How to hack your annual leave to get the most days off in 2026.

If you want to support independent women's media, become a Mamamia subscriber. Get an all-access pass to everything we make, including exclusive podcasts, articles, videos and our exercise app, MOVE.

Holidays are one of life's greatest joys. At a close second? Free sh*t. Or… finding a great bargain. Getting half off. Discounts. Et cetera.

And one of my greatest joys is mooshing the two together by way of hacking public holidays to give my annual leave days a juicy boost.

'Free days off' is kind of like free money, which is unquestionably the best thing ever. And scoring a 10-day break for the price of just three annual leave days? Well, that's better than half-price — and it is 100 per cent possible in 2026.

It's girl math but better. It's public holiday math.

Watch: BIZ on making the invisible work visible. Post continues below.

In fact, according to a recent report from AVG Travel, no matter where you are in Australia, you have the ability to turn 27 days of annual leave into at least 57 days of holidays in 2026. That's almost two months of holidaying.

But, how? Well, these hacks aren't exactly state secrets. So here's the intel.

The magic of strategic planning.

The key to hacking your annual leave is to bookend public holidays with your own leave days. This way, you can create longer stretches of time off without using up all your annual leave. C'est simple, no?

According to AVG Travel, Easter and Christmas are crucial for maximising your leave.

So, grab your calendar and a big, chunky red texta for crossing on the following dates, baby — 'cause you know who won't be at work? Me! I mean… you. Definitely you.

January 2026.

Kick off 2026 with an extended break by taking advantage of the Australia Day (January 26) public holiday. In 2026, this falls on a Monday.

Holiday hack:

Take four days of annual leave from Tuesday, January 27 to Friday, January 30. Combined with the weekend before and after, you'll score a luxurious nine-day break, for the low, low price of four annual leave days, to ease into the new year right.

Days off: Saturday, January 24 — Sunday, February 1 (nine days).

Annual leave used: Four days.

April 2026.

Easter is always a goldmine for seasoned holiday hackers, and 2026 is no exception. With Good Friday on April 3 and Easter Monday on April 6, you've got the makings of a truly epic getaway here.

Holiday hack:

Are you writing this down? Take five days of annual leave from Tuesday, April 7 to Friday, April 10. This clever move will give you another huge 10-day break, and only cost you five of your precious annual leave days.

Days off: Friday, April 3 — Sunday, April 12 (10 days).

Annual leave used: Five days.

June 2026.

The King's Birthday holiday falls on Monday, June 8 in most states and territories (sorry, Queensland and Western Australia — you'll need to sit this one out).

Holiday hack:

Take four days of annual leave from Tuesday, June 9 to Friday, June 12. Voila! You've turned a long weekend into a nine-day holiday.

Days off: Saturday, June 6 — Sunday, June 14 (nine days).

Annual leave used: Four days.

October 2026.

Another little treat for those in the ACT, NSW and SA, Labour Day falls on Monday, October 5 in 2026. And it's the perfect opportunity to make the most of the warmer spring weather (not to mention cure that nearly-the-end-of-the-year burnout).

Holiday hack:

Lock in four days of annual leave from Tuesday, October 6 to Friday, October 9. You'll end up with nine glorious days off, for the price of four.

Days off: Saturday, October 3 — Sunday, October 11 (nine days).

Annual leave used: Four days.

December 2026 — January 2027.

And just like that, it's the end of another year — and you know what you deserve? A darn good holiday.

If you can swing it, this is the perfect time of year to hack your annual leave days and maximise your time off by combining Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day public holidays for up to 10 days off. You've got the perfect setup for an extended break.

Holiday hack:

Take three days of annual leave from Tuesday, December 29 to Thursday, December 31. You've got your Christmas and Boxing Day public holidays, not to mention New Year's Day off.

This strategic move will give you a massive 10-day holiday spanning Christmas and New Year's. And it'll only cost you three days of leave. What. A. Gift.

Days off: Friday, December 25 — Sunday, January 3 (10 days).

Annual leave used: Three days.

And that's it. If you were to book in every single one of these holidays, you'd be looking at 27 days of annual leave, for 59 days off. And okay, I know not everybody has 27 days of leave per year in their back pocket, but it's still a heckin' good place to start the planning.

Tips for maximum holiday hacking.

1. Book early: Once you've planned your leave, submit your requests as soon as possible. Like I said, these hacks are brilliant, but they're not entirely secret, so don't sleep on them. Popular dates around public holidays tend to fill up fast.

2. Check your state: Remember that some public holidays vary by state or territory. Always double-check the dates for your location.

3. Consider your workplace: Some industries have busier periods around certain holidays. Be mindful of your work commitments when planning your leave.

4. Be flexible: If you can't get the exact dates you want, try shifting your leave by a day or two. You might still be able to create a sweet longer break, even if it's not the total package.

With a bit of planning and some strategic annual leave requests, you'll be lounging on the beach, sipping margaritas for exactly the amount of time you truly deserve, queen.

You're welcome.

Feature Image: c/o Warner Bros. Pictures.