Public holiday in France
V-E Day in France
Friday, May 8, 2026
Nationwide public holiday
V-E Day in France marks the anniversary of Germany’s surrender in 1945 and the end of the Second World War in Europe. It is a nationwide public holiday observed on 8 May.
About V-E Day in France
In France, V-E Day is the official commemoration of the end of the war in Europe and the defeat of Nazi Germany. It is observed across the country and is one of the fixed national dates in the French public-holiday calendar. For many people in France, 8 May is primarily a day of remembrance rather than celebration. It is associated with military losses, the Resistance, occupation, liberation, and the return of peace in 1945. The date also sits close to other civic remembrance days in France, which gives it a solemn place in the spring calendar.
History
8 May became a major French commemoration after the Second World War as the day marking the Allied victory in Europe. The holiday’s legal status was not entirely constant in the decades after 1945: at times it was treated differently in national law and public observance, before being restored as a public holiday in France in 1981.
Traditions
The central tradition is official remembrance. Ceremonies commonly include laying wreaths, moments of silence, and speeches at war memorials and at monuments to the dead. On the national day of commemoration, the French flag may be displayed at civic events, and the Marseillaise is often part of public ceremonies. Veterans’ associations and local authorities usually take part in the main observances.
How V-E Day is celebrated in France
Across France, municipalities and state authorities hold commemorative ceremonies at memorials, cenotaphs, and military monuments. The President of the Republic and other officials typically participate in national remembrance events in Paris, while towns and villages organise their own local observances. Because it is a public holiday, the day also has a quieter practical character in many places, with families and communities often using the date to attend ceremonies or visit memorial sites.
Interesting facts
France observes 8 May as a public holiday nationwide, unlike some countries where V-E Day is only commemorated without a day off. The date is closely linked in France to the state’s broader culture of war remembrance, alongside other national memorial days such as 11 November.
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.