How To Maximise (Double) Your Annual Leave in 2026

By Elliot Nash - Guide

Published: 5 Jan 2026

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Table of contents

Table of contents

• Most Effective Way to Maximise Annual Leave in 2026
• State-by-State Breakdown to Maximise Annual Leave in 2026
  • NSW
  • VIC
  • QLD
  • SA
  • WA
  • TAS
  • ACT
  • NT
• Month-by-Month Breakdown to Maximise Annual Leave in 2026
• Your Rights When Requesting Annual Leave
• The Payoff

Readtime: 7 min

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We’re mere days into the new year, and we already feel like those summer holidays weren’t enough. If you’re reading this article, you likely share the same sentiment. It turns out that planning a holiday in 2026 isn’t just about finding cheap flights, but also about getting the best value for your time off. It’s about playing the public-holiday grid like a seasoned traveller. With a bit of forward thinking, we can stretch the standard 20 days of annual leave into more than 40 days off. That’s long enough to lock in that Euro trip, finally attempt that home reno you’ve been ignoring, or forget your work password.

Now, we know you’re excited about that thought, but there are a few things to clarify first, as some states observe different public holidays. There are clusters around the New Year, Australia Day, Easter, the King’s Birthday, but each state’s local Labour Day equivalent lands on a different day, so you’ll want to read on. Still, if you get it right and follow our instructions below, you can clock up to 53 days off before the regional one-day wonders kick in.

Below is a comprehensive state-by-state playbook for 2026, along with guidance on your rights when requesting annual leave and what to do if your boss attempts to interfere with your holiday plans.

Most Effective Way to Maximise Annual Leave in 2026

You can turn 20 days of leave into 41 days by following the popular method below.

We like this method because it sets you up for a nice second holiday after the initial return to work in January, provides a mid-year break in April, and then offers an extended holiday break in December.

This method is available to everyone living in Australia, and isn’t state-specific. You start by booking the 26th of January (Australia Day) weekend and turn four days of leave into nine. Then, book leave from the 30th of March to the 2nd of April, and then from the 7th to the 10th of April, to turn a cheeky eight days of leave into 16 days off. This period includes major Australian Public Holidays, such as Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday, as well as ANZAC Day, which falls on 25 April.

Finally, turn eight days of leave into 16 days off in December by booking leave from December 21st to 24th and then from December 28th to 31st.

State-by-State Breakdown to Maximise Annual Leave in 2026

The public holidays above apply to all Australian states and territories. However, it’s important to note that some states and territories have region-specific public holidays. This means that further leave can be maximised throughout the year.

We’ve included a state-by-state breakdown below to highlight the additional opportunities that your state may offer you.

NSW

VIC

QLD

SA

WA

TAS

ACT

NT

Month-by-Month Breakdown to Maximise Annual Leave in 2026

We’ve decided to do things very strategically here because seasons matter, and therefore, months matter. Simply plugging in a few days of annual leave randomly throughout the year doesn’t make a ton of sense if you want to go skiing in Japan and it’s 40 degrees and sunny.

Your Rights When Requesting Annual Leave

Australian workers covered by the Fair Work Act have one clear entitlement: you can request annual leave, and your employer can only refuse it on “reasonable business grounds.” Here’s what that looks like in the real world:

You accrue annual leave as a legal entitlement, and full-time workers receive four weeks of annual leave per year (five for some shift workers), while part-time employees accrue leave on a pro rata basis. Most casual employees don’t receive paid annual leave, but may instead receive a higher hourly loading.

Your employer can’t delete your leave, freeze it or punish you for asking to use it. Remember that next time you get that pit in your stomach before bringing up a holiday.

Note: Some workplaces can direct employees to take leave during shutdown periods, but rules vary by award or agreement.

Employers must consider your request fairly, but a refusal must be based on factors like whether it’s a : peak business period”, there’s not enough staff to cover your role, the request is being made on very short notice, or the cost or impact on operations. “Because we don’t feel like it” or “because I’m your boss” are not lawful reasons.

You can request leave up to a year in advance, and forward-dated requests for annual leave are less likely to be rejected because managers can plan around them. The earlier you lodge your dates, the stronger your position.

It’s worth noting, though, that this section provides general information only. Your award, enterprise agreement, or contract may outline additional rules, so be sure to double-check them before making any requests to increase your chances of success.

The Payoff

With a bit of preparation and a lot of public holiday magic, 2026 is shaping up to be a banner year for days off. Map your leave early, and if you play it right you can more than double your time off, turning 20 days of leave into 50-plus days away from work.