Work smarter, not harder — and certainly not more than you have to. You can majorly increase your time off in 2026 by strategically using your PTO around the United States’ 11 federal holidays.
Although everyone’s schedule is different, there will be several chances for long weekends if you work Monday through Friday. There are many opportunities for four-day weekends and even a few five-day breaks. Maximizing your time off is about knowing when to use your PTO, planning ahead, and asking in advance.
Here’s how to make the most of vacation days in the coming year and when to take off work each month to extend holiday time off using your PTO.
January
New Year’s Day will be on Thursday, January 1. If you take off work on Friday, January 2, you can start the year with a four-day weekend.
Monday, January 19, is Martin Luther King Day. You could also take off the Friday before (January 16) or the Tuesday after (January 20). That’ll score you another four-day weekend in the first month of the year.
February
This month is an idyllic opportunity to enjoy an amazing four-day weekend. Use PTO on Friday, February 13, the day before Valentine’s Day. Then, enjoy a romantic getaway or a self-care solo trip through Presidents’ Day on Monday, February 16, and head back to work on Tuesday, February 17.
March
Unfortunately, there are no federal holidays to finagle your PTO around for extra time off in March. Still, consider a happy hour or fun activity after work on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, which falls on a Tuesday this year.
April
There aren’t any federal holidays in April either. You’ll likely be working through the month unless your company considers April Fool’s Day, Tax Day, or Earth Day as holiday time-worthy.
Easter will be on Sunday, April 5.
May
If you take off Friday, May 22, you’ll secure another four-day weekend. Monday, May 25, is Memorial Day.
June
Juneteenth is on a Friday, and Father’s Day is the following Sunday, June 21. Use your PTO strategically — taking off either Thursday, June 18, or Monday, June 22, for another four-day weekend.
July
July 4th is on a Saturday this year, so check your employer’s holiday calendar to see if you’ve been given time off around the date. To guarantee a four-day weekend, you’ll need to take Friday, July 3, and Monday, July 6, off work.
August
Sorry — there are no federal holidays this month to plan around.
September
Use PTO on Friday, September 4, ahead of Labor Day on Monday, September 7. That’ll make your holiday weekend four days.
October
Monday, October 12, is Columbus Day. If you have that day off work, use PTO on Friday, October 9, for a four-day weekend. Regardless of if you have the holiday off, October 12 is also Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
November
Veterans Day is right in the middle of the week in 2026 — Wednesday, November 11. You would need to use two days of PTO before or after the holiday to secure a five-day break from work.
Thanksgiving vacation is at the end of the month as usual. Assuming you have Thursday, November 26, and Friday, November 27 off, you could add an extra day with PTO and have another five-day break. For that time off to be consecutive, you will need to pick either the Wednesday before Thanksgiving or the Monday following the holiday. Otherwise, you’ll have a four-day holiday weekend, which is still a win.
December
Christmas Day, December 25, is a Friday. Ask for off on Christmas Eve (December 24), and you’ll have a four-day weekend. You might work the following Monday (December 28), Tuesday (December 29), and Wednesday (December 30), but your employer might give you off on Thursday the 31st, which is New Year’s Eve. It’s also possible you might get Friday, January 1, New Year’s Day, off work, meaning you’ll possibly enjoy a four-day weekend rolling you into 2027.
