Working days 2026
In 2026 France has a total of 252 working days.
How many working days are there in 2026?
Working days
252
Public holidays
11
9 on weekdays
Other weekday holidays
0
Most: March (22 days) – Least: May (17 days)
Monthly breakdown
January
- Working days:21
- Public holidays:1
- Other weekday holidays:0
Holidays impacting working days
- 01. Nouvel An (THU)
February
- Working days:20
- Public holidays:0
- Other weekday holidays:0
March
- Working days:22
- Public holidays:0
- Other weekday holidays:0
April
- Working days:21
- Public holidays:1
- Other weekday holidays:0
Holidays impacting working days
- 06. Lundi de Pâques (MON)
May
- Working days:17
- Public holidays:4
- Other weekday holidays:0
Holidays impacting working days
- 01. Fête du travail (FRI)
- 08. Fête de la Victoire 1945 (FRI)
- 14. Ascension (THU)
- 25. Lundi de Pentecôte (MON)
June
- Working days:22
- Public holidays:0
- Other weekday holidays:0
July
- Working days:22
- Public holidays:1
- Other weekday holidays:0
Holidays impacting working days
- 14. Fête Nationale de la France (TUE)
August
- Working days:21
- Public holidays:0
- Other weekday holidays:0
Holidays impacting working days
- 15. Assomption (SAT)
September
- Working days:22
- Public holidays:0
- Other weekday holidays:0
October
- Working days:22
- Public holidays:0
- Other weekday holidays:0
November
- Working days:20
- Public holidays:1
- Other weekday holidays:0
Holidays impacting working days
- 01. Toussaint (SUN)
- 11. Armistice 1918 (WED)
December
- Working days:22
- Public holidays:1
- Other weekday holidays:0
Holidays impacting working days
- 25. Noël (FRI)
Other years
Other countries
In France, there are 11 national public holidays per year, defined by the Labour Code. These days are non-working and paid for the vast majority of employees, although certain sectors (hospitality, healthcare, retail) may be exempt under collective agreement conditions. For HR and payroll professionals, the distinction between "jour ouvrable" and "jour ouvré" is fundamental, particularly for calculating paid leave and absences.
Frequently asked questions
What happens when a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday?
In France, there is no system of substitute days: if a public holiday coincides with a Saturday or Sunday, it is simply lost for the employee. Unlike other countries, no legal provision allows for automatic rollover to the following Monday. However, some collective agreements may provide for specific compensation, but this is not the general rule.
What is the difference between "jour ouvrable" and "jour ouvré" in payroll?
Under French labour law, "jour ouvrable" refers to any day of the week except Sunday and public holidays, potentially six days from Monday to Saturday. "Jour ouvré", on the other hand, corresponds to days actually worked within the company, typically Monday to Friday. This distinction is crucial in payroll: the legal calculation of paid leave is based on working days (30 working days = 5 weeks), but many companies apply by custom or collective agreement a calculation based on actual working days (25 working days).
Do employees in the Alsace-Moselle region benefit from additional public holidays?
Yes, employees working in the departments of Bas-Rhin, Haut-Rhin, and Moselle benefit from two additional public holidays compared to the rest of mainland France: Good Friday (Friday before Easter) and December 26 (St. Stephen's Day). This special regime is a legacy of Alsatian-Moselle local law, still in effect today. Employers in these departments must therefore account for this when managing schedules and payroll.
Is the "pont" a legal right for French employees?
No, the "pont" — which involves taking a Friday or Monday off between a public holiday and the weekend — is not a legal right in France. It is a widespread cultural practice granted at the employer's discretion or provided for by a company agreement or collective agreement. If the employer grants the "pont", they may request recovery of hours not worked, within the limits of applicable regulations.
How does the statutory 35-hour working week affect the calculation of working days in France?
Since the Aubry Law of 2000, the statutory working week is set at 35 hours, which is significantly less than the 40 hours practised in many other countries. In practice, this often results in the allocation of RTT days (Réduction du Temps de Travail) when employees work beyond 35 hours per week. For calculations of working days, payroll professionals must therefore integrate public holidays, paid leave, and any RTT days in order to obtain the actual number of working days available over a given period.