Here’s How You Can More Than Double Your Annual Leave In 2026
Friends, what if we told you through a couple of handy little tricks in the cal that you could use 18 leave days and magically turn them into 44 days off next year? Yep, we're talking 44 out of 365 days living it up wherever the wind takes you. That's 12.05% of the year...
That's right, we're talking about how to maximise your annual leave in Australia in 2026. We’ve done the work for you and peeked ahead at the 2026 cal to see how you can gain some sneaky extra leave, meaning you can head off on those overdue trips away without using up too many sick days or getting in trouble with your boss.
Read on for how to maximise your leave in 2026.
How To Maximise Your Annual Leave Days In 2026
January 2026
Book four annual leave days from 27–30 January for nine days off using the Monday January 26 public holiday.
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Days off: Saturday 24 January to Sunday 1 February
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Days of leave taken: Four
April 2026
Book three annual leave days from 8–10 April to score a 10-day break over Easter and the ANZAC Day and school-holiday period.
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Days off: Friday 3 April to Sunday 12 April
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Days of leave taken: Three
June 2026
Book four annual leave days from 7–10 June for nine days off using the Queen’s Birthday/King’s Birthday public holiday (this one varies depending on state, so check your local cal for clarity).
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Days off: Saturday 6 June to Sunday 14 June
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Days of leave taken: Four
December 2026
Book seven annual leave days (December 20–22, December 27–31) to get a whopping 16-day break over Christmas and New Year.
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Days off: Saturday 18 December to Sunday 2 January 2027
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Days of leave taken: Seven
Now that's decided, where to go with all those precious days off?
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Image credit: Urban List | Supplied