There are 5 long weekends in Queensland in 2026 that need no annual leave, including 2 extra-long weekends. Brisbane and Queensland uniquely close for the Ekka, the Royal Queensland Show holiday held every August. The single best-value hack is The New Year Kick-Off (Thu 1 Jan to Sun 4 Jan): book 1 annual leave day to stretch it to 4 days off.
🇦🇺 Queensland long weekends · 2026
Queensland long weekends 2026 and the exact leave days to book to stretch each one.
Step 1: Where do you work?
Step 2: Which years?
Step 3: How many leave days have you got?
Leave you spend Free days off (★ = public holiday)
Your 2026 Queensland hacks
16 leave days → 42 days off
HACK #1
The New Year Kick-Off
Thu 1 Jan to Sun 4 Jan 2026
4.0× return
1Thu
2Fri
3Sat
4Sun
Spend 1 leave days → get 4 days off
HACK #2
The Christmas Mega-Stretch
Fri 25 Dec to Sun 3 Jan 2026
3.3× return
25Fri
26Sat
27Sun
28Mon
29Tue
30Wed
31Thu
1Fri
2Sat
3Sun
Spend 3 leave days → get 10 days off
HACK #3
The Easter Double-Dip
Sat 28 Mar to Mon 6 Apr 2026
2.5× return
28Sat
29Sun
30Mon
31Tue
1Wed
2Thu
3Fri
4Sat
5Sun
6Mon
Spend 4 leave days → get 10 days off
HACK #4
The Australia Day Getaway
Sat 24 Jan to Sun 1 Feb 2026
2.3× return
24Sat
25Sun
26Mon
27Tue
28Wed
29Thu
30Fri
31Sat
1Sun
Spend 4 leave days → get 9 days off
HACK #5
The Labour Day Long Weekend
Sat 2 May to Sun 10 May 2026
2.3× return
2Sat
3Sun
4Mon
5Tue
6Wed
7Thu
8Fri
9Sat
10Sun
Spend 4 leave days → get 9 days off
Your year at a glance
no calendar app needed
Leave you spend Free day off (★ = public holiday) Workday
January 2026
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February 2026
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March 2026
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April 2026
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May 2026
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June 2026
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July 2026
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August 2026
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September 2026
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October 2026
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November 2026
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December 2026
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Every long weekend in Queensland in 2026
These long weekends need no annual leave at all. They fall naturally when a public holiday lands next to a weekend, so anyone in Brisbane or across Queensland gets them for free. Book a flight for the exact dates, or add a day or two of leave in the planner above to stretch them further.
Dates verified against the Queensland government gazette. Last checked July 2026.
- Sat 24 Jan to Mon 26 Jan: 3 days off (Australia Day). Flights for these dates
- Fri 3 Apr to Mon 6 Apr: 4 days off (Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday). Flights for these dates
- Sat 2 May to Mon 4 May: 3 days off (Labour Day). Flights for these dates
- Sat 3 Oct to Mon 5 Oct: 3 days off (King's Birthday). Flights for these dates
- Fri 25 Dec to Mon 28 Dec: 4 days off (Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Additional public holiday for Boxing Day). Flights for these dates
Hackable long weekends in Queensland 2026
Add a few annual leave days around these public holidays and short weekends become long holidays. These are the highest-return stacks for Queensland in 2026.
- The New Year Kick-Off: spend 1 leave day across Thu 1 Jan to Sun 4 Jan to get 4 days off (4.0× return). Flights for these dates
- The Christmas Mega-Stretch: spend 3 leave days across Fri 25 Dec to Sun 3 Jan to get 10 days off (3.3× return). Flights for these dates
- The Easter Double-Dip: spend 4 leave days across Sat 28 Mar to Mon 6 Apr to get 10 days off (2.5× return). Flights for these dates
- The Australia Day Getaway: spend 4 leave days across Sat 24 Jan to Sun 1 Feb to get 9 days off (2.3× return). Flights for these dates
- The Labour Day Long Weekend: spend 4 leave days across Sat 2 May to Sun 10 May to get 9 days off (2.3× return). Flights for these dates
- The King's Birthday Bonus: spend 4 leave days across Sat 3 Oct to Sun 11 Oct to get 9 days off (2.3× return). Flights for these dates
Frequently asked questions
When are the long weekends in Queensland in 2026?
Queensland's no-leave long weekends in 2026 are: Sat 24 Jan to Mon 26 Jan (3 days); Fri 3 Apr to Mon 6 Apr (4 days); Sat 2 May to Mon 4 May (3 days); Sat 3 Oct to Mon 5 Oct (3 days); Fri 25 Dec to Mon 28 Dec (4 days). Add a day or two of annual leave around them to stretch each one further.
How many long weekends are there in Queensland in 2026?
Queensland has 5 long weekends in 2026 that need no annual leave, including 2 extra-long weekends of four or more days.
What is the best long weekend to take annual leave in Queensland in 2026?
The New Year Kick-Off: book 1 annual leave day across Thu 1 Jan to Sun 4 Jan to get 4 consecutive days off, a 4.0× return.
How can I get a 4-day break using only 1 day of annual leave in 2026?
In Queensland, take leave across Thu 1 Jan to Sun 4 Jan. The surrounding weekends and public holidays do the rest, giving you 4 days off for just 1 leave day.
When is the Easter long weekend in 2026?
In 2026, the Easter long weekend runs from Good Friday on Friday 3 April 2026 through Easter Monday. In Queensland it is one of the best-value windows to add annual leave.
Do public holidays that fall during my annual leave reduce my leave balance?
No. Under the Australian National Employment Standards, a public holiday that falls during a period of paid annual leave is not deducted from your leave balance, so stacking leave around public holidays is genuinely free extra time off. Always confirm with your employer.