How to get up to 53 days off work in 2026 using just 23 days of annual leave

If you want more time off in 2026 without using more holiday, this is one of the simplest ways to do it.

By booking your annual leave around UK bank holidays, some full-time workers can turn 23 days of leave into as many as 53 days off across the year.

This is not a loophole, and it is not doing anything sneaky. You are just using weekends and bank holidays more carefully.

Who this works for

This guide assumes:

• You work Monday to Friday
• You get UK bank holidays off
• You can choose when to take most of your leave

Most full-time workers are legally entitled to at least 28 days of paid holiday a year. Bank holidays may be included in that, or added on top, depending on your contract.

Always check your contract or with HR before booking.

Easter 2026: use 4 days, get 10 days off

Easter in 2026 gives a great early win.

Bank holidays:

• Good Friday: Friday 3 April
• Easter Monday: Monday 6 April

What you use:

• 4 days of annual leave

What you get:

• 10 days off in a row

Book these days off:

• Monday 30 March
• Tuesday 31 March
• Wednesday 1 April
• Thursday 2 April

Your time off runs from Saturday 28 March to Sunday 6 April.

May 2026: the biggest payoff of the year

May is where most people get the most value.

There are two bank holidays in May 2026:

• Monday 4 May
• Monday 25 May

Used separately, each one can give you a nine-day break.

Early May break

What you use:

• 4 days of annual leave

What you get:

• 9 days off

Book:

• Tuesday 5 May
• Wednesday 6 May
• Thursday 7 May
• Friday 8 May

You are off from Saturday 2 May to Sunday 10 May.

Late May break

What you use:

• 4 days of annual leave

What you get:

• Another 9 days off

Book:

• Tuesday 26 May
• Wednesday 27 May
• Thursday 28 May
• Friday 29 May

You are off from Saturday 23 May to Sunday 31 May.

Across May:

• 8 days of leave
• 18 days off

Late summer 2026: use 4 days, get 9 days off

The Summer Bank Holiday falls on:

• Monday 31 August

What you use:

• 4 days of annual leave

What you get:

• 9 days off

Book:

• Tuesday 1 September
• Wednesday 2 September
• Thursday 3 September
• Friday 4 September

You are off from Saturday 29 August to Sunday 6 September.

Christmas 2026: use 7 days, get 16 days off

Christmas lines up well in 2026.

Bank holidays:

• Christmas Day: Friday 25 December
• Substitute bank holiday: Monday 28 December
• New Year’s Day: Friday 1 January 2027

What you use:

• 7 days of annual leave

What you get:

• 16 days off

Book:

• Monday 21 December
• Tuesday 22 December
• Wednesday 23 December
• Thursday 24 December
• Tuesday 29 December
• Wednesday 30 December
• Thursday 31 December

Your time off runs from Saturday 19 December to Sunday 3 January.

How it adds up in 2026

Across the year, you use:

• 4 days at Easter
• 8 days in May
• 4 days in late summer
• 7 days at Christmas

That is:

• 23 days of annual leave
• Up to 53 days off work

A few important checks before booking

Before you submit leave requests:

• Check whether bank holidays are included in your allowance
• Check for blackout periods at work
• Book early if dates are popular

The dates are right for 2026, but workplace rules always come first.

Why this matters for real life

This is not about fancy holidays or spending more money. For a lot of families, extra days off simply make life easier.

Having a longer break can mean fewer childcare headaches, less juggling during busy weeks, and more breathing space when work and home life start to pile up. Even staying at home, those extra days can help you reset, catch up, or just slow things down a bit.

It is about making the year feel less rushed by using the holiday you already earn in the best way possible.