Annual leave hacks 2026: turn public holidays into long breaks

After a long, draining year, many Australians are ready for a proper break and now's the perfect time to stretch your remaining annual leave into a longer holiday.

Most full-time workers get 20 days of annual leave. It's time to plan ahead and turn your 2026 leave into longer breaks.

Some states and territories get more public holidays than others - Victoria and Northern Territory, we're looking at you.

Here's how to hack your annual leave and make the most of your holidays.

Christmas and New Year's annual leave hack (2025-2026)

Public holidays: Christmas Day (Thursday, 25 December), Boxing Day (Friday, December 26), New Year's Day (Thursday, January 1)
Potential break: 16 days off (Saturday, December 20 - Sunday, January 4)
Annual leave needed: 7 days (December 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31 and January 2)

It's the most wonderful time of the year, especially if you know how to work the leave calendar.

With Christmas and Boxing Day landing on a Thursday and Friday, the week before is already short.

That means a guaranteed four-day break, no matter what.

New Year's Day also falls on a Thursday, so with just seven days of annual leave, you can stretch the break into 16 days off.

That's more than two weeks to rest, travel or catch up with family, and start the new year refreshed.

Australia Day Long Weekend 2026 annual leave hack

Public holiday: Monday, January 26
Potential break: 4 days off (Friday, January 23 - Monday, January 26)
Annual leave needed: 1 day (Friday, January 23)

Need a post-Christmas pick-me-up? Take Friday, January 23 off and turn the long weekend into a four-day escape.

Whether it's a coastal getaway or a lazy staycation, this one barely dents your leave balance.

Easter and ANZAC Day 2026 annual leave hack

Public holidays: Good Friday (April 3), Easter Monday (April 6), Anzac Day (Saturday, April 25 - observed Monday, April 27)
Potential break: 25 days off (Friday, 3 April - Monday, 27 April)
Annual leave needed: 14 days (April 7-10, 13-17, and 20-24)

April is the jackpot for leave maximisers.

With Easter and Anzac Day landing in the same month, you can turn a handful of leave days into nearly a month off. Perfect for an overseas trip, a long road adventure or simply unplugging after a busy first quarter.

If your workplace offers rostered days off or time-in-lieu, combine them here for a few extra days without touching your leave balance.

Christmas and New Year's annual leave hack (2026-2027)

Public holidays: Christmas Day (Friday, 25 December), Boxing Day (Monday, 28 December), New Year's Day (Friday, 1 January 2027)
Potential break: 16 days off (Saturday, 19 December - Sunday, 3 January)
Annual leave needed: 7 days (21-24, and 29-31 December)

End the year on a high note. With just sevendays of annual leave, you can unlock another 16-day break to wrap up 2026 and roll smoothly into the new year.

It's ideal for families, summer travellers, or anyone keen to escape the heat with one last beach trip before reality returns in January.

This one's unbeatable for stretching your leave; and if you lock it in early, you'll avoid the office leave lottery.

State-specific holidays  

NSW

• N/A 

ACT

• Monday, March 9 - Canberra Day 
• Monday, June 1 - Reconciliation Day 

NT 

• Monday, May 4 - May Day 
• Monday, August 3 - Picnic Day 
• Thursday, December 24 - Christmas Eve (from 7pm to midnight) 
• Thursday, December 31 - New Year's Eve (from 7pm to midnight) 

Queensland

• Monday, May 4 - Labour Day 
• Wednesday, August 12 - Ekka Day (Brisbane area only) 
• Thursday, December 24 - Christmas Eve (from 6pm to midnight) 

South Australia

• Monday, March 9 - Adelaide Cup Day 
• Thursday, December 24 - Christmas Eve (from 7pm to midnight) 
• Thursday, December 31 - New Year's Eve (from 7pm to midnight) 

Tasmania

• Wednesday, January 10 Devonport Cup (regional)
• Monday, February 12 - Royal Hobart Regatta (only observed in certain areas of the state) 
• Monday, March 11 - Eight Hours Day 
• Tuesday, April 2 - Easter Tuesday (generally Tasmanian Public Service only) 
• Monday, November 4 - Recreation Day (areas of the state that don't observe Royal Hobart Regatta) 

Victoria

• Monday, March 9 - Labour Day 
• Subject to AFL schedule (date TBC) - Friday before AFL Grand Final 
• Tuesday, November 3 - Melbourne Cup 

Western Australia

• Monday, March 2 - Labour Day 
• Monday, June 1 - WA Day
• Monday, September 28 - King's Birthday (some regional areas in WA hold the King's Birthday public holiday on a different date) 

Five common questions about leave answered 

1. Can employers force employees to take annual leave? 

In short, yes. There are a couple of situations in which an employer can compel a worker to take annual leave, according to the Fair Work Ombudsman, such as during a shutdown (e.g. over the Christmas break) or if someone has accumulated excess leave.

The latter will be determined by the particular award someone is on, but as one example, a plumber covered by the plumbing award could be told to take annual leave if they have eight weeks or more accrued.

2. Will you keep accruing annual leave while you're on annual leave? 

Yes. You could be sitting in a café in Florence using annual leave and still be (slowly) building up your annual leave balance while you're away. It also continues to accrue while you're on sick or carers leave, long service leave or even when you're on certain kinds of unpaid leave (such as jury duty).

3. Can you use sick leave for a mental health day? 

You can certainly take a day off (or more) for your mental health, but unless your employer offers dedicated mental health days, it will generally need to be taken as sick leave or personal leave.

4. Can sick leave be taken while on annual leave? 

It's not a situation anyone will want to find themselves in but imagine travelling overseas for a much-needed holiday only to be struck down with the flu.

Burning through your precious annual leave while you're cooped up in bed doesn't sound much fun, so the good news is that it's possible to use your sick leave instead of your annual leave in that situation.

5. Can you take leave without pay or leave at half pay? 

It is possible, but taking leave at half pay or without pay may come down to an employers' discretion or the award someone is on. For example, the Fair Work Ombudsman says that some awards do allow employees to take leave at half pay.

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