France Public Holidays 2026

France has 11 public holidays in 2026 — two more than Germany. They're spread across the calendar, though May stands out with an unusual concentration of five.

Whether you're an expat, travelling for work or managing a team in France, knowing these dates ahead of time saves awkward scheduling. Below is the full 2026 calendar, the Alsace-Moselle regional exception and a note on France's time zone.

France's 2026 Public Holidays

These 11 days apply across metropolitan France and the overseas departments. Government offices and schools are closed; shop opening rules vary — see the section below.

The Alsace-Moselle Exception

Three departments on the German border — Bas-Rhin, Haut-Rhin and Moselle — retain local law dating from the German administration period (1871–1918). Two extra public holidays apply there: Good Friday (3 April 2026) and St. Stephen's Day (26 December 2026), bringing their total to 13. A colleague in Strasbourg may be off on days when their Paris counterpart is working.

France's Time Zone

France observes Central European Time (CET, UTC+1) in winter and Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2) from the last Sunday of March through the last Sunday of October. Clocks go forward one hour in spring and back in autumn.

The UK is one hour behind France all year. The US East Coast is six hours behind in winter, five in summer. Germany, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands share France's time zone, so meetings within continental Western Europe need no adjustment.

What's Open on Public Holidays?

Unlike Germany, French law doesn't require shops to close on public holidays. The exception is 1 May: commercial activity is legally prohibited that day, and employers cannot ask staff to work alternative arrangements. On other holidays, supermarkets and many shops stay open, especially in tourist areas.

Museums and government offices close on all public holidays. Christmas Day closures in city centres follow trade convention rather than statute — most large stores shut voluntarily.

Brief Notes and Traditions

Bastille Day (14 July) is France's most spectacular public holiday: a military parade down the Champs-Élysées in the morning, followed by fireworks from the Eiffel Tower in the evening. All Saints' Day (1 November) is observed quietly — families visit cemeteries and chrysanthemum sales peak across the country. Christmas Eve (le réveillon du 24 décembre) is the main family gathering of the year, traditionally built around seafood, foie gras and the bûche de Noël cake.