Public holiday in France
New Year's Day in France
Thursday, January 1, 2026
Nationwide public holiday
New Year’s Day is a nationwide public holiday in France on 1 January. It marks the start of the calendar year and is one of the quietest days of the holiday season.
About New Year's Day in France
In France, New Year’s Day is a nationwide public holiday that follows New Year’s Eve and comes after the end-of-year celebrations of 31 December. It has practical importance because it closes the holiday period for many people and often leaves the country in a slower rhythm than usual. The day is also closely followed by the first weekday return to work or school, so it functions as a clear marker between the festive season and ordinary life.
History
The Edict of Roussillon established 1 January as the start of the year throughout France in 1564. France later adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1582. The day itself became a public holiday under the modern French calendar system rather than through a separate national commemoration.
Traditions
Common customs in France on 1 January are personal rather than ceremonial: people exchange New Year wishes, often saying "Bonne année," and may send greeting cards or messages to relatives, friends and colleagues. Many households share a meal with family or close friends, sometimes continuing the festive food of the previous evening.
How New Year's Day is celebrated in France
The day is generally calm and family-oriented. Many people sleep late after New Year’s Eve, visit relatives or keep a low-key schedule at home, while major public festivities are limited compared with the night before. In Paris, the Champs-Élysées and other central areas may still see people out for an early-year stroll, but the atmosphere is usually subdued.
Interesting facts
New Year’s Day in France is also called the first day of the year in the country’s civil calendar, which is the same date observed nationwide. Unlike some French public holidays tied to regional history or religion, 1 January is a universal national holiday throughout mainland France and the overseas departments covered by the national calendar.
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.