Best Bridge Days in Israel 2026
The year 2026 offers excellent opportunities for planning long vacations with minimal vacation days. The biggest bridge of the year is the Yom Kippur–Sukkot bridge: 14 consecutive days off from September 20 to October 3, using only 3 vacation days.
🏆 Bridge Day Rankings 2026 — Best Value
🥇 Yom Kippur–Sukkot Bridge — 14 Days for 3!
Dates: September 20 – October 3, 2026
Vacation days needed: 3 (Tue-Thu Sep 22-24)
Ratio: 14:3 — The best bridge of the year!
Yom Kippur falls on Monday Sep 21, Sukkot begins Friday Sep 25, and Simchat Torah is Saturday Oct 3. Three bridge days (Tuesday to Thursday) create a two-week consecutive vacation.
🥈 Independence Day Bridge — 7 Days for 2
Dates: Sat Apr 18 – Sat Apr 25 (with Thu Apr 23)
Vacation days needed: 1-2
Ratio: 7:2 or 6:1
🥉 Shavuot Bridge — Natural Long Weekend!
Dates: Thu May 21 – Sat May 23
Vacation days needed: 0!
Ratio: 3:0 — It doesn't get better than this
All Bridge Days 2026 — Complete Table
| Holiday | Date | Day | Recommended Bridge | Days Off | Total | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purim | Mar 3-4 | Tue-Wed | Thu Mar 5 | 1 | 5 days | 5:1 ⭐ |
| Independence Day | Apr 21-22 | Tue-Wed | Thu Apr 23 | 1 | 6 days | 6:1 ⭐⭐ |
| Lag BaOmer | May 5 | Tue | Mon May 4 | 1 | 4 days | 4:1 |
| Shavuot | May 21-22 | Thu-Fri | None needed! | 0 | 3 days | 3:0 🏆 |
| Tisha B'Av | Jul 23 | Thu | None | 0 | 3 days | 3:0 |
| Rosh Hashana | Sep 12-13 | Sat-Sun | Thu Sep 10 | 1 | 4 days | 4:1 |
| Kippur–Sukkot | Sep 20–Oct 3 | Sun–Sat | Tue-Thu Sep 22-24 | 3 | 14 days | 14:3 🏆🏆 |
Smart Vacation Planning Tips 2026
- Book flights early — the Kippur-Sukkot bridge is the busiest period
- Talk to your employer — bridge days require advance approval
- Use ALMO AI — smart calendar app that reminds you of bridge opportunities
- Check choice days — government employees get 2 choice days per year