The best days to take annual leave in 2025-2026 DISCOVER MORE: travel advice global We’re halfway through 2025 — if you’re anything like us, you’re probably already dreaming up your next adventure. Let’s face it: no matter how much you love your job, it’s essential to break up those long stretches on the 9–5 treadmill with a well-deserved holiday or two. But holidays never feel quite long enough, do they? You’re back at your desk wondering if it all really happened. What if we told you there’s still time to DOUBLE your annual leave for the rest of 2025 — and start 2026 with even more clever escapes? Sounds too good to be true? It’s not! With a bit of smart planning, you can stretch your remaining days off by making the most of bank holidays and weekends. The result? More adventures, more city breaks, and way more time to recharge. Follow our guide below to see how to turn your remaining annual leave into epic getaways for late 2025 and all of 2026. Work smarter, travel more — that’s the holiday hack you deserve! JUNE 2025 9 Day Holiday: 24th May – 1st June. 4 days of annual leave / 5 days extra including Spring Bank Holiday (26th May) and two weekends. Kick off summer early! Soak up the sun and canals in Amsterdam or head to the beaches of Miami. AUGUST 2025 9 Day Holiday: 23rd August – 31st August. 4 days of annual leave / 5 days extra including Summer Bank Holiday (25th August) and two weekends. Make the most of the last days of summer. Enjoy golden evenings in Lisbon or romantic walks in Paris. OCTOBER 2025 4 Day Autumn Escape: Use 1–2 days of annual leave to create a long Halloween weekend. How about a spooky stay in Berlin or a cosy pub crawl in Dublin? DECEMBER 2025 / JANUARY 2026 12 Day Holiday: 24th December – 4th January. 5 days of annual leave / 7 days extra including Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and two weekends. Wrap up warm for Christmas markets, twinkling lights and Nordic cosiness in Stockholm or Copenhagen. APRIL 2026 10 Day Holiday: 3rd April – 12th April. 4 days of annual leave / 6 days extra including Good Friday (3rd April), Easter Monday (6th April) and two weekends. Soak up the spring sunshine in Madrid or Barcelona. MAY 2026 17 Day Holiday: 2nd May – 18th May. 9 days of annual leave / 8 days extra including Early May Bank Holiday (4th May), Spring Bank Holiday (25th May) and three weekends. Start the summer right — beach days in Miami or canal adventures in Amsterdam. AUGUST 2026 9 Day Holiday: 22nd August – 30th August. 4 days of annual leave / 5 days extra including Summer Bank Holiday (31st August) and two weekends. Savour every drop of late summer in Rome or Venice. DECEMBER 2026 / JANUARY 2027 10 Day Holiday: 24th December – 2nd January. 4 days of annual leave / 6 days extra including Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and two weekends. Round off the year with a festive trip. New Year’s Eve in Dublin means guaranteed good craic! ✨ Tip: Smart holiday planning = more adventures for less annual leave. Combine bank holidays with weekends and enjoy more getaways in 2025 and 2026! CHECK AVAILABILITY