You may have just returned to work after the holidays (hangover and/or fruitcake coma), but it’s never too early to start planning for the year ahead.
For travel enthusiasts, there never seem to be enough vacations in the year. Thankfully, the United States has nearly a dozen public holidays in 2026, and if you time them right, you can turn four days of paid time off into up to 10 days of travel.
Here, I’ll break down this year’s U.S. holidays and show you how to plan your trip in 2026 to maximize your paid time off.
What are the public holidays in 2026?
If you live in the United States, here are the public holidays you have to look forward to this year. But keep in mind that not all employers adhere to all these regulations, and some offer floating holidays (which can be used at any time) in exchange for certain public holidays.
- New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1
- Martin Luther King Day: Monday, January 19
- Presidents Day: Monday, February 16
- Memorial Day: Monday, May 25
- Juneteenth: Friday, June 19
- Independence Day: Friday, July 3
- Labor Day: Monday, September 7
- Aboriginal Day (also known as Columbus Day): Monday, October 12
- Veterans Day: Wednesday, November 11
- Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, November 26 (some employers also offer Friday, November 27 off)
- Christmas Day: Friday 25th December
With that in mind, here’s how to strategically maximize your vacation time in 2026.
January
This year Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Monday, January 19th. Departing on Friday, January 16th, you get a four-day weekend while only using one day of paid time off – perfect for skiing.
However, living in Colorado, I can attest that traveling to and from a ski resort on the Friday and Monday of Martin Luther King Day weekend exposes yourself to traffic jams and mile-long lift lines. Consider filling your four-day weekend by taking Tuesday, January 20, instead of Friday, as this will help you avoid the crowds.
Related: 5 Detour Destinations Worth Stopping After Your Next Ski Trip
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February
Head out on February 13 (the Friday before Presidents Day, February 16) for a four-day weekend — perfect for celebrating Valentine’s Day with your loved ones.
Or, depart February 17-20 for a nine-day trip with only four paid days off. February is the perfect time to banish the winter blues at one of these unexpected warm-weather destinations.
Don’t forget, the 2026 Winter Olympics will be held in Italy from February 6 to 22, so it’s not too late to buy your tickets now. You can use Presidents’ Day to plan a 9-day trip to see some medal events, ski in the Dolomites, and/or sample delicious food in Italy.
possible
To kick off summer with a four-day weekend, take off on May 22, the Friday before Memorial Day on Monday, May 25. Keep in mind that many other travelers will do the same, making Friday and Monday the airport’s busiest days of the year.
Instead, consider taking nine straight days off work for the rest of the week (May 26-29) (with only four days off), plus cheaper flight options and a calmer travel experience. Or, you can ditch the airport altogether and take one of these epic road trips.
RELATED: Best Places to Travel in May
June
Since Juneteenth falls on a Friday this year, you automatically get a three-day weekend. Add a holiday on the previous Thursday (June 18) or the following Monday (June 22) to extend the weekend.
Dreaming of a longer trip, like a European “cool getaway”? A nine-day paid vacation is planned for June 15-18.
Keep in mind that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held at venues across North America from mid-June to mid-July, with group matches on the June 1st weekend and knockout stage matches on the July 4th weekend. See the full schedule here.
RELATED: Summer Travel Checklist: 12 Things to Do Now to Make Your Trip Better
July
This year, Independence Day will be celebrated on Friday, July 3rd, so you can easily plan your long weekend getaway by taking off on Monday, July 6th. Alternatively, apply for paid leave from June 29 to July 2 and receive nine consecutive days of leave for just four days.
September
September 7th is Labor Day, so if your child’s school isn’t in session in August, now is the perfect time to squeeze in one last family trip.
Flying out the Friday before last (September 4) for a four-day weekend – but, as usual, the airports will be crowded on these days and airfares will be high. You’d be better off extending the weekend to Thursday or Tuesday.
If you’re not bound by a school schedule, take the rest of the week (September 8-11) to get nine consecutive days of freedom while only using up four precious days off.
RELATED: A guide to flying with kids of all ages
October
Monday 12 October is the Aboriginal People’s Day public holiday. You can add some paid time off on the Friday before (October 9) for a four-day weekend, or book a longer trip by flying out Tuesday through Friday (October 13-16).
If you’re a Halloween lover like me, you’re probably bummed that the spookiest day of the year doesn’t have its own holiday. (My petitions to Congress continue to fall on deaf ears.) However, some employers offer flexible floating days off in lieu of days off such as Presidents’ Day and Veterans Day. Since Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, you can use a floating holiday or two to go to a spooky destination or theme park for a long weekend.
Related: Is fall the new August? How Autumn Became Europe’s New Travel Season
November
This year Veterans Day (November 11) falls on a Wednesday, exactly in the middle of the week. Take advantage of Monday and Tuesday (November 9-10) or Thursday and Friday (November 12-13) to give yourself a five-day weekend. Or, take advantage of a break week with four days of paid time off.
Then comes Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 27th. Taking Friday off for a four-day weekend is a no-brainer, but you can extend your trip to nine days with paid time off on November 24, 25, 26 and 28.
Thanksgiving is a notoriously stressful time for travel, and flight and hotel prices tend to spike around this time. Consider using points and miles to book your trip to reduce costs. Alternatively, buy cheaper international tickets as there won’t be much demand for travel to Europe this month.
RELATED: Here’s what you can bring with you for Thanksgiving and what you must check out
December
This year Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on a Friday, so you can conveniently take advantage of two consecutive long weekends, or just take advantage of the four paid days off from December 28 to 31 for a 10-day break. Not even Ebenezer Scrooge could resist this.
There’s plenty of skiing, sledding, sledding, or any other winter activity you fancy.
RELATED: Incredible Hotels for a Fantastic Winter Vacation
bottom line
Your annual paid time off may be limited, but this doesn’t have to limit your travel. By strategically booking your breaks around public holidays, you can stay longer and explore more.
However, flexibility is key when redeeming points and miles for travel, and finding good award rates on popular travel dates around the holidays can be more difficult. Your best bet is to search early and often using tools like Seats.aero and Rooms.aero and buy as soon as you find the best deals.
