Public holidays in France 2026 and 2027
The 11 public holidays in France with their 2026 and 2027 dates, which are days off by law (only 1 May for everyone), how pay, bridges and the solidarity day work, the extra days in Alsace-Moselle, and what is open in Paris on a holiday.
- Applies to
- Everyone living or working in France. Employees' rights on holidays depend on their contract and collective agreement.
- Effort
- Low effort
- Time needed
- About 5 minutes to read
On this page
France has 11 public holidays (jours fériés) nationwide, plus two more in Alsace and Moselle. Unlike in some countries, a public holiday that falls on a weekend is not moved to a weekday. And only one of them, 1 May, is a compulsory day off for all employees by law; for the others, whether you work depends on your employer, your sector and your collective agreement.
When a holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, many people take a bridge (pont) to make a long weekend, which affects traffic, administration opening hours and appointments.
Dates in 2026
- New Year's Day (Jour de l'an) – Thursday 1 January 2026
- Easter Monday (Lundi de Pâques) – Monday 6 April 2026
- Labour Day (Fête du Travail) – Friday 1 May 2026
- Victory in Europe Day (Victoire 1945) – Friday 8 May 2026
- Ascension Day (Ascension) – Thursday 14 May 2026
- Whit Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte) – Monday 25 May 2026
- National Day (Fête nationale, Bastille Day) – Tuesday 14 July 2026
- Assumption Day (Assomption) – Saturday 15 August 2026
- All Saints' Day (Toussaint) – Sunday 1 November 2026
- Armistice Day (Armistice 1918) – Wednesday 11 November 2026
- Christmas Day (Noël) – Friday 25 December 2026
Dates in 2027
- New Year's Day – Friday 1 January 2027
- Easter Monday – Monday 29 March 2027
- Labour Day – Saturday 1 May 2027
- Ascension Day – Thursday 6 May 2027
- Victory in Europe Day – Saturday 8 May 2027
- Whit Monday – Monday 17 May 2027
- National Day – Wednesday 14 July 2027
- Assumption Day – Sunday 15 August 2027
- All Saints' Day – Monday 1 November 2027
- Armistice Day – Thursday 11 November 2027
- Christmas Day – Saturday 25 December 2027
Alsace and Moselle
In the departments of Bas-Rhin, Haut-Rhin and Moselle, Good Friday (Vendredi saint; 3 April 2026, 26 March 2027) and 26 December (Saint-Étienne) are additional public holidays, under local law.
Do employees get the day off?
- 1 May is the only day off for all employees by law, except in activities that cannot stop (such as hospitals, transport or hotels). An employee who works on 1 May is paid double.
- For the other holidays, a collective agreement or the employer decides whether they are worked. Many offices close, while shops, restaurants, hospitals and transport often operate.
- Employees with at least three months' service keep their normal pay for a holiday that is not worked.
- Young workers under 18 cannot work on public holidays, except in some sectors such as hotels, restaurants, bakeries and florists.
- Bridges are not automatic. An employer may grant one and ask for the hours to be made up later.
- Solidarity day (journée de solidarité): employees work one extra unpaid day a year to fund care for elderly and disabled people. Employers often place it on Whit Monday, but they can choose another day or arrangement. Public-sector employees follow their own rules.
What is open in Paris on a holiday
- Public transport runs, often on a reduced timetable; check Île-de-France Mobilités before travelling.
- Government offices, town halls and banks are closed.
- Shops: many follow Sunday rules; food shops often open in the morning. On 1 May, most shops are closed.
- Pharmacies: a duty pharmacy (pharmacie de garde) is open in each area; the closed pharmacies display its address.
- Museums and leisure venues are often open, but check opening days, especially on 1 May and 25 December.
Special days that are not public holidays
Some dates are well known but are working days, such as the music festival (Fête de la musique, 21 June) and Mother's Day. School holidays are separate from public holidays and follow the zone calendar; Paris is in zone C.
Tips
Plan administrative appointments and deliveries around May, which often has several holidays and bridges. Check your collective agreement or ask HR which holidays are worked in your company. Book travel early for long weekends around Ascension and 14 July.
Frequently asked questions
Editorial answers written by our team, based on the sources below.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, do I get another day off?
No. In France, holidays falling on a weekend are not moved to a weekday, unless your collective agreement or employer provides otherwise.
Do I get paid if my workplace closes on a holiday?
Yes, if you have at least three months' service in the company, your pay is maintained for a holiday that is not worked.
Is Whit Monday a holiday or a working day?
It is a public holiday, but many employers use it as the solidarity day, so you may be asked to work it without extra pay. Check with your employer.
Official links
Service-Public – public holidays and bridges in the private sector service-public.gouv.fr (Opens {{site}} in a new tab) Service-Public – public holidays in 2026 service-public.gouv.fr (Opens {{site}} in a new tab) Public holidays API (Etalab) – 2027 calendrier.api.gouv.fr (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
Sources
Written and checked by HomiStart editorial against the official sources below. Next scheduled check: 7 Oct 2027.
- Service-Public.fr (DILA, Premier ministre)Official sourceJours fériés et ponts dans le secteur privé
(Opens {{site}} in a new tab) Accessed 7 Oct 2026Verified 1 January 2026
- Service-Public.fr (DILA, Premier ministre)Official sourcePonts, week-ends prolongés – les jours fériés en 2026
(Opens {{site}} in a new tab) Accessed 7 Oct 2026 - Etalab (DINUM) – API jours fériésOfficial sourceJours fériés en métropole – 2027
(Opens {{site}} in a new tab) Accessed 7 Oct 2026 - Service-Public.fr (DILA, Premier ministre)Official sourceQuel est le calendrier des vacances scolaires 2026-2027 et 2027-2028 ?
(Opens {{site}} in a new tab) Accessed 7 Oct 2026