lastUpdated: 2026-06-22
Complete France National and Regional Holiday Calendar for 2018
France's holiday calendar combines a clear, nationwide set of public holidays with a small number of important regional exceptions, most notably in Alsace-Moselle, that anyone planning business operations, travel, or events in 2018 should understand. Beyond the legal holidays, the country's rich culture of food-based and cultural traditions, from Galette des Rois in January to Fête de la Musique in June, shapes the rhythm of the year just as much as the official calendar. This guide walks through every national holiday and major cultural observance in France for 2018.
National Public Holidays vs. Regional Holidays in France
France observes eleven nationwide public holidays under the Labour Code, including New Year's Day, Easter Monday, Labour Day, Victory in Europe Day, Ascension Day, Whit Monday, Bastille Day, the Assumption of Mary, All Saints' Day, Armistice Day, and Christmas Day. These apply uniformly across mainland France and most overseas territories.
The Alsace-Moselle region, comprising the départements of Bas-Rhin, Haut-Rhin, and Moselle, is the country's most notable regional exception, observing two additional public holidays not recognised elsewhere in France: Good Friday and Saint Stephen's Day on December 26th. This distinction dates back to local law retained from the period when the region was administered by Germany before and after the First World War, and it remains in place today even though Alsace-Moselle is otherwise fully integrated into the French legal system. Overseas departments and territories also observe their own additional commemorative dates specific to their local history, separate from this mainland regional exception.
Faire le Pont: Long Weekends in 2018
May is consistently the busiest month for French long weekends, given the close proximity of Labour Day, Victory in Europe Day, and Ascension Day. When a public holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, many French workers "font le pont," or "make the bridge," by also taking the adjoining Monday or Friday off to create an extended four-day weekend. Depending on how the dates align in 2018, May in particular can produce several such opportunities, making it one of the most heavily booked travel periods of the year.
Plan Ahead with the Printable PDF Calendar
A printable PDF version of the 2018 France holiday calendar is a useful tool for HR departments, schools, and travellers trying to track national holidays, the Alsace-Moselle regional exceptions, and the best opportunities to faire le pont. Having every date organised in one place makes planning around the French calendar far more straightforward. Download our free printable 2018 France holiday calendar to keep every public holiday and regional variation within easy reach throughout the year.