Public holiday in France
Bastille Day in France
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Nationwide public holiday
Bastille Day is France’s national day, observed nationwide on 14 July. It marks the anniversary of the 1789 storming of the Bastille, a key event in the French Revolution.
About Bastille Day in France
In France, Bastille Day is the main annual civic holiday and a nationwide public holiday. It commemorates the start of the French Revolution in the popular national memory, while also serving as a day of state ceremony, public gatherings and summer festivities. The date is observed across metropolitan France and overseas territories, with official events in Paris and local celebrations elsewhere.
History
The holiday takes its name from the Bastille, a prison and symbol of royal authority in Paris that was stormed on 14 July 1789. In the early years of the French Republic, 14 July became associated with republican ideals and national unity. The date was officially established as France’s national holiday by law in 1880, following the Third Republic’s effort to create a shared civic commemoration.
Traditions
The most recognizable tradition is the military parade on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, attended by the President of the Republic. Fireworks are also closely associated with the day, especially the evening of 14 July, and many towns organize public balls or community gatherings known as bals des pompiers, often hosted by fire stations.
How Bastille Day is celebrated in France
Across France, the day is marked by official ceremonies, local festivities and family outings. In Paris, the parade and accompanying state events set the tone for national observance, while many communes stage concerts, dances and fireworks displays. It is also a common summer travel period, so celebrations often continue outdoors into the evening.
Interesting facts
The holiday is usually called simply “le 14 Juillet” in French, especially in everyday speech. The annual military parade in Paris is one of the oldest and best-known in Europe. Fire stations in many places open their doors for the bals des pompiers, which are a distinctive part of the evening festivities.
Dates in published calendars
Sources and verification
- 2026: Service Public – France · checked 20 Oct 2026
- 2027: Service Public – France · checked 20 Oct 2026
Import sources
- Generic ICS feed
An import is not an independent verification.