Public Holidays in France
Statutory public holidays in France, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
France at a glance
France has eleven public holidays set nationally, with Bastille Day on 14 July the central national celebration. Several are Catholic feast days that move with Easter.
May is unusually full of holidays, and French workers commonly take bridge days to turn them into long weekends.
France public holidays 2026
The dates below come from France’s published calendar for 2026. Open the full year for the complete list.
| Holiday | Date | Year |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1Thu | 2026 |
| Ramadan Start | Feb 18Wed | 2026 |
| Eid al-Fitr | Mar 20Fri | 2026 |
| March Equinox | Mar 20Fri | 2026 |
| Daylight Saving Time starts | Mar 29Sun | 2026 |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | 2026 |
| Easter Sunday | Apr 5Sun | 2026 |
| Easter Monday | Apr 6Mon | 2026 |
| Labor Day / May Day | May 1Fri | 2026 |
| WWII Victory Day | May 8Fri | 2026 |
| Ascension Day | May 14Thu | 2026 |
| Whit Sunday | May 24Sun | 2026 |
Showing 12 of 27 dates recorded for 2026.
Major cities in France
The urban centres that anchor most trips to France.
Paris
A capital of boulevards, river quais and museum collections along the Seine.
Marseille
France's oldest city, with a fish-market old port and calanques nearby.
Lyon
A city of silk workshops, traboules and some of Europe's best tables.
Toulouse
A pink-brick city on the Garonne, home of Airbus and a lively student quarter.
Nice
A Mediterranean city of pastel facades, a pebble beach and a hilltop park.
Bordeaux
A port city of 18th-century facades at the heart of a great wine region.
Top attractions in France
The places that draw most visitors to France.
Eiffel Tower
A wrought-iron lattice tower and the symbol of Paris.
Palace of Versailles
A vast royal palace with the Hall of Mirrors and formal gardens.
Mont-Saint-Michel
A tidal island crowned by a Gothic abbey, ringed by mudflats.
Provence Lavender Fields
Purple lavender rows and hilltop villages across the Vaucluse plateau.
French Alps
Ski domains and summer passes beneath Mont Blanc and the Ecrins.
Loire Valley Chateaux
A river valley of Renaissance chateaux and formal gardens.
Festivals, food and getting around France
What the calendar looks like on the ground, and how to move through the country around it.
Festivals behind the holidays
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🎉
New Year's Day
Falls on Jan 1
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🎉
Ramadan Start
Falls on Feb 18
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🎉
Eid al-Fitr
Falls on Mar 20
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🎉
March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
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🎉
Daylight Saving Time starts
Falls on Mar 29
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🎉
Good Friday
Falls on Apr 3
Food & drink
Getting around
The TGV network links most regions at high speed; regional TER trains and trams cover everything else.
Travelling around France’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in France tighten around major holidays; reserve early for the busiest weeks.
Check opening hours
Museums, banks and government offices usually close on statutory holidays, and often on the nearest Monday.
Carry local currency
Small vendors and rural businesses frequently take cash only, especially on holidays when banks are shut.
Expect crowded transport
Long weekends produce the year's heaviest road, rail and air traffic. Build in extra travel time.
Confirm the official list
France's holiday dates are confirmed by government announcement; check the year page for the final arrangement.
Plan the long weekends
Pairing a holiday with adjacent weekends gives the longest breaks of the year — and the busiest.
France public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does France have?
France has 27 dates recorded on its 2026 calendar, ranging from national statutory holidays to widely marked observances that are not days off work.
Where can I find the full 2026 list?
The complete 2026 calendar for France is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are France's public holidays paid?
Statutory national holidays are generally paid leave for employees. Observances and commemorative days are usually not.
Do holidays move if they fall on a weekend?
Where a holiday falls on a weekend, France typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in France?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for France?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.