You might be simply getting again to work after the vacations (full with a hangover and/or fruitcake coma), but it surely’s by no means too early to begin planning for the 12 months forward.
For journey lovers, there by no means appear to be sufficient trip days within the 12 months. Fortunately, the U.S. has almost a dozen public holidays in 2026 — and when you time them proper, you possibly can flip 4 days of paid time without work into a visit of as much as 10 days.
Right here, I will break down this 12 months’s U.S. holidays and present you the best way to plan your 2026 travels to maximise your paid time without work.
What days are public holidays in 2026?
In case you’re based mostly within the U.S., listed below are the general public holidays it’s important to stay up for this 12 months. However remember that not all employers observe all of those, and a few present floating holidays (which can be utilized at any time) in trade for sure public holidays.
- New Yr’s Day: Thursday, Jan. 1
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Monday, Jan. 19
- Presidents Day: Monday, Feb. 16
- Memorial Day: Monday, Could 25
- Juneteenth: Friday, June 19
- Independence Day: Friday, July 3
- Labor Day: Monday, Sept. 7
- Indigenous Peoples Day (additionally noticed as Columbus Day): Monday, Oct. 12
- Veterans Day: Wednesday, Nov. 11
- Thanksgiving: Thursday, Nov. 26 (and a few employers grant Friday, Nov. 27 off as properly)
- Christmas: Friday, Dec. 25
With that in thoughts, this is the best way to strategically maximize your days off in 2026.
January
This 12 months, Martin Luther King Jr. Day falls on Monday, Jan. 19. By taking off Friday, Jan. 16, you possibly can acquire a four-day weekend whereas utilizing simply sooner or later of paid time without work — good for hitting the slopes.
Nonetheless, residing in Colorado, I can attest that touring to and from a ski resort on the Friday and Monday of MLK Day weekend is setting your self up for visitors jams and milelong elevate traces. Contemplate taking Tuesday, Jan. 20 off as a substitute of Friday to fill out your four-day weekend, as it will provide help to keep away from the crowds.
Associated: 5 detour locations price a cease after your subsequent ski journey
Reward your inbox with the TPG Day by day e-newsletter
Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
February
Take off Feb. 13, the Friday earlier than Presidents Day on Feb. 16, to get a four-day weekend — good for celebrating Valentine’s Day with somebody you like.
Or, take off Feb. 17 to twenty to plan a nine-day journey with solely 4 days of paid time without work. February is the proper time to beat the winter blues at certainly one of these surprising warm-weather locations.
Do not forget that the 2026 Winter Olympics might be held from Feb. 6 to 22 in Italy — and it isn’t too late to get tickets. You may leverage Presidents Day to plan a nine-day journey to catch some medal occasions, ski the Dolomites and/or eat your manner by way of Italy.
Could
To kick off summer season with a four-day weekend, take off Could 22, the Friday earlier than Memorial Day on Monday, Could 25. Simply do not forget that many different vacationers might be doing the identical, making Friday and Monday a number of the busiest days at airports all 12 months.
As a substitute, think about taking off the remainder of the week, Could 26 to 29 (solely 4 days of trip time), for 9 consecutive days away from work — plus cheaper flight choices and a calmer journey expertise. Or, you can forgo airports completely with certainly one of these epic highway journeys.
Associated: The very best locations to go to in Could
June
Since Juneteenth falls on a Friday this 12 months, you will robotically get a three-day weekend. Add a trip day on the Thursday earlier than (June 18) or the next Monday (June 22) to increase your weekend.
Dreaming of an extended journey, equivalent to a European “coolcation”? Plan your paid time without work for June 15 to 18 for a nine-day vacation.
And remember that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will happen from mid-June to mid-July at venues throughout North America, together with group-stage matches all through the weekend of Juneteenth and knockout-stage video games the weekend of July 4. See the total schedule right here.
Associated: Summer season journey guidelines: 12 issues to do now to make your journey nice
July
This 12 months, Independence Day might be celebrated on Friday, July 3, making it simple to plan an extended weekend getaway by taking off Monday, July 6. Or, request paid time without work from June 29 to July 2 to get 9 consecutive days off with simply 4 days of go away.
September
Labor Day lands on Sept. 7, and it is the proper time to squeeze in a single final household journey — in case your children’ faculty does not begin in August.
Take off the Friday earlier than (Sept. 4) for a four-day weekend — however, as traditional, airports might be packed on lately and ticket costs might be sky-high. You might be higher off extending your weekend to Thursday or Tuesday as a substitute.
In case you’re not constrained by a college schedule, take off the rest of the week (Sept. 8 to 11) to get 9 consecutive days of freedom whereas utilizing solely 4 of your valuable trip days.
Associated: Your information to flying with children of all ages
October
Monday, Oct. 12 is a public vacation for Indigenous Peoples Day. You may add on some paid time without work on the Friday earlier than (Oct. 9) for a four-day weekend, or e book an extended journey by taking off Tuesday to Friday (Oct. 13 to 16).
In case you’re a Halloween devotee like me, you are most likely bummed that the spookiest day of the 12 months does not get its personal vacation. (My petitions to Congress proceed to fall on deaf ears.) Nonetheless, some employers present versatile floating holidays in lieu of time without work on days equivalent to Presidents Day and Veterans Day. Since Halloween falls on a Saturday this 12 months, you can use a floating vacation or two for an extended weekend journey to a spooky vacation spot or theme park.
Associated: Is autumn the brand new August? How fall grew to become Europe’s new peak journey season
November
Veterans Day (Nov. 11) is on a Wednesday this 12 months, smack-dab in the midst of the week. Give your self a five-day weekend by utilizing trip time on Monday and Tuesday (Nov. 9 to 10) or Thursday and Friday (Nov. 12 to 13). Or, use 4 days of paid time without work to take the whole week off.
Then there’s Thanksgiving on Thursday, Nov. 27. Taking off Friday for a four-day weekend is a no brainer, however you can lengthen your journey to 9 days by utilizing paid time without work on Nov. 24, 25, 26 and 28.
Thanksgiving is a notoriously tense time to journey, and flight and lodge costs are likely to spike round this time. Contemplate reserving your journey with factors and miles to chop prices. Or, rating cheaper worldwide fares since there is not loads of demand for European journey throughout this month.
Associated: This is what Thanksgiving meals you possibly can herald your carry-on and what needs to be checked
December
With each Christmas and New Yr’s Day conveniently on Fridays this 12 months, you possibly can get pleasure from two consecutive lengthy weekends — or use simply 4 days of paid time without work from Dec. 28 to 31 for a 10-day break from work. Even Ebenezer Scrooge could not say no to that.
That is loads of snowboarding, sledding, sleigh rides or no matter wintry exercise tickles your fancy.
Associated: Unbelievable inns for a dreamy winter trip
Backside line
You will have a finite quantity of paid time without work annually, however that does not must restrict your travels. You possibly can keep longer and discover extra by strategically reserving your time without work round public holidays.
Nonetheless, flexibility is vital when redeeming factors and miles for journey, and it could be more durable to seek out nice award charges on common journey dates round holidays. Your greatest wager is to look early and sometimes utilizing instruments like Seats.aero and Rooms.aero and to leap on the very best offers once you spot them.
