How to double your holiday allowance in 2026 by booking certain days off

If there is one thing the majority of people like to plan ahead, it is their holidays, and so with the new year creeping up on us soon, then what better time than now to get those preparations in order?

Now, for those who dream about travelling to multiple places, the amount of annual leave you get can put a downer on those plans, but fortunately, there are ways to work around the system and gain extended breaks from the office without using up your time off and here's exactly how to do it.

The first Bank Holiday is January 1, which happens to be on a Thursday, and so booking Friday, January 2 off too will give you a nice four days out of the office.

If you're looking for a nice, long Easter break, then you're also in luck. Good Friday will be on Friday, April 3, 2026, and Easter Monday Bank Holiday is on Monday, April 2, 2026.

Taking a certain eight days off Monday, March 30 to Thursday, April 2 and Tuesday, April 7 to Friday, April 10, will get you an extended 16-day break around Easter time, reports The Sun.

For those who want to kick off their summer holidays early, it's worth noting that the May Bank Holiday 2026 falls on Monday, May 4.

And you can enjoy nine days off work by simply booking four days off. All you need to do is book off Tuesday, May 5, to Friday, May 8 and in the same month, employees can also book off four days, Tuesday, May 26, to Friday, May 29, to be away from the office for another nine days.

Similarly, you can book off Tuesday, September 1, to Friday, September 4, after the August Bank Holiday on the 31st, to get nine days off work.

Even though we still haven't hit Christmas 2025 yet, before you know it the next year's festive season will be under way and so there's no harm in preparing your days off for that too.

Booking from Monday, December 27, to Thursday, December 24, and then from Tuesday, December 29, to Thursday, December 31, will give you a hefty 16 days out of the office.