Planning your year in France is about more than booking holidays, it’s about understanding the national rhythm. If you’re moving to France or already settling into life here, knowing the French bank holidays (jours fériés) and school holiday dates helps you plan travel, avoid peak-season chaos, and organise work and childcare with ease.
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French bank holidays in 2026
Bank holidays in France are part of the cultural fabric: long lunches, family gatherings, village events, and opportunities to explore the country at a slower pace.
Here are the official French bank holidays for 2026:
| Holiday | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day (Jour de l’An) | 1 January | Thursday |
| Easter Monday (Lundi de Pâques) | 6 April | Monday |
| May Day – Labour Day (Fête du Travail) | 1 May | Friday |
| Victory in Europe Day (Fête de la Victoire 1945) | 8 May | Friday |
| Ascension Day (L’Ascension) | 14 May | Thursday |
| Whit Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte) | 25 May | Monday |
| Bastille Day – National Day (Fête Nationale) | 14 July | Tuesday |
| Assumption of Mary (L’Assomption) | 15 August | Saturday |
| All Saints’ Day (La Toussaint) | 1 November | Sunday |
| Armistice Day (Armistice 1918) | 11 November | Wednesday |
| Christmas Day (Noël) | 25 December | Friday |
Good to know
- Many French families “font le pont” (bridge the gap) when a holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, turning it into a long weekend. Expect busy roads and booked-out accommodation.
- Public transport, shops, and administrative offices often operate reduced hours.
French school holidays in 2026
If you have children, or simply want to avoid peak travel weeks, school holidays matter.
France uses three geographic zones, Zone A, Zone B, and Zone C, to stagger winter and spring breaks.
Zones at a glance
- Zone A: Besançon, Bordeaux, Clermont-Ferrand, Dijon, Grenoble, Lyon, Limoges, Poitiers
- Zone B: Aix-Marseille, Amiens, Lille, Nancy-Metz, Nantes, Nice, Normandie, Orléans-Tours, Reims, Rennes, Strasbourg
- Zone C: Créteil, Montpellier, Paris, Toulouse, Versailles
School holiday dates for 2026
Winter holidays (Vacances d’hiver)
- Zone A: 7 Feb – 23 Feb 2026
- Zone B: 14 Feb – 2 Mar 2026
- Zone C: 21 Feb – 9 Mar 2026
Spring holidays (Vacances de Pâques)
- Zone A: 4 Apr – 20 Apr 2026
- Zone B: 11 Apr – 27 Apr 2026
- Zone C: 18 Apr – 4 May 2026
Summer Holidays (Vacances d’été)
- All Zones: 4 Jul – 1 Sep 2026
Autumn Holidays (Vacances de la Toussaint)
- All Zones: 17 Oct – 2 Nov 2026
How these zones affect daily life
Understanding zones isn’t only relevant for parents, it helps you:
- Plan travel without hitting peak national holiday weeks.
- Avoid crowded tourist areas, especially in February, April, and October.
- Schedule admin appointments (banks, prefectures, notaries) outside busy periods.
- Anticipate price changes, as train and flight fares increase significantly during school breaks.
For expats relocating to France, syncing your annual calendar with the French school system makes day-to-day life smoother and helps you feel anchored in local routines.
Why this matters if you’re moving to France
Our clients often tell us that understanding French holiday patterns helped them:
- choose the right time of year to relocate
- plan viewing trips or rental searches
- avoid travel bottlenecks during high-traffic weeks
- adjust expectations around business hours and service availability
Small insights like this make the transition into French life much easier.
Final notes
Whether you’re organising family life, planning holidays, or simply trying to understand how France works, knowing the bank holidays and school holiday zones is essential.
Use this guide to plan ahead, travel smarter, and make the most of your new life in France in 2026.
Updated in November 2025
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