How To Maximise Your Holiday Allowance In 2026
Fed up with working around the clock with little reward? We might not be able to help you secure a new job, but we can help you maximise your holiday allowance in 2026, and you’ll only annoy a few of your coworkers by travelling all over in the process…
We’ve found a way for you to game your HR department and effectively turn your holiday allowance into 40+ blissful days off. Here’s how:
2026 Bank Holidays
Thursday 1ST JANUARY – NEW YEAR’S DAY (passed)
FRIDAY 3rd April – GOOD FRIDAY
MONDAY 6th APRIL – EASTER MONDAY
MONDAY 4th MAY – EARLY MAY BANK HOLIDAY
Monday 25th May – SPRING BANK HOLIDAY
MONDAY 31st AUGUST – SUMMER BANK HOLIDAY
Friday 25th DECEMBER – Christmas Day
Monday 28th DECEMBER – Boxing Day (Substitute)
Easter – 10 days off for 4 days leave
Book ofF: Tuesday 7th – Friday 10th April
Total break: 10 days (Friday 3rd April – Sunday 12th April).
Let’s deal with 2026’s first bank holiday (after New Year’s Day) – Easter. It’s a good one too, as we always automatically get a four-day long weekend.
Extend your holiday allowance further this year and bag yourself a ten-day holiday for using just four days of your allowance.
Early May Bank Holiday – 9 days off for 4 days leave
Book off: Tuesday 5th – Friday 8th
Total break: 9 days (Saturday 2nd May – Sunday 10th May).
The early May bank holiday provides an opportunity to take some extra days off. Burn four days but get nine days back. Your co-workers will be green with envy that you’ve only been for a couple of weeks…
Spring Bank Holiday – 9 days off for 4 days leave
Book off: Tuesday 26th – Friday 29th
Total break: 9 days (Saturday 23rd May – Sunday 31st May).
The second May bank holiday has rolled around, and it’s time for you to eke out most of your holiday by bagging yourself another nine days off. And guess what? You’ll only use four days of holiday allowance.
Summer Bank Holiday – 9 days off for 4 days leave
book off: Tuesday 1st – Friday 4th September
Total break: 9 days (Saturday 29th August – Sunday 6th September)
You know the drill now, take a four-day holiday and drive to Gatwick after work on Friday.
Christmas & Boxing Day: 12 days off for 5 days leave
book off:
Wednesday 23rd December
Thursday 24th December
Tuesday 29th December
Wednesday 30th December
Thursday 31st December
Total break: 12 days (Wednesday 23rd December – Sunday 3rd January 2027).
Make Christmas extra special and book off the days in between for 12 days off.
Now that you’ve hacked your holiday allowance, here’s some travel inspiration
Please note, these dates apply specifically to England and Wales.
If you are based in Scotland or Northern Ireland, your bank holiday dates (such as the August Bank Holiday or St Andrew’s Day) may vary.
