Holiday planning
Long Weekends in France 2026
France has 9 long weekends in 2026. The longest natural break is 1 day around Armistice Day (Wed 11 Nov). Take Monday and Tuesday off and turn the Armistice Day break into a 5-day run.
9
Long weekends
5
Longest break (days)
9
Bridge day opportunities
Official reference: Service-Public.fr — Jours fériés · How we verify this data
All long weekends in France 2026
Sorted by calendar date. "Days off" = the natural break without any annual leave. "Bridge days" = working days to take as paid leave to extend the break.
| Date range | Holiday | Days off | Bridge days to take | Total break |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 1 Jan – Sun 4 Jan | New Year's Day | 1 | Friday(Fri 2 Jan) | 4d |
| Fri 3 Apr – Mon 6 Apr | Easter Monday | 3 | Friday(Fri 3 Apr) | 4d |
| Thu 30 Apr – Sun 3 May | Labor Day | 3 | Thursday(Thu 30 Apr) | 4d |
| Thu 7 May – Sun 10 May | Victory in Europe Day | 3 | Thursday(Thu 7 May) | 4d |
| Thu 14 May – Sun 17 May | Ascension Day | 1 | Friday(Fri 15 May) | 4d |
| Fri 22 May – Mon 25 May | Whit Monday | 3 | Friday(Fri 22 May) | 4d |
| Sat 11 Jul – Tue 14 Jul | Bastille Day | 1 | Monday(Mon 13 Jul) | 4d |
| Sat 7 Nov – Wed 11 Nov | Armistice Day | 1 | Monday + Tuesday(Mon 9 Nov, Tue 10 Nov) | 5d |
| Thu 24 Dec – Sun 27 Dec | Christmas Day | 3 | Thursday(Thu 24 Dec) | 4d |
Best long weekends in France 2026
The top breaks ranked by total consecutive days off.
November
Armistice Day
Sat 7 Nov – Wed 11 Nov
5
days
January
New Year's Day
Thu 1 Jan – Sun 4 Jan
4
days
April
Easter Monday
Fri 3 Apr – Mon 6 Apr
4
days
May
Labor Day
Thu 30 Apr – Sun 3 May
4
days
How to use bridge days in France
A bridge day (sometimes called a sandwiched day) is a working day that sits between a public holiday and a weekend. By taking it as paid annual leave, you connect the holiday to the weekend and create a longer uninterrupted break.
For example, if a public holiday falls on a Thursday, taking Friday off gives you Thursday + Friday + Saturday + Sunday — four consecutive days using only one day of leave.
In France 2026, there are 9 bridge day opportunities highlighted in the table above. The biggest gain is around Armistice Day: take Monday and Tuesday off to turn a 1-day break into 5 consecutive days using only 2 days of annual leave.
Public holidays linked to long weekends
Continue exploring
More for France 2026
Public holidays
Public holidays in France 2026
Full list of 11 public holidays with dates and observance notes.
Working days
Working days in France 2026
Monthly breakdown of weekdays minus public holidays.
Other year
Long weekends in France 2027
Same bridge day analysis for 2027.
School holidays
School holidays in France 2026
Term dates and school breaks by region — plan family time off around them.
Region guide
Public holidays across Europe
Compare holiday calendars for neighbouring countries in the region.
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Working Days Between Two Dates
Net working days for any date range — public holidays excluded, 192 countries.
Frequently asked questions
How many long weekends does France have in 2026?
France has 9 long weekends in 2026 where a public holiday creates a break of three or more consecutive days.
What is a bridge day?
A bridge day is a regular working day that falls between a public holiday and a weekend. Taking it as annual leave creates an uninterrupted break of four or more days using just one or two days of paid leave — maximising your time off.
What is the longest long weekend in France in 2026?
The longest break is 5 days from Saturday, 7 November 2026 to Wednesday, 11 November 2026, centred around Armistice Day (taking Monday and Tuesday as annual leave).
How can I get the most days off with the least leave in France 2026?
The best bridge day opportunity is around Armistice Day (Wed 11 Nov). Take Monday and Tuesday as annual leave to get a 5-day break using only 2 days of paid leave.
Are bridge days public holidays in France?
No. Bridge days are ordinary working days — employees choose to take them as paid annual leave. They are not legally mandated public holidays.