With a bit of planning, you can hack your way to more holidays by being smart about your annual leave. Our guide walks you through how to make the most of public holidays, long weekends, and smartly placed leave days. So whether you’re dreaming of lying on a beach with a cocktail in hand or doing a week-long hike in the hills, these tips will help you maximise your annual leave in 2026. Explore our calendar below to start mapping your time off.
Annual leave day: 2nd January 2026
Total time off: 1st Jan to 4th Jan
Annual leave days: 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th
Total time off: 24th January to 1st February
Annual leave days: 7th,8th,9th,10th April
Total time off: 3rd April to 12th April
Annual leave days: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th June
Total time off: 6th June to 14th June
The King’s Birthday public holiday falls on Monday 8 June in most states and territories (except QLD and WA).
Annual leave days: 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th October
Total time off: 3rd October to 11th October
In NSW, SA, and the ACT, Labour Day falls on Monday 5 October.
Annual leave days: 29th, 30th, 31st December, 2nd January
Total time off: 25th December to 2nd January