is set to add two extra days by 2028.
The Horse Race that stops the nation (and gives you an excuse to getaway)For those in Victoria, don’t just settle for one day off. Ditch the races and bridge the gap between the weekend and the Tuesday public holiday.
- When: Saturday 31 October – Tuesday 3 Nov
- Annual leave days: 1
- Total days off: 4
A final word of warning: You won’t be the only one eyeing these dates. It could end up being a race to the employee portal to get your requests in before your colleagues do.
This article was reviewed by our Consumer Editor Meagan Lawrence before it was updated, as part of our fact-checking process.
