Plan your 2026 with complete peace of mind! This guide answers all your questions about public holidays, vacations, and school holidays in France. Whether you’re organizing your leisure time, travel, or work schedule, you’ll find all the key information here to make the most of your year.
Make the most of 2026 With its 11 public holidays and numerous opportunities tocreate long weekends
, 2026 is an excellent year for planning your time off. Remember to: Check local regulations
if you live or are traveling in Alsace-Moselle or the French Overseas Territories. Book your travel and accommodations in advance for long weekends and school holidays , especially if they overlap.Consult the official calendar for your regional education authority (académie)
for the exact dates of school holidays, which may be subject to minor adjustments. By cleverly combining public holidays, paid leave, and the school calendar, you can make the most of your free time throughout 2026. What are the public holidays in 2026? The complete list of dates
Here is the official list of the
11 national public holidays
in metropolitan France for the year 2026. Tip: 🔄 Tilt your phone to read the tables more easily.
Date Day of the week NameType / Special feature
| Thursday, January 1st | Thursday | New Year’s Day | Civil holiday. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, April 6th | Monday | Easter Monday | Religious holiday (date varies). |
| Friday, May 1st | Friday | Labor Day | The only mandatory day off |
| for everyone. Friday, May 8 | Friday | Victory in Europe Day (1945) | Commemoration of the end of World War II in Europe. |
| Thursday, May 14 | Thursday | Ascension Day | Religious holiday (40 days after Easter). |
| Monday, May 25 | Monday | Whit Monday | |
| Religious holiday (Whit Monday, Sunday, May 24, is not a public holiday). | Tuesday, July 14 | Tuesday | |
| National Day | Commemoration of the storming of the Bastille and the Fête de la Fédération (Festival of the Federation). | Saturday, August 15 | |
| Saturday | Assumption | Religious holiday. | |
| Sunday, November 1 | Sunday | All Saints’ Day | Feast of All Saints. Tradition of visiting cemeteries. |
| Wednesday, November 11 | Wednesday | Armistice Day (1918) | |
| Commemoration of the end of the First World War. | Friday, December 25 | Friday |
Christmas
- Feast of the Nativity. Note: Specific Public Holidays Alsace-Moselle : The departments of Bas-Rhin (67), Haut-Rhin (68), and Moselle (57) have
- two additional public holidays:
- Friday, April 3, 2026 : Good Friday.
- Saturday, December 26, 2026
: Saint-Étienne.
Overseas
- : The French Overseas Departments and Regions (DROM) have additional public holidays commemorating local events, such as the abolition of slavery (dates vary). How many public holidays are there in France in 2026?
- The number of public holidays depends on where you live or work: In mainland France (excluding Alsace-Moselle): There are 11 legal public holidays.
- In Alsace-Moselle:
There are 13 public holidays (the 11 national holidays plus Good Friday and Saint Stephen’s Day).
In the French Overseas Territories: The number is greater than 11, varying depending on the territory. Specific local holidays must be added to the national holidays. 2026, a year favorable for long weekends: Several public holidays fall on a Friday or Monday, naturally creating three-day weekends: May 1st, May 8th,
April 6th (Easter Monday), and
May 25th (Whit Monday). What are the public holidays and statutory holidays in 2026? It is crucial to distinguish between public holidays (dates set by law) and statutory paid leave (a right acquired by the employee). However, strategically combining them allows you to optimize your free time.
The art of “bridge days” (taking a long weekend):
This is the practice of taking one or more days of paid leave between a public holiday and a weekend to extend your rest period.
The most advantageous long weekends in 2026:
- Ascension Day: Thursday, May 14th is a public holiday. By simply taking Friday, May 15th off, you can enjoy a long weekend.4-day weekend (Thursday, May 14 to Sunday, May 17). The July 14th long weekend
- : Bastille Day falls on a Tuesday. By taking Monday, July 13th off , you get along 4-day weekend .The November 11th long weekend
- : Armistice Day is on a Wednesday. By taking two days off (Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th, or Thursday the 12th and Friday the 13th), you can enjoy a 5-day break .
📚 What are the school holiday dates in 2026?
School holidays are periods when schools are closed, divided into three zones (A, B, C). The school holiday calendar is separate from public holidays, but their overlap with a long weekend can create periods of high demand.
| School Holiday Calendar 2025-2026 (typical provisional dates): | Period | Zone A | Zone B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone C | All Saints’ Day Holidays | Sat. 18 Oct. to Mon. 3 Nov. | Sat. 18 Oct. to Mon. 3 Nov. |
| Sat. 18 Oct. to Mon. 3 Nov. | Christmas Holidays | Sat. 20 Dec. to Mon. 5 Jan. | Sat. 20 Dec. to Mon. 5 Jan. |
| Sat. 20 Dec. to Mon. 5 Jan. | Winter Holidays | Sat. 14 Feb. to Mon. 2 Mar. | Sat. 7 Feb. to Mon. 23 Feb. |
| Sat. 21 Feb. to Mon., March 9 | Spring Break | Sat., April 11 to Mon., April 27 | Sat., April 4 to Mon., April 20 |
| Sat., April 18 to Mon., May 4 | Summer Break | Early July 2026 | Early July 2026 |
Early July 2026
- Planning Tips: Peak Periods: The May bank holidays (especially around Ascension Day) often coincide with the spring break in one or more school zones. July and August are traditionally the most popular holiday months. To Avoid Crowds: Opt for holidays in early June or September. Isolated public holidays (such as November 1 or November 11), outside of school holidays, generally offer a quieter atmosphere.
- Looking for a change of scenery and an Andalusian atmosphere? Read this article about public holidays in Andalusia in 2026:
Public holidays in Andalusia 2026 and long weekends Sources for this article: https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/actualites/A18558
