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
France has 11 public holidays in 2026 – the statutory days off. The table below lists those public holidays; observances and other non-statutory dates are not part of the total.
| Holiday | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1Thu | National |
| Easter Monday | Apr 6Mon | National |
| Labor Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Victory Day | May 8Fri | National |
| Ascension Day | May 14Thu | National |
| Pentecost Monday | May 25Mon | National |
| National Day | Jul 14Tue | National |
| Assumption Day | Aug 15Sat | National |
| All Saints' Day | Nov 1Sun | National |
| Armistice Day | Nov 11Wed | National |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25Fri | National |
Showing 11 of 11 public holidays 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 11 public holidays in 2026, counting every date typed National, Substitute or Bank in our calendar. Observances, religious dates and regional holidays are listed separately and left out of the total, because they are not days off across the whole country.
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.
School holidays in France
The calendar is fixed nationally by arrete of the Ministere de l'Education Nationale. Metropolitan France is split into three zones (A, B, C) for the winter and spring holidays only; the September return, All Saints, Christmas and summer dates are common to all zones. France publishes vacations rather than named terms - the term rows below are the in-session periods between official holiday dates.
2026
| Region | Holiday | Starts | Ends | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All zones | All Saints' Day holiday (Toussaint) | 17 Oct 2026 | 2 Nov 2026 | official page |
| All zones | Christmas holidays | 19 Dec 2026 | 4 Jan 2027 | official page |
2027
| Region | Holiday | Starts | Ends | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone C | Winter holidays | 6 Feb 2027 | 22 Feb 2027 | official page |
| Zone A | Winter holidays | 13 Feb 2027 | 1 Mar 2027 | official page |
| Zone B | Winter holidays | 20 Feb 2027 | 8 Mar 2027 | official page |
| Zone C | Spring break | 3 Apr 2027 | 19 Apr 2027 | official page |
| Zone A | Spring break | 10 Apr 2027 | 26 Apr 2027 | official page |
| Zone B | Spring break | 17 Apr 2027 | 3 May 2027 | official page |
| All zones | Summer holidaysThe official calendar gives the start date only - classes end on 3 July 2027. | 3 Jul 2027 | not published | official page |
Official sources: Service-Public.fr (Premier ministre) - school holiday calendar 2026-2027 (checked 10 Sep 2026) · Arrete du 22 octobre 2025 fixing the 2026-2027 school calendar (Journal officiel) (checked 10 Sep 2026)
School term dates in France
Term dates below are the periods when classes are in session.
2026
| Region | Term | Starts | Ends | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan France | September return to All SaintsRentre00e9e 1 September 2026 for all zones. | 1 Sep 2026 | 16 Oct 2026 | official page |
| Metropolitan France | After All Saints to Christmas | 2 Nov 2026 | 18 Dec 2026 | official page |
2027
| Region | Term | Starts | Ends | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan France | After Christmas to summerWinter and spring break dates inside this period vary by zone A/B/C. | 4 Jan 2027 | 2 Jul 2027 | official page |
Official sources: Service-Public.fr (Premier ministre) - school holiday calendar 2026-2027 (checked 10 Sep 2026) · Arrete du 22 octobre 2025 fixing the 2026-2027 school calendar (Journal officiel) (checked 10 Sep 2026)
School calendar data last updated 10 Sep 2026. Dates come from education ministries and local education authorities; always re-check with the school before booking travel.