The Best Leave Windows in the Next 90 Days (Q2 2026)

Your Q2 2026 Leave Forecast

The next 90 days contain some of the highest-efficiency leave windows of the entire year. From Easter bridges across Europe and the Southern Hemisphere to Memorial Day in the US and bank holidays in the UK, Q2 is stacked with opportunities to turn a handful of leave days into extended breaks.

This is your quarterly leave forecast: a month-by-month breakdown of the windows worth booking right now. Each one includes exact dates, leave days needed, and the efficiency multiplier -- how many days off you get per leave day spent. Some of these windows are already heating up. The planning starts now.

April 2026

April is dominated by Easter. Good Friday (April 3) and Easter Monday (April 6) create a four-day weekend in most of Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. The real gains come from bridging into the surrounding weeks.

Easter Bridge -- Europe (UK, Germany, France, Netherlands, and more)

Most European countries observe both Good Friday and Easter Monday as public holidays. Take the week after Easter off and the numbers get far more interesting.

Dates to book off: Tuesday April 7 through Friday April 10

The math: 4 leave days + 2 public holidays + 2 weekends = 10 consecutive days off (April 3--12). That is a 2.5x efficiency multiplier.

In the Netherlands and France, the same Tuesday-to-Friday bridge applies. In Germany, several states also observe the Tuesday after Easter as a school holiday.

Booking status: Book now. Flights to Mediterranean destinations from Northern Europe are already 15--20% higher than two weeks ago. Lock in flights this week.

Easter and ANZAC Day Bridge -- Australia and New Zealand

Easter and ANZAC Day (Saturday, April 25) fall close enough together to create a standout window for anyone in AU/NZ. ANZAC Day on a Saturday means Monday April 27 is typically observed as a substitute public holiday.

The ambitious play: take Tuesday April 7 through Friday April 24 off. 14 leave days → 24 consecutive days off (April 3--27). That is a 1.7x multiplier -- not the highest ratio, but nearly a full month off.

The tighter play: bridge just the ANZAC Day weekend. Take Monday April 20 through Friday April 24 off. 5 leave days → 9 days off (April 18--27). That is a 1.8x multiplier.

Booking status: Still time, but act soon. Bali and Fiji shoulder-season pricing is still reasonable for late April, but availability at popular resorts is narrowing.

May 2026

May is where the leave calendar diverges by country. The US, UK, and continental Europe all have public holidays on different dates -- which means different bridges.

UK Early May Bank Holiday

The Early May Bank Holiday falls on Monday, May 4, 2026. Bridge into the following week to make it count.

Dates to book off: Tuesday May 5 through Friday May 8

The math: 4 leave days + 1 public holiday + 2 weekends = 9 days off (May 2--10). That is a 2.3x efficiency multiplier.

Early May in the UK is genuine spring weather. The Lake District, Scottish Highlands, and Cornwall are in season without the half-term crowds that hit later in May.

Booking status: Still time. Short-haul European flights (Lisbon, Barcelona, Dubrovnik) are still available at reasonable rates if booked in the next two to three weeks.

Memorial Day -- United States

Memorial Day falls on Monday, May 25, 2026 -- the unofficial start of summer.

Dates to book off: Tuesday May 19 through Friday May 22

The math: 4 leave days + 1 public holiday + 2 weekends = 9 days off (May 16--25). That is a 2.3x efficiency multiplier.

Alternatively, for a minimal-commitment play: take just Friday May 22 off. 1 leave day → 4 days off. That is a 4.0x multiplier -- one of the highest single-day returns of the quarter.

Booking status: Book now. Airfare for popular routes (NYC to Miami, LAX to Hawaii) rises sharply from mid-April onward. Hotel rates in beach destinations are already 20--30% above baseline.

Ascension Day Bridge -- Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Nordics

Ascension Day falls on Thursday, May 14, 2026. It is a public holiday in Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, and all Nordic countries. A Thursday holiday is a natural bridge candidate.

Dates to book off: Friday May 15

The math: 1 leave day + 1 public holiday + 2 weekends = 4 days off (May 14--17). That is a 4.0x efficiency multiplier.

For a longer break, take Monday May 11 through Wednesday May 13 off as well. 4 leave days → 9 days off (May 9--17) at 2.3x efficiency.

Booking status: Still time. Pricing has not yet spiked. Book within the next three weeks for the best rates on Mediterranean flights.

June 2026

June marks the transition from shoulder season to peak summer. Leave windows are fewer, but the ones that exist are worth defending.

UK Spring Bank Holiday (Late May into June)

The Spring Bank Holiday falls on Monday, May 25, 2026. By bridging into the following week, you carry your break right to the doorstep of June.

Dates to book off: Tuesday May 26 through Friday May 29

The math: 4 leave days + 1 public holiday + 2 weekends = 9 days off (May 23--31). That is a 2.3x efficiency multiplier.

This puts you in the Mediterranean at the very start of summer, before July pricing kicks in. Greece, Croatia, and southern Italy are in the mid-to-high 70s with none of the August heat or crowds.

Booking status: Still time. Late May remains in shoulder-season pricing territory for most European destinations.

Midsummer -- Sweden, Finland, Norway

Midsummer (Midsommar) is one of the most important holidays in the Nordic calendar. In Sweden, Midsummer's Eve is Friday June 19, 2026, with Midsummer Day (Saturday June 20) as the public holiday. Finland also observes Midsummer's Eve.

Dates to book off: Monday June 15 through Thursday June 18

The math: 4 leave days + 1 public holiday + 2 weekends = 9 days off (June 13--21). That is a 2.3x efficiency multiplier.

This is the quintessential Nordic summer break -- long daylight hours, archipelago trips, and countryside celebrations. For visitors, Midsummer week is one of the most culturally rich times to experience Scandinavia.

Booking status: Still time. International flights into Stockholm, Helsinki, and Oslo remain reasonably priced through May.

Juneteenth Bridge -- United States

Juneteenth falls on Friday, June 19, 2026 -- a natural three-day weekend with zero leave days spent.

Dates to book off: Monday June 22 through Thursday June 25

The math: 4 leave days + 1 public holiday + 2 weekends = 9 days off (June 19--28). That is a 2.3x efficiency multiplier.

Booking status: Still time. Travel demand around Juneteenth has not yet reached Memorial Day levels. Pricing is moderate.

Priority Booking: The Top 3 Windows

If you can only act on three windows this quarter, make it these:

Easter Bridge (Europe) -- April 3--12. 4 leave days, 10 days off, 2.5x multiplier. Book flights immediately -- pricing is rising now.
Memorial Day (US) -- May 16--25. 4 leave days, 9 days off, 2.3x multiplier. The single-day play (Friday May 22, 4.0x) is also exceptional. Book before mid-April.
Ascension Day Bridge (Europe) -- May 14--17. 1 leave day, 4 days off, 4.0x multiplier. The highest efficiency ratio of the quarter. Still affordable if booked before May.

Shoulder Season Pricing: Why Q2 Is the Sweet Spot

Spring and early summer sit in a pricing valley between the winter holiday premium and the July--August peak. Q2 offers:

Flights 20--35% cheaper than the same routes in July or August
Hotels at shoulder-season rates through mid-June in Southern Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean
Fewer crowds at major attractions, national parks, and beaches

The catch: this advantage erodes quickly. By the second week of June, most European beach destinations cross into peak-season territory. The windows above are your best shot at combining public holiday efficiency with pre-peak pricing.

Map Out Your Q2

Every country and every calendar is different. The windows above are the highlights, but your specific combination of location and leave balance will determine which ones matter most.

See all your upcoming windows →

LeaveWise calculates every bridge, every long weekend, and every efficiency multiplier for your country automatically. Enter your leave balance and see exactly which days to book -- before someone else on your team blocks the same week.