You may be just getting back to work after the holidays (complete with a 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 vacation days in the year. Thankfully, the U.S. has nearly a dozen public holidays in 2026 — and if you time them right, you can turn four days of paid time off into a trip of up to 10 days.
Here, I'll break down this year's U.S. holidays and show you how to plan your 2026 travels to maximize your paid time off.
What days are public holidays in 2026?
If you're based in the U.S., here are the public holidays you have to look forward to this year. But keep in mind that not all employers observe all of these, and some provide floating holidays (which can be used at any time) in exchange for certain public holidays.
- New Year’s Day: Thursday, Jan. 1
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Monday, Jan. 19
- Presidents Day: Monday, Feb. 16
- Memorial Day: Monday, May 25
- Juneteenth: Friday, June 19
- Independence Day: Friday, July 3
- Labor Day: Monday, Sept. 7
- Indigenous Peoples Day (also observed as Columbus Day): Monday, Oct. 12
- Veterans Day: Wednesday, Nov. 11
- Thanksgiving: Thursday, Nov. 26 (and some employers grant Friday, Nov. 27 off as well)
- Christmas: Friday, Dec. 25
With that in mind, here's how to strategically maximize your days off in 2026.
January
This year, Martin Luther King Jr. Day falls on Monday, Jan. 19. By taking off Friday, Jan. 16, you can gain a four-day weekend while using just one day of paid time off — perfect for hitting the slopes.
However, living in Colorado, I can attest that traveling to and from a ski resort on the Friday and Monday of MLK Day weekend is setting yourself up for traffic jams and milelong lift lines. Consider taking Tuesday, Jan. 20 off instead of Friday to fill out your four-day weekend, as this will help you avoid the crowds.
Related: 5 detour destinations worth a stop after your next ski trip
February
Take off Feb. 13, the Friday before Presidents Day on Feb. 16, to get a four-day weekend — perfect for celebrating Valentine's Day with someone you love.
Or, take off Feb. 17 to 20 to plan a nine-day trip with only four days of paid time off. February is the perfect time to beat the winter blues at one of these unexpected warm-weather destinations.
Don't forget that the 2026 Winter Olympics will be held from Feb. 6 to 22 in Italy — and it's not too late to get tickets. You could leverage Presidents Day to plan a nine-day trip to catch some medal events, ski the Dolomites and/or eat your way through Italy.
May
To kick off summer with a four-day weekend, take off May 22, the Friday before Memorial Day on Monday, May 25. Just remember that many other travelers will be doing the same, making Friday and Monday some of the busiest days at airports all year.
Instead, consider taking off the rest of the week, May 26 to 29 (only four days of vacation time), for nine consecutive days away from work — plus cheaper flight options and a calmer travel experience. Or, you could forgo airports entirely with one of these epic road trips.
Related: The best places to visit in May
June
Since Juneteenth falls on a Friday this year, you'll automatically get a three-day weekend. Add a vacation day on the Thursday before (June 18) or the following Monday (June 22) to extend your weekend.
Dreaming of a longer trip, such as a European "coolcation"? Plan your paid time off for June 15 to 18 for a nine-day holiday.
And keep in mind that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place from mid-June to mid-July at venues across North America, including group-stage matches throughout the weekend of Juneteenth and knockout-stage games the weekend of July 4. See the full schedule here.
Related: Summer travel checklist: 12 things to do now to make your trip great
July
This year, Independence Day will be celebrated on Friday, July 3, making it easy to plan a long weekend getaway by taking off Monday, July 6. Or, request paid time off from June 29 to July 2 to get nine consecutive days off with just four days of leave.
September
Labor Day lands on Sept. 7, and it's the perfect time to squeeze in one last family trip — if your kids' school doesn't start in August.
Take off the Friday before (Sept. 4) for a four-day weekend — but, as usual, airports will be packed on these days and ticket prices will be sky-high. You may be better off extending your weekend to Thursday or Tuesday instead.
If you're not constrained by a school schedule, take off the remainder of the week (Sept. 8 to 11) to get nine consecutive days of freedom while using only four of your precious vacation days.
Related: Your guide to flying with kids of every age
October
Monday, Oct. 12 is a public holiday for Indigenous Peoples Day. You could add on some paid time off on the Friday before (Oct. 9) for a four-day weekend, or book a longer trip by taking off Tuesday to Friday (Oct. 13 to 16).
If you're a Halloween devotee like me, you're probably bummed that the spookiest day of the year doesn't get its own holiday. (My petitions to Congress continue to fall on deaf ears.) However, some employers provide flexible floating holidays in lieu of time off on days such as Presidents Day and Veterans Day. Since Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, you could use a floating holiday or two for a long weekend trip to a spooky destination or theme park.
Related: Is autumn the new August? How fall became Europe's new peak travel season
November
Veterans Day (Nov. 11) is on a Wednesday this year, smack-dab in the middle of the week. Give yourself a five-day weekend by using vacation time on Monday and Tuesday (Nov. 9 to 10) or Thursday and Friday (Nov. 12 to 13). Or, use four days of paid time off to take the entire week off.
Then there's Thanksgiving on Thursday, Nov. 27. Taking off Friday for a four-day weekend is a no-brainer, but you could extend your trip to nine days by using paid time off on Nov. 24, 25, 26 and 28.
Thanksgiving is a notoriously stressful time to travel, and flight and hotel prices tend to spike around this time. Consider booking your trip with points and miles to cut costs. Or, score cheaper international fares since there isn't a lot of demand for European travel during this month.
Related: Here's what Thanksgiving foods you can bring in your carry-on and what has to be checked
December
With both Christmas and New Year's Day conveniently on Fridays this year, you can enjoy two consecutive long weekends — or use just four days of paid time off from Dec. 28 to 31 for a 10-day break from work. Even Ebenezer Scrooge couldn't say no to that.
That's a lot of skiing, sledding, sleigh rides or whatever wintry activity tickles your fancy.
Related: Incredible hotels for a dreamy winter vacation
Bottom line
You may have a finite amount of paid time off each year, but that doesn't have to limit your travels. You can stay longer and explore more by strategically booking your time off around public holidays.
However, flexibility is key when redeeming points and miles for travel, and it may be harder to find great award rates on popular travel dates around holidays. Your best bet is to search early and often using tools like Seats.aero and Rooms.aero and to jump on the best deals when you spot them.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
