calendar and bridges, which days to have as much vacation as possible?

Religious festivals or historical commemorations, France has eleven public holidays each year. But the calendar is not fixed, these days evolve from one year to the next: they always fall on the same date of course, but not at the same time of the week… which changes everything in the organization of holidays. Because obviously, why not take advantage of these days “offered” by the State to extend rest periods as much as possible? Vhere are the dates of the next public holidays in France for the year 2026in order to anticipate your vacation as early as possible and know which days to take to maximize your vacation time!

Public holiday calendar in 2026

In 2026, two holidays fall this year in the middle of the weekend : the Assumption will take place on a Saturday and All Saints’ Day, on a Sunday. Good news for those who usually work at the end of the week, but a real disappointment for employees who work Monday to Friday. The latter will, however, be reassured to learn that many other public holidays are planned for Thursdays or Fridays, thus promising cascading bridges (and therefore long weekends in perspective).

• New Year’s Day: Thursday January 1, 2026
• Easter Monday: Monday April 6
• Labor Day: Friday May 1
• Victory 1945: Friday May 8
• Ascension Day: Thursday May 14
• Pentecost Monday: Monday May 25
• National holiday: Tuesday July 14
• Assumption: Saturday August 15
• All Saints’ Day: Sunday, November 1
• Armistice 1918: Wednesday November 11
• Christmas: Friday December 25

So, by targeting public holidays in the middle of the week and intelligently placing a few days of rest around them, it is still possible to maximize your vacation periods. In May 2026 for example, it will be enough to take eight days (May 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, and 15) to enjoy seventeen consecutive days without working! Whether for long weekends or real breaks, reading the calendar carefully remains your best ally in optimizing your free time.