France Public Holidays 2028
France has 11 public holidays in 2028. May is exceptional: Labour Day (Mon May 1) and Victory Day (Mon May 8) are just one week apart, with Ascension (Thu May 25) and Whit Monday (Mon Jun 5) following. Two holidays fall on weekends — New Year's Day (Sat Jan 1) and Armistice Day (Sat Nov 11) — with no substitute-day rule. Christmas (Mon Dec 25) gives a three-day break.
Public holidays
11
Lost to weekends
2 (Jan 1, Nov 11)
Longest break
Ascension pont · 4 days
May Mondays off
May 1 & May 8
2028 France calendar
01January
02February
03March
04April
05May
06June
07July
08August
09September
10October
11November
12December
France public holiday list
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2028 | Saturday | New Year's DayFalls on a Saturday — no substitute day.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| April 17, 2028 | Monday | Easter MondayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| May 1, 2028 | Monday | Labour DayFalls on a Monday — three-day break. The only holiday where paid leave is legally mandatory.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| May 8, 2028 | Monday | Victory in Europe DayFalls on a Monday — another three-day break one week after Labour Day.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| May 25, 2028 | Thursday | Ascension DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| June 5, 2028 | Monday | Whit MondayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| July 14, 2028 | Friday | Bastille DayFalls on a Friday — three-day break through the weekend.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| August 15, 2028 | Tuesday | Assumption DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| November 1, 2028 | Wednesday | All Saints' DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| November 11, 2028 | Saturday | Armistice DayFalls on a Saturday — no substitute day.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| December 25, 2028 | Monday | Christmas DayFalls on a Monday — three-day break through the weekend.Public holiday | Public holiday |
France long weekends in 2028
Easter
3 daysApr 15 – 17
Easter Monday (Apr 17) gives a three-day break.
Labour Day
3 daysApr 29 – May 1
Labour Day falls on a Monday — a three-day break.
Victory Day
3 daysMay 6 – 8
Victory Day falls on a Monday — only four working days separate it from Labour Day.
Ascension pont
4 daysMay 25 – 28
Ascension Day (Thu May 25). Friday May 26 is the classic pont.
Whit Monday
3 daysJun 3 – 5
Whit Monday (Jun 5) brackets the weekend.
Bastille Day
3 daysJul 14 – 16
Bastille Day falls on a Friday — a three-day break.
Christmas
3 daysDec 23 – 25
Christmas Day falls on a Monday — a three-day break through the weekend.
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 2028: two Monday holidays one week apart
Labour Day (Mon May 1) and Victory Day (Mon May 8) each give a three-day break with only Tue–Fri working between them. Ascension (Thu May 25) and Whit Monday (Mon Jun 5) add two more long weekends in late spring.
No substitute days: two holidays lost to weekends
New Year's Day (Sat Jan 1) and Armistice Day (Sat Nov 11) 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 2028?+
Eleven in metropolitan France.
What happens when a French holiday falls on a weekend in 2028?+
Nothing — no substitute day. New Year's Day (Sat Jan 1) and Armistice Day (Sat Nov 11) 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 2028?+
Thursday, May 25, 2028. Friday May 26 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 2028, Friday May 26 after Ascension is the classic example.
Why does May 2028 have so many days off?+
Labour Day (May 1) and Victory Day (May 8) both fall on Monday, each creating a three-day break with only four working days between them. Ascension (May 25) and Whit Monday (Jun 5) follow.
