- Only 1 in 5 (20%) UK holiday-goers plan their annual leave around bank holidays
- More than 4 in 5 (81%) have started to plan their holidays for 2026, with August being the most popular time people plan to go away
- With many 2026 holiday plans underway, Confused.com is urging holidaymakers to check their passport soon, as post-Brexit rules could put a stop to holidays before they even start
More than 1 in 5 (22%) UK holidaygoers plan their holidays at the start of the year to give them something to look forward to. But many aren’t taking advantage of the bank holiday leave hacks, which could double their time off work.
With the statutory annual leave allowance at 28 days in the UK, timing this perfectly could double workers’ time off. That’s according to Confused.com travel insurance, which identifies where Brits can maximise their annual leave and spend more time travelling or with their loved ones.
The first big opportunity will be over the Easter bank holiday, which for just 8 days of annual leave, could give people up to 16 days off work, thanks to the extra-long weekend.
May also offers two bank holiday weekends, for just 4 days of annual leave each, which could turn into a 9-day break.
Here’s a breakdown of the upcoming 2026 bank holidays and how much leave workers could take to get more time off:
| When to book: | Annual leave needed | Total time off |
|---|---|---|
|
Easter: 30th March - 10th April
|
8 days
|
16 days
|
|
Early May: 5th - 8th May
|
4 days
|
9 days
|
|
Late May: 26th May - 29th May
|
4 days
|
9 days
|
|
August bank holiday: 1st - 4th September
|
4 days
|
9 days
|
|
Christmas: 21st - 31st December
|
7 days
|
16 days
|
In total, Brits could bank 59 days for just 27 days of annual leave. And that’s just by taking the immediate days or weeks surrounding the bank holidays off. By adding a few extra days, especially at Christmas, Brits could extend their leave to even longer, offering them a peaceful break to unwind and switch off from the hustle and bustle of their day jobs.
However, further research by Confused.com travel insurance found that many UK holidaygoers aren’t taking advantage of these tricks, with just 1 in 5 (20%) claiming they plan their holidays around bank holidays. Typically, these dates fall on, or near, school holidays, which are known to bump up prices both for UK trips and abroad. In fact, more than 1 in 3 (34%) say they deliberately plan their holidays to avoid the school holidays. A third (33%) also plan their leave around birthdays, with other family events a deciding factor for 29% of travellers.
When it comes to planning holidays and annual leave, Brits are generally quite prepared. That’s more than 1 in 5 (21%) who will plan 6 months ahead, or longer. In comparison, more than a third (36%) generally plan between 2 and 5 months in advance, with more than 1 in 4 (27%) leaving it a month or less before they plan to travel.
But according to the research, more than 4 in 5 (81%) have already started thinking about their 2026 holiday plans. And it seems August (21%) is the most popular month people will be travelling this year. This is followed by June (17%) and September (17%), with only 17% planning a winter break in the months of January, November and December, collectively.
When it comes to planning, January appears to be the most popular time for people to start thinking about their holiday. And more than 1 in 5 (22%) say they generally book their holidays at the start of the year so they have something to look forward to.
However, post-Brexit rules mean that many people travelling this year could be at risk of holiday hiccups if their passport isn’t in date. Previous research by Confused.com found that 1 in 5 (21%) UK passport holders have had to get their passport renewed within a few weeks of travelling in the past, with a further 5% missing, cancelling or postponing their travel plans due to an expired passport.
Since 2018, EU countries require travellers to have at least 6 months left before their passport expires for them to travel. This means people may need to renew their passport well ahead of their expiry date to meet this requirement. As well as this, passports cannot be more than 10 years old for adults and 5 years for children from the issue date to be valid, which could be different from the expiry date.
While some may think they have time to order a replacement before they travel, the HM Passport Office advises travellers not to book their holiday until their new passport has arrived. This is because a new passport will have a different number from the old one. And forgetting to update this on a booking could cause disruptions later down the line.
While many countries require 6 months’ validity, this can vary for countries outside of the EU. To help travellers plan ahead and understand if they’re free to travel, Confused.com has created a passport expiry checker, which allows them to input their passport start and expiry dates, the country they’re travelling to, and when, to determine if it’s valid for travel.
Tom Vaughan, travel insurance expert at Confused.com, comments
“Annual leave offers us a break from work, a chance to unwind and get away if we choose. But in many workplaces, our allowance is limited. Which is why making the most of extra days of paid leave, like bank holidays, can offer us more time, at no expense to our annual leave.
“Planning ahead in January gives us something to look forward to for the rest of the year, and it seems this is a popular time for people to book their holidays. But it’s also important not to get ahead of yourself and book something if your passport won’t be valid for travel. Most places now require you to have at least 6 months left on your passport to travel. So technically, the expiry date isn’t quite the expiry date. We know historically many people have been caught out by this.
And so we’ve created a passport expiry checker, which allows you to input your passport validity dates, where you’re travelling and when to determine if you’re good to go! A simple check during the process of booking a holiday will save you hassle later down the line and ensure you’re giving yourself enough time to get a replacement ordered in time, if you need to!”
-ENDS-
Unless otherwise stated, research was carried out by One Poll on behalf of Confused.com of 2,000 UK adults with a passport between 16 and 18 December 2025
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