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The magic of autumn has fallen a little flat, with grey skies, wet weekends and the sun creeping closer to setting the wrong side of 6pm.
So there’s never been a better time to look ahead to 2026 and the promise of a holiday.
Most of us get 25 days of annual leave if we’re lucky, but that’s easily used when you factor in weddings, hens and stags, and plain old life admin.
Plus, 25 days out of 365 means we’re only OOO for less than 7% of the year. And that’s hardly the work-life balance we’re aspiring to.
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But loveholidays has crunched the numbers and figured out how to make the most of your 2026 annual leave.
Let’s break it down.
For an extended New Year break, book off January 2 and get four days off consecutively from January 1 to January 4.
A few months later, if you book a holiday from March 28 to April 12, you get 16 days off while using only eight days of annual leave.
Thanks to the timing, which spans two weekends and includes the Easter bank holidays of Good Friday and Easter Monday, you’ll maximise your time off without using up your allowance at once.
loveholidays has suggested Albania as a top destination for Easter, with 16-day packages costing an average of £998 per person.
The exact dates to book off in 2026
- January 2
- March 28 – April 12
- May 2 – May 10
- May 23 – May 31
- August 29 – September 6
- December 19 – December 28
The spring season means milder temperatures and less tourists, while the vast array of mountains and valleys that hug the Albanian Riviera are blooming with wildflowers, the perfect backdrop for hiking and coastal strolls.
Taking four days of annual leave in May can get you nine days of holiday. Book from May 2 to May 10, and enjoy two weekends and a Bank Holiday Monday.
Or, make the most of the last Bank Holiday in May, and enjoy nine days of holiday between May 23 and May 31 for just four days’ holiday.
Latvia is a great choice for early May, with nine-day package holidays at an average of £340 per person, while late May package getaways to Spain are just £508.
Eager for some summer sunshine?
Enjoy nine days off between August 29 and September 6 for just four days of annual leave.
Egypt is a great spot to discover, with plenty of rich history and vibrant culture to enjoy, as well as nine-day package deals at £540 on average per person.
Winter getaways are a perfect way to celebrate the festive season, and get into the Christmas spirit.
If you’re almost out of holiday allowance, you can enjoy a ten-day break between December 19 and December 28 for just four days’ annual leave, and celebrate the big day somewhere new.
France is a top pick, with snow-covered mountains, Christmas markets, and quaint villages.
And, at 10 days for just £774 per person, it will feel like an early present to yourself.
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