France Public Holidays 2026
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.
Public holidays
11
Lost to weekends
2 (Aug 15, Nov 1)
Longest break
Ascension pont · 4 days
May Fridays off
May 1 & May 8
2026 France calendar
01January
02February
03March
04April
05May
06June
07July
08August
09September
10October
11November
12December
France public holiday list
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Thursday | New Year's DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| April 6, 2026 | Monday | Easter MondayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| May 1, 2026 | Friday | Labour DayFalls on a Friday — three-day break. The only holiday where paid leave is legally mandatory.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| May 8, 2026 | Friday | Victory in Europe DayFalls on a Friday — another three-day break one week after Labour Day.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| May 14, 2026 | Thursday | Ascension DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| May 25, 2026 | Monday | Whit MondayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| July 14, 2026 | Tuesday | Bastille DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| August 15, 2026 | Saturday | Assumption DayFalls on a Saturday — no substitute day.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| November 1, 2026 | Sunday | All Saints' DayFalls on a Sunday — no substitute day.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| November 11, 2026 | Wednesday | Armistice DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| December 25, 2026 | Friday | Christmas DayFalls on a Friday — three-day break through the weekend.Public holiday | Public holiday |
France long weekends in 2026
Easter
3 daysApr 4 – 6
Easter Monday (Apr 6) gives a three-day break.
Labour Day
3 daysMay 1 – 3
Labour Day falls on a Friday — a three-day break.
Victory Day
3 daysMay 8 – 10
Victory Day falls on a Friday — another three-day break, one week after Labour Day.
Ascension pont
4 daysMay 14 – 17
Ascension Day (Thu May 14). Friday May 15 is the classic pont.
Whit Monday
3 daysMay 23 – 25
Whit Monday (May 25) brackets the weekend.
Christmas
3 daysDec 25 – 27
Christmas Day falls on a Friday — a three-day break.
11 nationwide holidays in metropolitan France
Metropolitan France has 11 public holidays. Good Friday is not among them — only Alsace-Moselle adds Good Friday and Saint Stephen's Day.
May 2026: two Friday holidays back to back
Labour Day (Fri May 1) and Victory Day (Fri May 8) each give a three-day break, with only four working days (Mon–Thu) between them. Ascension (Thu May 14) and Whit Monday (Mon May 25) follow later in the month.
No substitute days: two holidays lost to weekends
Assumption (Sat Aug 15) and All Saints (Sun Nov 1) fall on weekends with no weekday substitute.
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Official sources & data
- Jours fériés en FranceVisit sourceService-Public.fr (Ministère de l'Intérieur)
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does France have in 2026?+
Eleven in metropolitan France.
What happens when a French holiday falls on a weekend in 2026?+
Nothing — no substitute day. Assumption (Sat Aug 15) and All Saints (Sun Nov 1) are lost for Monday-to-Friday workers.
Is Good Friday a public holiday in France?+
Not in metropolitan France — only in Alsace-Moselle.
When is Ascension Day in France in 2026?+
Thursday, May 14, 2026. Friday May 15 is the classic pont for a four-day break.
What is a pont in France?+
A vacation day between a holiday and the weekend. In 2026, Friday May 15 after Ascension is the classic example.
Why does May 2026 have so many days off?+
Labour Day (May 1) and Victory Day (May 8) both fall on Friday, each creating a three-day break. Ascension (May 14) and Whit Monday (May 25) add two more long weekends.
