Public holidays in France (2026)
Last reviewed: 7 November 2026
In short: France has 11 legal holidays in the general case in 2026, with more in Alsace-Moselle. Only 1 May is a compulsory day off for all employees, and work that day is paid double. A holiday on a non-working day gives no extra leave.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| National public holidaysPublic holidays | In 2026: 1 January, Easter Monday (6 April), 1 May, 8 May, Ascension (14 May), Whit Monday (25 May), 14 July, 15 August (a Saturday), 1 November (a Sunday), 11 November and 25 December. Alsace-Moselle also has Good Friday (3 April, in communes with a Protestant or mixed church) and 26 December. [1] |
| Number of national public holidaysPublic holidays | There are 11 legal holidays in the general case in 2026, and 13 in Alsace-Moselle; overseas departments add a local day marking the abolition of slavery. [1] |
| Working on a public holidayPublic holidays | Only 1 May is a compulsory day off for all employees, with exceptions for businesses that cannot stop (such as hospitals). Other holidays are days off only if a collective agreement or the employer provides it; an employee working on 1 May gets double pay. [1] |
| Shop opening on public holidaysPublic holidays | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Holiday falling on a weekendPublic holidays | A day-off holiday that falls on a day not normally worked, such as a Sunday, gives no right to an extra day of leave, unless a collective agreement provides better terms. [1] |
Notes
- The Service-Public page on private-sector holidays does not cover shop opening. It says only 1 May is a compulsory day off for employees.
Sources
- Service-Public.fr (Direction de l'information légale et administrative): Jours fériés et ponts dans le secteur privé (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
Related pages
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.