Across the rest of 2026, workers can turn 11 PTO days into 27 days off by pairing leave with four remaining federal holidays: Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. New Year’s Day 2027 offers another way to extend a year-end break.
To reach the 27-day total, request Oct. 9 for a four-day Columbus Day break; Nov. 9–10 or Nov. 12–13 for five days around Veterans Day; Nov. 23–25 and Nov. 27 for nine days around Thanksgiving; and Dec. 21–24 for nine days around Christmas. That uses 11 PTO days in all.
Since New Year’s Day 2027 falls on a Friday, eight PTO days—Dec. 21–24 and Dec. 28–31—can create a 16-day break from Dec. 19 to Jan. 3. Alternatively, taking Dec. 28–31 gives 10 days off, from Dec. 25 to Jan. 3.
