2026 looks like the perfect year to maximize vacation days with minimal vacation investment. With just 8 days of vacation you can get 30 days of rest spread throughout the year: you just need to know how to seize the opportunities offered by the calendar.
Start of the year: immediately a long break
We start with a bang: January 1st falls on a Thursday and Epiphany (January 6th) is on a Tuesday. By taking vacation on Friday January 2nd and Monday January 5th, you get a continuous break from January 1st through January 6th — six days of vacation using only two days of vacation.
Spring
During spring, two almost spontaneous opportunities emerge.
The double holiday of Easter and Easter Monday (Sunday 5 and Monday 6 April) already gives three days of rest without “spending”.
Then, Labor Day (May 1st) falls on a Friday, turning the weekend into a natural mini-bridge.
Early June: just one day for four
Another good opportunity presents itself with Republic Day which falls on Tuesday (June 2). By taking holiday only on Monday 1st June, you get a four-day holiday: from Saturday 30th May to Tuesday 2nd June.
December: the ending that makes the difference
December is the most generous month for “long weekends”.
The Immaculate Conception falls on Tuesday (December 8): taking vacation on Monday 7, comes a four-day long weekend from the 5th to the 8th.
The real big deal comes with the Christmas period: Christmas is Friday 25 December and by taking four consecutive days (28-31 December) you build a holiday of 10 days in a row, from 25 December to 3 January 2027.
The budget: 8 days for 30 days of vacation
Here is the final calculation:
Total: 8 days of vacation invested → 24 days “counted” + the other weekends = 30 days of vacation over the course of the year.
If you also add the day of the Patron Saint of your city, the calculation can go up even more.
Plan ahead
The tip is simple: don’t wait too long. With a little bit of cunning, 2026 truly becomes the perfect year to enjoy longer holidays without betraying your holiday pay.
You might be interested in:
