France Public Holidays 2026 — Full List with Dates

France's 2026 public holiday calendar delivers two automatic long weekends in May. Labour Day (1 May) falls on a Friday — a three-day weekend where no French employer can legally require work. Victory in Europe Day (8 May) falls on a Friday just one week later — another automatic long weekend commemorating the end of WWII in Europe.

Easter Sunday is 5 April 2026. Easter Monday (6 April) is a public holiday. Ascension Day (14 May, Thursday) follows — bridge day opportunity on Friday 15 May. Whit Monday (25 May) completes an exceptionally holiday-rich April–May period.

Bastille Day (14 July) falls on a Tuesday in 2026. Taking Monday 13 July as annual leave creates a four-day weekend from Saturday 11 to Tuesday 14 July — France's national holiday with maximum festive impact when bridge days are used. All Saints' Day (1 November) falls on a Sunday — absorbed into the weekend. Christmas Day (25 December) is a Friday — automatic long weekend into Boxing Day (not a public holiday in metropolitan France).

Nationwide Holidays 2026

11 holidays

🇫🇷 Public Holidays for all of France

Date	Day	Holiday Name	Type
1 Jan 2026	Thu	New Year's Day	Nationwide
6 Apr 2026	Mon	Easter Monday	Nationwide
1 May 2026	Fri	Labour Day	Nationwide
8 May 2026	Fri	Victory in Europe Day	Nationwide
14 May 2026	Thu	Ascension Day	Nationwide
25 May 2026	Mon	Whit Monday	Nationwide
14 Jul 2026	Tue	Bastille Day	Nationwide
15 Aug 2026	Sat	Assumption of Mary	Nationwide
1 Nov 2026	Sun	All Saints' Day	Nationwide
11 Nov 2026	Wed	Armistice Day	Nationwide
25 Dec 2026	Fri	Christmas Day	Nationwide

Nancy-Metz — Additional Holidays

2 regional

📍 Nancy-Metz — Regional Public Holidays 2026

Date	Day	Holiday Name	Type
3 Apr 2026	Fri	Good Friday (Alsace-Moselle only)	Regional
26 Dec 2026	Sat	St. Stephen's Day (Alsace-Moselle only)	Regional

Strasbourg — Additional Holidays

2 regional

📍 Strasbourg — Regional Public Holidays 2026

Date	Day	Holiday Name	Type
3 Apr 2026	Fri	Good Friday (Alsace-Moselle only)	Regional
26 Dec 2026	Sat	St. Stephen's Day (Alsace-Moselle only)	Regional

Frequently Asked Questions

Does France get two long weekends in May 2026?

Yes — Labour Day (1 May, Friday) and Victory in Europe Day (8 May, Friday) both fall on Fridays in 2026, giving French workers two automatic three-day weekends in the same month. Combined with Ascension Day (14 May, Thursday) and Whit Monday (25 May), May 2026 is France's most holiday-dense month of the year.

Does Bastille Day create a long weekend in France in 2026?

With a bridge day, yes. Bastille Day (14 July) falls on a Tuesday in 2026. Taking Monday 13 July as annual leave creates a four-day weekend from Saturday 11 to Tuesday 14 July.

When is Easter in France in 2026?

Easter Sunday is 5 April 2026. Easter Monday (6 April) is a public holiday. Ascension Day (14 May, Thursday) and Whit Monday (25 May) follow.

Is Christmas favourable in France in 2026?

Yes — Christmas Day (25 December) falls on a Friday in 2026, giving an automatic three-day weekend. Note that 26 December is not a public holiday in metropolitan France (unlike in Alsace-Moselle), so the long weekend ends on Sunday 27 December.

What is Victory in Europe Day (8 May) in France?

Victory in Europe Day (Fête de la Victoire, 8 May) commemorates the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany in 1945, ending WWII in Europe. France observes this with more prominence than most European countries, with official ceremonies at war memorials and the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. In 2026, it falls on a Friday — an automatic long weekend.