Maximize Your Vacation: How a Clever Annual Leave Strategy Can Turn 20 Days into 53

Strategically planning vacations can allow Australians to extend their standard 20-day annual leave into over 50 days of relaxation in 2026.

By tactically selecting days around key holidays such as Christmas, New Year’s, Australia Day, Easter, the King’s Birthday, and Labour Day (or the equivalent holiday for their state or territory), employees who normally work Monday through Friday can enjoy up to 53 days off.

This impressive figure doesn’t even include additional regional public holidays.

Below is a comprehensive list of public holidays for 2026, along with advice on how to maximize your annual leave next year.

Australia’s public holidays by state and territory for 2026

Public holidays during this month include:

Public holidays for the month fall on: 

Book four days of leave from February 10 to 13 for nine days off between Saturday, February 7 and Sunday February 15 (parts of Tasmania only).

Public holidays for the month fall on: 

Book four days of leave from March 3 to 6 for nine days off between Saturday, February 28 and Sunday, February 8 (WA only).

Book four days of leave from March 10 to 13 for nine days off between Saturday, March 8 and Sunday, March 15 (ACT, SA, Tasmania and Victoria only).

Public holidays for the month fall on: 

Book four days of leave from November 3 to 6 for nine days off between Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 8 (parts of Tasmania only).

Book four days of leave on November 2 and November 4 to 6 for nine days off between Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 8 (Victoria only).

Public holidays for the month fall on: 

Book eight days off from December 21 to 24 and December 28 to 31 for 16 days off between Saturday, December 19 and Sunday, January 3, 2026 (all states and territories).

Public holidays for the month fall on: