As the new year approaches, UK workers are being presented with a golden opportunity to dramatically extend their time away from the office. Experts have revealed a strategic method, known as 'holiday stacking', that could allow employees to enjoy a staggering 63 days off in 2026 while using only their standard 28-day annual leave allowance.
What is Holiday Stacking?
The clever tactic, highlighted by leading UK career platform targetJobs, involves strategically booking annual leave days around existing bank holidays and weekends. By 'bookending' public holidays with leave, workers can create extended breaks without dipping heavily into their holiday entitlement. This practice has sparked widespread discussion on social media, with many eager to optimise their work-life balance for the coming year.
While some express concern about how such strategic booking might be perceived by managers and colleagues, the consensus suggests it's a smart move, provided it doesn't prevent others from taking similar advantage. The key is planning early and communicating with your team.
The 2026 Bank Holiday Calendar
To make this strategy work, you need to know the fixed bank holidays for England and Wales in 2026:
- New Year's Day: Thursday, 1 January
- Good Friday: Friday, 3 April
- Easter Monday: Monday, 6 April
- Early May Bank Holiday: Monday, 4 May
- Spring Bank Holiday: Monday, 25 May
- Summer Bank Holiday: Monday, 31 August
- Christmas Day: Friday, 25 December
- Boxing Day (substitute day): Monday, 28 December
Your 2026 Maximisation Plan
Here is the exact blueprint, as suggested by targetJobs, to transform your 28 days of leave into 63 days of freedom:
January: Book off Friday, 2 January. Combined with New Year's Day and the weekend, this gives a four-day break for the cost of just one day's leave.
Easter Break: This is where you can secure a major holiday. Book Monday, 30 March to Thursday, 2 April, and then Tuesday, 7 April to Friday, 10 April. This uses 8 days of leave but rewards you with an incredible 16 consecutive days off, spanning Good Friday and Easter Monday.
Early May: Take Tuesday 5 May to Friday 8 May. With the bank holiday on Monday 4 May and adjacent weekends, you'll get a nine-day break for four days of annual leave.
Late May: Repeat the trick by booking Tuesday 26 May to Friday 29 May. This creates another nine-day stretch off work.
Summer: For the August bank holiday, book Tuesday 1 September to Friday 4 September. Paired with the holiday on Monday 31 August, you get a final nine-day summer break.
Christmas & New Year: To finish the year in style, request leave from Monday 21 December to Thursday 24 December, and again from Tuesday 29 December to Thursday 31 December. This seven-day investment yields a 16-day festive period off, encompassing Christmas and Boxing Day holidays.
Making It Work For You
This strategy underscores the value of forward planning for full-time employees. With most UK roles offering a statutory 28 days of leave, smart scheduling can effectively more than double your time away from workplace pressures. The success of 'holiday stacking' relies on understanding the calendar and making timely requests. So, as 2026 draws closer, now is the perfect moment to mark these dates in your diary and start the conversation with your employer to maximise your well-deserved rest and relaxation.
