We’re at work but like many of you out there, we’re thinking about not working. We’re thinking about days off, we’re dreaming of holidays, and we’re even daydreaming of not doing a single productive thing. The couch is also calling our name and we’ve got books to read, series to binge and music to listen to.
Unfortunately, we do have to work. Fortunately, annual leave in Australia is a wicked four weeks for every 12 months worked. And, there is a way to make the absolute most of it without chucking a sickie and using up valuable medical leave.
It’s pretty simple, really, but you do have to plan a little ahead because it involves combining weekends and public holidays with your annual leave to create a stretch of days off that will make coworkers envious.
To Take Advantage Of Your 2026 Annual Leave…
To begin, Queensland has 12 public holidays in 2026.
They are:
- Thursday, January 1 — New Year’s Day
- Monday, January 26 — Australia Day
- Friday, April 3 — Good Friday
- Saturday, April 4 — The day after Good Friday
- Sunday, April 5 — Easter Sunday
- Monday, April 6 — Easter Monday
- Saturday, April 25 — Anzac Day
- Monday, May 4 — Labour Day
- Wednesday, August 12 — Royal Queensland Show/Ekka
- Monday, October 5 — King’s Birthday
- Thursday, December 24 — Christmas Eve (from 6pm to midnight)
- Friday, December 25 — Christmas Day
- Saturday, December 26 and Monday, December 28 — Boxing Day
January
Public holidays: New Year’s Day (Thursday, Jan 1) and Australia Day (Monday, Jan 26)
Leave: 5 days
Total time off: 13 days
Book January 2 for four days off (Thursday January 1 to Sunday January 4). Then, January 23 for a long weekend (Friday, January 23 to Monday, January 26), or January 27, 28, 29 and 30 for nine days off (Saturday, January 24 to Sunday, February 1).
April to May
Public holidays: Good Friday (Friday, Apr 3), day after Good Friday (Saturday, Apr 4), Easter Sunday (Sunday, Apr 5), Easter Monday (Monday, Apr 6), Anzac Day (Saturday, Apr 25) and Labour Day (Monday, May 4)
Leave: 5 days
Total time off: 10 days
Book April 27, 28, 29, 30 and May 1 for ten days off over Anzac and Labour Day (Saturday, April 25 to Monday, May 4).
August
Public holidays: Ekka (Wednesday, Aug 12)
Leave: 2 days
Total time off: 5 days
Book August 10 and 11 for five days off (Saturday, August 8 to Wednesday, August 12), or August 13 and 14 for five days off (Wednesday, August 12 to Sunday, August 16).
October
Public holidays: King’s Birthday (Monday, Oct 5)
Leave: 4 days
Total time off: 9 days
Book October 2 for a long weekend (Friday, October 2 to Monday, October 5), or October 6, 7, 8 and 9 for nine days off (Saturday, October 3 to Sunday, October 11).
December to January
Public holidays: Christmas Eve (half day on Thursday, Dec 24), Christmas Day (Friday, Dec 25), Boxing Day (Saturday, Dec 26) and Monday after Boxing Day (Monday, Dec 28)
Leave: 7 days
Total time off: 16 days
Book December 21, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30 and 31 for a whopping 16 days off over Christmas and New Year’s (Saturday, December 19 to Sunday, January 3, 2027).
Now, you just need to get those signed off by your boss and start planning what you’re going to do/where you’re going to go. You can find some inspiration on our Escapes page.