How to get the most out of your annual leave for 2026

Most Australians are entitled to 4 weeks, or 20 days, of annual leave every year.

It all comes down to scheduling your time off around public holidays and surrounding weekends.

Booking days off around the Easter long weekend, for example, could turn what would be four annual leave days into a 10-day break.

So what are the dates you should cross off your calendar?

In 2025, Christmas to New Year's comprises the longest period of potential time away, offering 16 days of holidays for eight days of annual leave.

Public holidays for this period land on December 25 and 26 and then again on January 1.

By booking seven days of annual leave - from December 22 to 24, then 29 to 31 - and one day on January 2, you could enjoy a 16-day break.

Booking leave around Australia Day could give you a nine-day break for four days of annual leave.

The public holiday is on January 26. By using four annual leave days from January 27 to 30, you could get a nine-day break, from January 24 to February 1.

You could gain another 10-day break in Easter from four annual leave days.

With Good Friday falling on April 3 and Easter Monday on April 6, you could snag the 10-day break by booking leave from April 7 to April 10.

The easter chunk of leave will then roll straight into some of the mid-year breaks available in 2026.

All states but Queensland and Western Australia celebrate the King's Birthday on June 8.

Queensland celebrates the day on October 5 and Western Australia celebrates on September 28.

Booking four days' leave on either side of the holiday will net you nine days off for those two states.

The same could be done for each state's respective Labour Day.

Depending on where you live, you could squeeze even more out of your leave with state-specific public holidays.

Victoria has an extra three public holidays, with AFL Grand Final Eve, whenever that day falls, and Melbourne Cup Day on November 3, ripe for some more strategic leave planning.

Queenslanders could use two annual leave days before or after the Royal Queensland Show, on August 12, to create a five-day break.

Western Australia gets WA Day on June 1 and a Monday in lieu of ANZAC Day on April 27.

South Australians get March 9 off for Adelaide Cup Day.

Tasmanians get the Royal Hobart Regatta on February 9, Eight Hours Day on March 9 and Recreation Day which falls on November 2.

In an oddity, Tasmanian public service workers get an Easter Tuesday public holiday which takes place on April 7.

The Australian Capital Territory gets two extra long weekends due to Canberra Day on March 9 and Reconciliation Day on June 1.

Finally, the Northern Territory shakes things up, removing Labour Day in favour of May Day on May 4 and adds a public holiday with Picnic Day on August 3.

Leave could be booked for either end of these days to create extra-long weekends.