With a bit of forward planning, you can make your annual leave in 2026 go much further. By combining weekends and bank holidays, you can turn a handful of days off into extended breaks ideal for travel, family time or simply recharging. Whether you’re planning a spring getaway, a summer adventure or a cosy Christmas at home, these clever date combinations will help you make the most of your time off throughout the year.
Start 2026 with an early break. With New Year’s Day on Thursday 1 January, you can take Friday 2 January off (1 day of annual leave) and enjoy a 4-day break from Thursday 1 January to Sunday 4 January.
With St Brigid’s Day on Monday 2 February, you could take the preceding Friday (30 January) off and enjoy a 4-day weekend from Friday 30 January to Monday 2 February with just 1 day of annual leave.
St Patrick’s Day falls on Tuesday 17 March. If you take Monday 16 off (1 day) and also Wednesday through Friday (18–20 March) off (3 days), you’ll enjoy a 7-day break from Saturday 14 March to Sunday 22 March for 4 days of leave.
Moving into April, Easter Monday lands on Monday 6 April, meaning you can enjoy a 10-day holiday by using just four days of annual leave. Take Tuesday 7 to Friday 10 April off and enjoy an extended break from Saturday 4 April to Monday 13 April, the perfect time for a spring getaway.
In May, you can create another long stretch by using four days of leave. The May Bank Holiday falls on Monday 4 May, so if you take Tuesday 5 to Friday 8 May off, you’ll get a 9-day break from Saturday 2 May to Sunday 10 May, ideal for an early summer escape.
June offers the same opportunity. With the June Bank Holiday on Monday 1 June, book off Tuesday 2 to Friday 5 June and enjoy a 9-day break from Saturday 30 May to Sunday 7 June using just four days of annual leave.
The pattern continues in August, when the August Bank Holiday falls on Monday 3 August. By booking Tuesday 4 to Friday 7 August, you can take another 9-day break from Saturday 1 August to Sunday 9 August with only four days of leave.
October is another great time to plan a getaway before winter sets in. The October Bank Holiday is on Monday 26 October, so by taking Tuesday 27 to Friday 30 October off, you can enjoy a 9-day break from Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November, perfect for an autumn trip.
With Christmas Day on Friday 25 December 2026 and St Stephen’s Day on Saturday 26 December 2026 (which means a substitute day or equivalent benefit is likely) you can take Monday 21 to Thursday 24 off (4 days) and also Monday 28 to Wednesday 30 off (3 days) and enjoy a 12-day break from Saturday 19 December to Wednesday 30 December using just 7 days of annual leave.
A South America holiday can mean exploring Machu Picchu, watching giant tortoises in the Galápagos, walking beneath the peaks of Patagonia or combining Rio de Janeiro with Iguaçu Falls. The right trip depends on the experiences you want to come home talking about, whether that is Inca history in Peru, wildlife in the Galápagos Islands, glaciers and time outdoors in Patagonia, or the cities and natural landscapes of Brazil.
If you're wondering whether Legend of the Seas is a good cruise for families, the answer is yes. Royal Caribbean has designed its newest Icon Class ship around the way families holiday today, giving grandparents, parents, teenagers and younger children plenty to enjoy without everyone needing to do the same thing. From waterparks and kids' clubs to live entertainment, family dining and Caribbean ports, Legend of the Seas is one of the strongest choices for a multi-generational family cruise.
There is a version of travel where you visit the great places, take the photographs and move on. And there is version that opens up the richness of the world National Geographic Signature with G Adventures exists firmly in the second category. It is a collection of global expeditions built around the idea that the world reveals itself properly only to those who approach it with curiosity, the right guides and genuine access. For travellers who have already seen a lot and want something more, it represents a significant step forward in what a guided trip can be.
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