As the new year settles in, thoughts across England and Wales are turning towards planning the year ahead, particularly when it comes to maximising precious time off work. For those whose annual leave allowance refreshes in January, 2026 presents a golden opportunity for strategic planning, thanks to the eight official bank holidays on the calendar.
Mapping Your 2026 Long Weekends
The next bank holiday break is not far off, with Friday, April 3 marked as Good Friday. As Easter Sunday falls on April 5, Monday, April 6 is also a bank holiday (Easter Monday). For workers who typically have weekends and bank holidays off, this creates an automatic four-day weekend from Friday to Monday.
Further long weekends are scheduled for May, with bank holidays on the first Monday (May 4) and the last Monday (May 25). The summer break arrives with the August bank holiday on Monday, August 31. The year concludes with the Christmas holidays, where Friday, December 25 is Christmas Day and Monday, December 28 serves as the substitute Boxing Day bank holiday.
The Ultimate Leave Strategy for a Fortnight's Break
The real magic for holiday planners lies in the spring. By being strategic with your booked annual leave around the Easter period, you can secure an extensive 14-day break from work while using only eight days of your leave allowance.
To achieve this, you would need to book off the days immediately before and after the Easter bank holiday weekend. This means requesting Monday, March 30 and Tuesday, March 31, followed by Wednesday, April 1 and Thursday, April 2. Combined with the Good Friday and Easter Monday bank holidays, this creates a ten-day stretch off.
Then, by also booking Tuesday, April 7 through to Friday, April 10, you link the following weekend, resulting in a total of 14 consecutive days away from the office.
Full List of 2026 Bank Holidays for England and Wales
- Thursday, January 1 - New Year's Day
- Friday, April 3 - Good Friday
- Monday, April 6 - Easter Monday
- Monday, May 4 - Early May bank holiday
- Monday, May 25 - Spring bank holiday
- Monday, August 31 - Summer bank holiday
- Friday, December 25 - Christmas Day
- Monday, December 28 - Boxing Day (substitute day)
With the dates now clearly outlined, employees can look forward to a year punctuated by welcome breaks. Early planning is key to securing those coveted leave dates and making the absolute most of the UK's bank holiday schedule to enjoy extended time for rest and relaxation.
