As January progresses, many individuals are looking forward to warmer temperatures and taking time off work. With the start of the new calendar year, some people can enjoy a fresh allocation of annual leave.
To maximize time off, those who have weekends and bank holidays off can anticipate several extended weekends in 2026, with a total of eight bank holidays in England and Wales this year.
The upcoming bank holiday falls on Friday, April 3, which is Good Friday. As Easter falls on Sunday, April 5, this year, Monday, April 6 (Easter Monday) is also a bank holiday. This setup allows for a four-day break for those not working on weekends or bank holidays.
By strategically booking specific dates off, individuals can turn this into a 14-day break by utilizing only eight days of leave. Booking off Monday and Tuesday, March 30 and 31, as well as Wednesday and Thursday, April 1 and 2, along with Tuesday to Friday, April 7-10, will create an extended vacation period.
Additional long weekends are expected in May, with bank holidays on the first Monday (May 4) and the last Monday (May 25), as well as in August, when the summer bank holiday falls on Monday, August 31.