France Public Holidays (2025–2029)
France has 11 public holidays in 2026. May is generous: Labour Day (Fri May 1) and Victory Day (Fri May 8) bookend two three-day breaks. Two holidays fall on weekends — Assumption (Sat Aug 15) and All Saints (Sun Nov 1) — with no substitute-day rule. Ascension (Thu May 14) still creates the classic four-day pont.
At a Glance: Statutory Days & Long Weekends
2026 – 20276 long weekends (3+ days)
View full calendar6 long weekends scheduled
Explore scheduleMinistry of Labour and Official Journal of the French Republic (Journal officiel).
French Labour Code (Code du travail, Article L3133-1), listing 11 legal public holidays (fêtes légales).
France Public Holiday System & Legal Framework
Governing Legislation & Statutory Authority
French Labour Code (Code du travail, Article L3133-1), listing 11 legal public holidays (fêtes légales).
Weekend In-Lieu Observance & Substitute Days
No statutory substitute holidays: If a public holiday falls on Saturday or Sunday, it is lost ("fête chômée perdue") unless a specific sector collective bargaining agreement (convention collective) provides otherwise. However, workers actively take "faire le pont" (bridge days) when a holiday falls on Thursday or Tuesday.
Federal vs Regional & Provincial Disparities
The Alsace-Moselle region (departments of Bas-Rhin, Haut-Rhin, and Moselle) observes 13 legal holidays, adding Good Friday (Vendredi Saint) and Saint Stephen’s Day (26 December) due to local historical legislation maintained under the local code.
Statutory Annual Leave & Bridge Days (Ponts) Culture
Under Article L3141-1 of the Labour Code, all full-time employees in France are entitled to 5 weeks (25 to 30 days) of paid annual leave per year, among the highest legally mandated vacation allowances worldwide.
France Multi-Year Calendars & Downloads (2025–2029)
iCal (ICS) · CSV · PDFSubscribe to all years in your calendar app
Google Calendar · Apple Calendar · Outlook — the feed updates as governments publish new years.
France Planning Hub: Calendars, Working Days & Schools
Working Days Calculator
Calculate exact business days, work hours, and statutory holidays for France (2026 & 2027) for payroll and contracts.
Long Weekends & Leave Planner
Discover all natural 3- and 4-day weekends, plus interactive bridge day strategies turning 1–2 days of annual leave into 5–9 days off.
Today's Public Holiday Status
Live local-timezone detector answering "Is today a public holiday in France?" with next upcoming closures.
Major Global Festivals Celebrated in France
Other Public Holiday Calendars in Europe
Official sources & data
- Jours fériés en FranceVisit sourceService-Public.fr (Ministère de l'Intérieur)
Frequently Asked Questions About France Public Holidays
How many statutory public holidays are there in France?
France has 11 official public holidays (fêtes légales) designated by the Labour Code nationwide, with Alsace-Moselle observing 13 days.
Are public holidays in France automatically paid days off?
Only May 1 (Labour Day, Fête du Travail) is legally mandatory as a paid day off for all private sector workers under the Labour Code. The other 10 holidays are paid or unpaid days off depending on collective agreements and individual company policies, though in practice almost all salaried office workers receive them as paid days off.
What is "faire le pont" (bridging) in France?
“Faire le pont” (to make the bridge) refers to taking a single leave day on a Monday or Friday when a public holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday (such as Ascension Day), bridging the gap to create an uninterrupted 4-day weekend.
Does France have substitute holidays when holidays land on a weekend?
No. Unlike the UK or the US, French law does not provide an automatic substitute day on the following Monday when a holiday lands on a weekend; the holiday is simply lost unless an industry collective agreement specifies otherwise.
Which public holidays always create long weekends in France?
Easter Monday (Lundi de Pâques) and Whit Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte) always fall on Mondays, creating guaranteed 3-day weekends. In addition, Ascension Day always falls on a Thursday, reliably enabling 4-day bridge weekends.