Maximise Annual Leave 2026 (Australia): Every Long Weekend
2026 with 10 days of annual leave
Purple circles are public holidays; pink squares are the days to book off; the pale bar is your break.
See past monthsJan–Sep 2026
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Public holidayBook this day offYour break
The best breaks for 10 days of annual leave, ranked
Ranked by how far each day of leave goes.
- #2New Year's DayBook 1 day offGet 4 days off in a rowDatesThu 31 Dec 2026 – Sun 3 Jan 2027Book offThu 31 Dec 2026Value4× your leaveShow in calendar
- #3Long weekendBook 1 day offGet 3 days off in a rowDatesFri 9 Oct – Sun 11 Oct 2026Book offFri 9 Oct 2026Value3× your leaveShow in calendar
- #4Long weekendBook 1 day offGet 3 days off in a rowDatesFri 16 Oct – Sun 18 Oct 2026Book offFri 16 Oct 2026Value3× your leaveShow in calendar
- #5Long weekendBook 1 day offGet 3 days off in a rowDatesFri 23 Oct – Sun 25 Oct 2026Book offFri 23 Oct 2026Value3× your leaveShow in calendar
- #6Long weekendBook 1 day offGet 3 days off in a rowDatesFri 30 Oct – Sun 1 Nov 2026Book offFri 30 Oct 2026Value3× your leaveShow in calendar
- #7Long weekendBook 1 day offGet 3 days off in a rowDatesFri 6 Nov – Sun 8 Nov 2026Book offFri 6 Nov 2026Value3× your leaveShow in calendar
- #8Long weekendBook 1 day offGet 3 days off in a rowDatesFri 13 Nov – Sun 15 Nov 2026Book offFri 13 Nov 2026Value3× your leaveShow in calendar
- #9Long weekendBook 1 day offGet 3 days off in a rowDatesFri 20 Nov – Sun 22 Nov 2026Book offFri 20 Nov 2026Value3× your leaveShow in calendar
- #10Long weekendBook 1 day offGet 3 days off in a rowDatesFri 27 Nov – Sun 29 Nov 2026Book offFri 27 Nov 2026Value3× your leaveShow in calendar
Worked examples: what your leave gets you in 2026
Each row is the best plan we found for that many days of annual leave, using Australia public holidays and weekends (only breaks that start after today).
| Days of annual leave | Days off | Breaks | Value | Longest break |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 18 | 5 | 3.6× | Thu 24 Dec – Mon 28 Dec 2026 (5 days) |
| 10 | 33 | 10 | 3.3× | Thu 24 Dec – Mon 28 Dec 2026 (5 days) |
| 15 | 44 | 12 | 2.9× | Thu 24 Dec 2026 – Sun 3 Jan 2027 (11 days) |
| 20 | 51 | 12 | 2.5× | Thu 24 Dec 2026 – Sun 10 Jan 2027 (18 days) |
| 25 | 56 | 11 | 2.2× | Wed 23 Dec 2026 – Sun 10 Jan 2027 (19 days) |
This page uses nationwide holidays only. Your state may add more days off, which would make some of these breaks even better.
Free long weekends in 2026
Three days or more off with no leave at all. Tap one to see how one extra day makes it longer.
- #1Australia DayNo leave needed3 days off in a rowDatesSat 24 Jan – Mon 26 Jan 2026Make it longerBook Thu 22 and Fri 23 Jan 2026 off and get 5 days in a row
- #2Good Friday & Easter MondayNo leave needed4 days off in a rowDatesFri 3 Apr – Mon 6 Apr 2026Make it longerBook Wed 1 and Thu 2 Apr 2026 off and get 6 days in a row
- #3Christmas Day & Boxing Day (observed)No leave needed4 days off in a rowDatesFri 25 Dec – Mon 28 Dec 2026Make it longerBook Wed 23 and Thu 24 Dec 2026 off and get 6 days in a row
How to get the most out of your annual leave
- Start with the bridge days. A holiday on a Tuesday or Thursday turns one day of leave into four days off. Those are the cards at the top of this page.
- Join long weekends into a full week. Booking the workdays between a long weekend and the next weekend gives you nine or ten days off for four days of leave.
- Book the popular days early. Bridge days are the days everyone else wants too, so ask for them as soon as your leave year opens.
- Keep a few days spare. The planner can use any number of days; try it with a smaller number to keep some leave for emergencies.
Questions and answers
What are the best days to take off in 2026 in Australia?
The best single day to book is Thu 24 Dec 2026: 1 day of leave gives you 5 days off in a row (Thu 24 Dec – Mon 28 Dec 2026). For a longer trip, book Wed 23 Dec – Thu 31 Dec (5 days) for 12 days off in a row.
How many days off can I get with 10 days of annual leave in 2026?
Using Australia public holidays, 10 days of annual leave can give you 33 days off in 10 breaks (counting only breaks that start after Sat 3 Oct 2026).
What is a bridge day?
A bridge day is a workday between a public holiday and a weekend. Booking it off joins them into one longer break, so one day of leave can give you three or four days off.
How many long weekends are there in Australia in 2026?
There are 3 long weekends of three days or more in 2026 that need no leave at all, because a public holiday falls next to a weekend.
Are these dates official?
Holiday dates come from Nager.Date and are checked against official sources (see our About page). Always confirm days off with your employer before booking travel.
More
All Australia holidays 20262027
New Year's DayAustralia DayGood FridayEaster MondayChristmas DayBoxing Day
How to Maximise Annual Leave in Australia in 2027Christmas 2026 and New Year 2027 in Australia: Leave to Book