📅 France Public Holidays 2026 & 2027
Public Holidays 2026
| Date | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2026 · Thu | New Year's Day (Jour de l'an) | Public |
| 6 Apr 2026 · Mon | Easter Monday (Lundi de Pâques) | Public |
| 1 May 2026 · Fri | Labour Day (Fête du Travail) | Public |
| 8 May 2026 · Fri | Victory in Europe Day (Victoire 1945) | Public |
| 14 May 2026 · Thu | Ascension Day (Ascension) | Public |
| 25 May 2026 · Mon | Whit Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte) | Public |
| 14 Jul 2026 · Tue | Bastille Day (Fête nationale) | Public |
| 15 Aug 2026 · Sat | Assumption Day (Assomption) | Public |
| 1 Nov 2026 · Sun | All Saints' Day (Toussaint) | Public |
| 11 Nov 2026 · Wed | Armistice Day (Armistice 1918) | Public |
| 25 Dec 2026 · Fri | Christmas Day (Noël) | Public |
Public Holidays 2027
Provisional — most countries publish the official calendar late in the year.
| Date | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2027 · Fri | New Year's Day (Jour de l'an) | Public |
| 29 Mar 2027 · Mon | Easter Monday (Lundi de Pâques) | Public |
| 1 May 2027 · Sat | Labour Day (Fête du Travail) | Public |
| 6 May 2027 · Thu | Ascension Day (Ascension) | Public |
| 8 May 2027 · Sat | Victory in Europe Day (Victoire 1945) | Public |
| 17 May 2027 · Mon | Whit Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte) | Public |
| 14 Jul 2027 · Wed | Bastille Day (Fête nationale) | Public |
| 15 Aug 2027 · Sun | Assumption Day (Assomption) | Public |
| 1 Nov 2027 · Mon | All Saints' Day (Toussaint) | Public |
| 11 Nov 2027 · Thu | Armistice Day (Armistice 1918) | Public |
| 25 Dec 2027 · Sat | Christmas Day (Noël) | Public |
ℹ️ Why these dates matter
France has eleven statutory public holidays, but what really shapes a trip is the pont: when a holiday falls on Tuesday or Thursday, a large part of the country takes the bridge day off and disappears for four days. Banks, post offices and most shops close on the holiday itself, while museums and brasseries in the big cities often stay open. In 2026 the month of May carries four holidays, including Ascension on Thursday 14 May, which makes it the busiest and also the most atmospheric time to travel here.
Festivals Worth Planning a Trip Around
Beyond the stat holidays — the events that define the travel year.
Bastille Day — 14 July 2026 (Tue)
The military parade marches down the Champs-Élysées in the morning and the fireworks over the Eiffel Tower start after 11pm; the best free views are the Champ de Mars or a Seine bridge, but claim your spot by 8pm. Across the country fire stations throw bals des pompiers on 13 and 14 July — cheap, open to everyone and far more fun than fighting the Paris crowds. Book trains and restaurants months ahead.
Fête de la Musique — 21 June 2026 (Sun) — not a public holiday
On 21 June every square, courtyard and bar terrace in France turns into a free stage, with sets running from late afternoon into the small hours. It is not a public holiday, so shops, banks and public transport run as normal. Pick one neighbourhood and drift between stages instead of chasing a headline act.
Nice Carnival — Mid-February 2026 — two-week run ending around Shrove Tuesday, 17 February (Tue)
Nice fills the Promenade des Anglais with flower-covered floats for about two weeks each February and closes on Shrove Tuesday with fireworks over the Baie des Anges. The daytime flower parades are the classic draw, while the illuminated night parades need a paid ticket. Book rooms early — the whole Côte d’Azur fills up for the fortnight.
Christmas Market — Late November to the end of December 2026 — most markets open in the final week of November
Strasbourg calls itself the Capitale de Noël and lights up the old town from late November, with stalls around Place Kléber and the cathedral spilling into the half-timbered lanes. Colmar, Metz and Reims run markets that are just as pretty and much easier to walk. Come on a weekday afternoon and sleep over; evenings and weekends are shoulder to shoulder.
💡 Quick Tips
- On public holidays most banks, post offices and large supermarkets close; bakeries, brasseries and shops in tourist areas usually stay open.
- Watch the pont: when a holiday falls on Tuesday or Thursday, trains sell out early and hotel rates climb for the four-day weekend.
- May 2026 stacks four holidays — 1, 8, 14 and 25 May — so expect the busiest roads and the priciest train tickets of the year.
- Many museums close on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December and run reduced hours on other holidays, so check the official site before you go.
⚡ Pro Tips
- 14 July 2026 falls on a Tuesday and 2027 on a Wednesday, so the crowds build from the weekend before — travel on the Saturday if you can.
- Nice Carnival overlaps the February school holidays in much of Europe; the first week of the run is usually calmer than the closing week.
- For the Fête de la Musique, base yourself in Lyon, Montpellier or Strasbourg: the same free programme with a fraction of the Paris crush.
📋 Summary
All eleven French public holidays for 2026 and 2027, plus the four celebrations worth planning a trip around: the 14 July fireworks, the Fête de la Musique in June, the Christmas markets of Alsace and the Nice Carnival flower parade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are shops and banks open on French public holidays?
Most banks, post offices and large supermarkets close, and plenty of independent shops shut too. Bakeries, brasseries and shops in tourist districts usually trade, and big department stores in Paris often open — but 1 May is the strictest day of the French year.
What is a French pont and why does it matter for travel?
A pont is the bridge day between a public holiday and the weekend. When a holiday falls on Tuesday or Thursday, a lot of people take the Monday or Friday off as well. Expect sold-out trains, busier roads and some closed offices — in 2026 Ascension Thursday 14 May makes Friday 15 May the classic bridge day.
Which French holiday is the best one to plan a trip around?
14 July is the pick if you want atmosphere: the morning parade in Paris, free fireworks and fire-station dances in villages across the country. For something gentler, come for the Fête de la Musique on 21 June or the Christmas markets from late November, when most things stay open. Avoid 1 May if you need errands run, since it is the quietest day of the year.
