How to Turn 12 Vacation Days Into 45 in 2026
Want to make the most of your paid time off in 2026? With a little planning, you can stretch just 12 vacation days into 45 full days off, thanks to the way federal holidays fall in 2026. By combining your vacation time with federal holidays and weekends, you can maximize your time off and travel for over six weeks. Here’s how to do it.
-
2026 Federal Holidays
-
January
-
February
-
May
-
June
-
July
-
September
-
October
-
November
-
December
Save this calendar of federal holidays, which most workers should get off. These holidays don’t count towards your vacation time.
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| Thursday, January 1 | New Year’s Day |
| Monday, January 19 | MLK Day |
| Monday, February 16 | Presidents’ Day |
| Monday, May 25 | Memorial Day |
| Friday, June 19 | Juneteenth |
| Friday, July 3 | Independence Day |
| Monday, September 7 | Labor Day |
| Monday, October 12 | Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day |
| Wednesday, November 11 | Veterans Day |
| Thursday, November 26 | Thanksgiving Day |
| Friday, December 25 | Christmas Day |
New Year’s Day
New Year’s Day falls on a Thursday in 2026. Take Friday, January 2 off, and you’ll start the year with a four-day weekend.
PTO Days Used: 1
Total Days Off: 4
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
MLK Day is on Monday, January 19. Take off the Friday before the holiday to make it an even longer four-day weekend.
PTO Days Used: 1
Total Days Off: 4
Presidents’ Day
Presidents’ Day falls on Monday, February 16. Use Friday, February 13 as PTO for a four-day weekend.
PTO Days Used: 1
Total Days Off: 4
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is on Monday, May 25. Take Friday, May 22 off, and you’ll launch summer with a four-day weekend.
PTO Days Used: 1
Total Days Off: 4
Juneteenth
Juneteenth falls on Friday, June 19. Take Monday, June 22 off, and you’ll get a four-day summer break.
PTO Days Used: 1
Total Days Off: 4
Independence Day
Independence Day will be observed on Friday, July 3. Add Monday, July 6 as PTO, and you’ll have a four-day weekend to enjoy in the middle of the summer.
PTO Days Used: 1
Total Days Off: 4
Labor Day
Labor Day lands on Monday, September 7. Use Friday, September 4 as PTO, and you’ll stretch it into a four-day late-summer weekend.
PTO Days Used: 1
Total Days Off: 4
Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day
This holiday falls on Monday, October 12. Take Friday, October 9 off, and you’ll carve out a four-day fall weekend.
PTO Days Used: 1
Total Days Off: 4
Veterans Day
Veterans Day is on Wednesday, November 11. Take Monday and Tuesday (Nov 9–10) or Thursday and Friday (November 12-13) as PTO, and you’ll create a five-day vacation for the price of two PTO days.
PTO Days Used: 2
Total Days Off: 5
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is on Thursday, November 26. Take Friday, November 27 off, and you’ll get a four-day holiday weekend.
PTO Days Used: 1
Total Days Off: 4
Christmas
Christmas Day falls on Friday, December 25. Use Monday, December 28 as PTO, and you’ll end the year with a four-day weekend.
PTO Days Used: 1
Total Days Off: 4