Plan your holidays around world-class events

One of the smartest ways to maximise your annual leave is to align your holidays with UK public holidays and world-class events. This guide shows you popular festivals, celebrations, and cultural events that coincide with or fall near UK bank holidays in 2026, helping you plan extended trips to attend them while using minimal annual leave days.

New Year's Day (1 January 2026) - Thursday

Take 2 days (2-3 January) for a 5-day break, or 4 days (2-5 January) for a 9-day break.

New Year's Eve Celebrations: Extend your New Year break to attend celebrations in Edinburgh (Hogmanay), London, New York (Times Square), Sydney (Harbour Bridge fireworks), or Tokyo
New Year's Day Parade, London: Watch the spectacular parade through central London
Winter Sales: Perfect timing for shopping trips to New York, Paris, or Milan
Northern Lights, Iceland/Norway: Peak season for aurora viewing - take 4 days for a 9-day Arctic adventure

Easter Period (3-6 April 2026) - Good Friday to Easter Monday

Four-day weekend. Take 4 days (7-10 April) for an 11-day break, or 7 days (7-15 April) for a 15-day break.

Cherry Blossom Festival, Japan: Peak hanami season in Tokyo and Kyoto (late March to mid-April) - perfect timing for a 11-15 day trip
Songkran, Thailand (13-15 April): Thai New Year water festival - one of the world's largest water fights. Extend your Easter break to arrive just after the bank holiday
Coachella, USA (10-12 & 17-19 April): One of the world's premier music festivals. Take 7 days for a 15-day break covering both weekends
Feria de Abril, Spain (19-26 April): Seville's spring fair with flamenco and traditional celebrations - extend Easter break by 4 days
King's Day, Netherlands (27 April): Amsterdam's orange-themed street party - perfect for a long weekend
Easter Processions, Spain/Italy: Semana Santa celebrations in Seville, Malaga, and Rome

Early May Bank Holiday (4 May 2026) - Monday

Take 4 days (5-8 May) for a 9-day break.

Cannes Film Festival, France (13-24 May): World's most prestigious film festival. Take 4 days after the bank holiday, then 4 more days to cover the festival
Festa della Sensa, Venice (8 May): Traditional Venetian celebration of the sea - perfect for a 9-day Italian break
Spring Festivals, Europe: Many European cities celebrate spring - Amsterdam, Paris, and Berlin are beautiful in May
Cinco de Mayo, Mexico (5 May): Combine with the bank holiday for a 9-day Mexican adventure
Garden Shows, UK: Chelsea Flower Show (late May) - use this as a warm-up for planning

Spring Bank Holiday (25 May 2026) - Monday

Take 4 days (26-29 May) for a 9-day break, or combine with Early May for an extended break.

Cannes Film Festival, France (13-24 May): Still ongoing - perfect timing for the final days
Monaco Grand Prix (22-25 May): Formula 1 race weekend - extend your break to include this
Memorial Day Weekend, USA (23-26 May): Great time to visit New York, California, or national parks
Spring Bank Holiday Weekend, UK: Many UK festivals and events - Glastonbury preparation season
European City Breaks: Perfect weather for Prague, Vienna, or Budapest

Summer Bank Holiday (31 August 2026) - Monday

Take 4 days (1-4 September) for a 9-day break, extending summer.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe, UK (7-31 August): World's largest arts festival - use the bank holiday to extend your stay
Notting Hill Carnival, UK (30-31 August): Europe's largest street festival - perfect timing with the bank holiday
Venice Film Festival (27 August - 6 September): Prestigious film festival - extend your summer break
Labor Day Weekend, USA (5-7 September): Great time for end-of-summer trips to New York, San Francisco, or national parks
Burning Man, USA (30 August - 7 September): Iconic desert festival - requires planning but perfect timing
European Beach Destinations: Still warm in Mediterranean - perfect for Greece, Croatia, or Spain

Christmas & New Year Period (25 December 2026 - 1 January 2027)

Christmas Day (Friday), Boxing Day substitute (Monday 28 December). Take 2 days (29-30 December) for a 5-day break, or 4 days (29 December - 1 January) for a 9-day break.

New Year's Eve Celebrations: Iconic celebrations in Edinburgh (Hogmanay), London, New York, Sydney, Tokyo, or Dubai
Christmas Markets, Europe: Extend into early January to visit markets in Germany, Austria, or Czech Republic
Winter Sports: Perfect timing for skiing in the Alps, Pyrenees, or North America
New Year's Day Parade, London: Spectacular parade through central London
Northern Lights, Iceland/Norway: Peak season for aurora viewing - magical winter experience
Winter Sun Destinations: Escape to the Canary Islands, Caribbean, or Southeast Asia
Epiphany Celebrations, Spain/Italy (6 January): Extend your break to experience Three Kings Day

Scotland-specific: St Andrew's Day (30 November 2026) - Monday

Take 4 days (1-4 December) for a 9-day break.

St Andrew's Day Celebrations, Scotland: Traditional Scottish celebrations across the country
Christmas Markets, Europe: Early December is perfect for visiting markets in Germany, Austria, and France
Advent Season, Europe: Beautiful Christmas preparations in cities like Vienna, Prague, and Budapest
Winter City Breaks: Great time for European capitals before peak Christmas travel

Northern Ireland-specific: St Patrick's Day (17 March 2026) - Tuesday

Take 3 days (18-20 March) for a 5-day break, or combine with the following weekend for longer.

St Patrick's Day, Dublin: The ultimate celebration - world's largest St Patrick's Day festival
St Patrick's Day, New York: Iconic parade in Manhattan - combine with a US trip
St Patrick's Day, Chicago: Famous for dyeing the river green
Spring Festivals, Europe: Early spring is beautiful in European cities

Strategic planning tips

Book early: Popular events sell out months in advance - accommodation and tickets need early booking
Combine holidays: Early May and Spring Bank Holiday are close together - consider taking leave between them for an extended break
Shoulder seasons: Events just before or after peak seasons often have better prices and fewer crowds
Regional variations: Scotland and Northern Ireland have additional holidays - use these to your advantage
Work from abroad: If your employer allows, consider working remotely for part of your trip to extend your stay

Example: Maximising your 2026 holidays

Here's how you could strategically use 25 days of annual leave to attend multiple world-class events:

Easter (4 days): 11-day trip to Japan for cherry blossoms
Early May (4 days): 9-day trip to Cannes Film Festival
Summer (10 days): 2-week trip combining Edinburgh Fringe and Notting Hill Carnival
Christmas (2 days): 5-day New Year celebration in Edinburgh or New York
Buffer (5 days): Reserved for spontaneous opportunities

Result: 25 days of leave = 5 major event experiences across the year!

Start planning now

The best event experiences require early planning. Use My Holiday Planner's Year Calendar to map out UK public holidays, identify which events align with your interests, and plan your annual leave strategically. Import bank holidays for your region, then layer in your desired events to create a year of unforgettable experiences.

Remember: popular events sell out quickly, so research ticket release dates and book accommodation early. With strategic planning, you can attend multiple world-class events while maximising your annual leave allowance.