Leave stacking in 2026
Leave stacking is the method where you strategically holiday to maximise your days off. Find out how to maximise your leave in 2026. On average, full-time workers in the UK get the statutory minimum holiday allowance which is 28 days holiday, equating to 5.6 weeks per annum including Bank holidays, though some employers offer more.Leave stacking is the method where you strategically book days off around weekends and the eight UK Bank Holidays which always fall on a Friday or Monday to turn a few days of leave into weeks of break. To maximise your leave, you need to plan and book them early.The total number of consecutive days will vary each year depending on how Bank Holidays fall.
Below, are the days which you should book off in 2026 to maximise your holiday entitlement.
Note, this works for those in Monday – Friday positions, or, traditional 9-5 roles.
• 2nd January
• 30th March – 2nd April AND 7th April – 10th April (uses 8 days of leave for 16 days off)
• 5th May – 8th May (uses 4 days annual leave for 9 days off)
• 26th May – 29th May (uses 4 days annual leave for 9 days off)
• 29th August – 6th September (uses 4 days of annual leave for 9 days off)
• 21st December – 31st December (uses 7 days leave for 16 consecutive day off)
You wont be the only person who will have figured this out so make sure you get in nice and early to (almost) double your annual leave entitlement.