Planning a trip to France or managing a local schedule? Understanding France Bank Holidays is your essential first step. This guide unlocks everything you need to know about French public holidays, from the French national holiday list to key observances.
We’ll provide the official France holiday dates and share savvy French holiday travel tips to help you navigate celebrations, closures, and French holiday traditions with ease.
Public Holidays in France
France officially celebrates 11 national public holidays. The regions of Alsace and Moselle observe two additional days: Good Friday and St Stephen’s Day (Alsace Moselle). Below are the complete French bank holiday calendar dates for 2026 through 2028.
France Bank Holidays for 2026
| Date | Day | Bank Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan | Thu | New Year’s Day |
| 3 Apr | Fri | Good Friday* |
| 6 Apr | Mon | Easter Monday |
| 1 May | Fri | Labour Day |
| 8 May | Fri | Victory Day |
| 14 May | Thu | Ascension Day |
| 25 May | Mon | Whit Monday |
| 14 Jul | Tue | Bastille Day |
| 15 Aug | Sat | Assumption Day |
| 1 Nov | Sun | All Saints’ Day |
| 11 Nov | Wed | Armistice Day |
| 25 Dec | Fri | Christmas Day |
| 26 Dec | Sat | St Stephen’s Day* |
France Bank Holidays for 2027
| Date | Day | Bank Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan | Fri | New Year’s Day |
| 26 Mar | Fri | Good Friday* |
| 29 Mar | Mon | Easter Monday |
| 1 May | Sat | Labour Day |
| 6 May | Thu | Ascension Day |
| 8 May | Sat | Victory Day |
| 17 May | Mon | Whit Monday |
| 14 Jul | Wed | Bastille Day |
| 15 Aug | Sun | Assumption Day |
| 1 Nov | Mon | All Saints’ Day |
| 11 Nov | Thu | Armistice Day |
| 25 Dec | Sat | Christmas Day |
| 26 Dec | Sun | St Stephen’s Day* |
*Note: 2027 dates are provisional and will be confirmed closer to the time.
Need Help with UK Bank Holidays?
Have questions about upcoming UK bank holidays or planning time off? Get expert guidance from Coming Holidays and plan your year with clarity and confidence.
France Bank Holidays for 2028
| Date | Day | Bank Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan | Sat | New Year’s Day |
| 14 Apr | Fri | Good Friday* |
| 17 Apr | Mon | Easter Monday |
| 1 May | Mon | Labour Day |
| 8 May | Mon | Victory Day |
| 25 May | Thu | Ascension Day |
| 5 Jun | Mon | Whit Monday |
| 14 Jul | Fri | Bastille Day |
| 15 Aug | Tue | Assumption Day |
| 1 Nov | Wed | All Saints’ Day |
| 11 Nov | Sat | Armistice Day |
| 25 Dec | Mon | Christmas Day |
| 26 Dec | Tue | St Stephen’s Day* |
*Observed only in Alsace and Moselle.* Note: 2028 dates are provisional.
Knowing these French official holidays is just the start. It’s important to remember that if a holiday like All Saints’ Day falls on a weekend, it is not moved to a weekday. This can affect opening hours, so planning is key.
For the most authoritative source, always double-check the official public holiday dates in France on the government website, service-public.fr, holidays.
Detailed Guide to Each French National Holiday
Let’s bring these French celebration days to life. Each holiday has its own story and impact on daily life.
- New Year’s Day (1 Jan): A quiet day for recovery and family meals after Réveillon (New Year’s Eve).
- Easter Monday: The day after Easter, part of the long Pâques weekend, often spent with family.
- Labour Day (1 May): A day of workers’ rights protests and demonstrations. It’s traditional to give lily-of-the-valley (muguet) for good luck.
- Victory Day (8 May): Commemorates the end of WWII in Europe with ceremonies at war memorials.
- Ascension Day: Always on a Thursday, 39 days after Easter. Many take the faire le pont (bridge) to create a long weekend.
- Whit Monday: 50 days after Easter. A French Catholic holiday that is now a secular day off.
- Bastille Day (14 July): France’s national day! Expect spectacular military parades in Paris, fireworks, and bals des pompiers (firemen’s balls) nationwide.
- Assumption Day (15 Aug): A major summer holiday, often marking the peak of the vacation season.
- All Saints’ Day (1 Nov): A solemn day where families visit cemeteries to honour the deceased.
- Armistice Day (11 Nov): A solemn remembrance of the WWI armistice, with national ceremonies.
- Christmas Day (25 Dec): The main festive day, preceded by the Réveillon feast on Christmas Eve.
French School Holiday Calendar & Zones
For planning travel around French holidays, knowing the school breaks is crucial to avoid crowds. France is divided into three French school holiday zones A B C to stagger breaks.
- Zones: Zone A, B, and C. France holidays are staggered over winter and spring to ease travel pressure on ski resorts and roads.
- Key Periods: The French school holiday dates for summer (early July to September) and Christmas (approx. 20 Dec – 2 Jan) are uniform across all zones. Planning outside these peak French festive dates means a more relaxed trip.
Plan Your Year with Confidence
Explore the complete list of countries’ bank holidays and stay ahead with accurate dates, smart planning, and stress-free travel and work schedules.
Travel Tips for French Holiday Periods
Here are some essential French holiday travel tips from experience:
- Expect Closures: On national holidays, especially in smaller towns, most shops, banks, and museums will be closed. Bakeries and cafes in tourist areas are your best bet.
- Book Early: Transport and accommodation for periods like Bastille Day or school holidays get booked up months in advance.
- Embrace the Tradition: Join the locals! Visit a market before a holiday, or find a village fête. It’s the best way to experience authentic French holiday traditions.
- Mind the Pont: If a holiday falls on a Thursday or Tuesday, many people font le pont (take the bridge) to create a long weekend. This can make the preceding/following days very busy for travel.
Explore Other Bank Holidays:
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Bookmark this page as your go-to French bank holiday calendar and explore more insightful guides on coming holidays!
FAQs
Are French public holidays paid?
Yes, for most employees. Paid public holidays in France are typically covered by an individual’s French employment contract or collective bargaining agreements in France.
What happens if a holiday falls on a weekend?
In France, it is not moved to a Monday. The day is simply observed on the weekend. This is a key difference from some other countries’ French holiday entitlement rules.
Which region in France has the most holidays?
The Alsace-Moselle holiday region (départements of Bas-Rhin, Haut-Rhin, and Moselle) has 13 official holidays, the most in metropolitan France, due to its historical background.
How do I find the exact Easter date each year?
Easter Sunday is the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. The subsequent Easter Monday France date and Ascension Day France date are calculated from this.
Are banks closed on French public holidays?
Yes. Whether banks are closed on French public holidays is a common question, and the answer is almost always yes. Plan cash and transactions accordingly.
