The 2026-2027 school calendar is now available, featuring the start dates for the school year (for primary, middle, and high school students, as well as university students), as well as the school holiday dates. Different dates apply depending on the academic zone to which your home is assigned. In metropolitan France, there are four zones (including Corsica) encompassing different academic regions. For the 2026-2027 school year, the start and holiday dates are as follows:
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The dates for the start of the school year and the school holidays for 2026-2027
| Back to school and holidays / national education academic zones | Zone A | Zone B | Zone C | Corse |
| Teachers’ pre-start of term | Monday, August 31, 2026 | Not known to date | ||
| Students return to school in September 2026 | Tuesday, September 1, 2026 | Not known to date | ||
| All Saints’ Day (or autumn holidays) 2026 | Classes end Saturday, October 17, 2026 Classes resume Monday, November 2, 2026 | Not known to date | ||
| Christmas holidays (or end-of-year holidays) 2026 | End of classes: Saturday, December 19, 2026 Classes resume: Monday, January 4, 2027 | Not known to date | ||
| Winter holidays (or February holidays) 2027 | End of classes: Saturday, February 13, 2027. Resumption of classes: Monday, March 1, 2027 | End of classes: Saturday, February 20, 2027. Resumption of classes: Monday, March 8, 2027 | Classes end: Saturday, February 6, 2027. Classes resume: Monday, February 22, 2027. | Not known to date |
| Easter (or spring) holidays 2027 | End of classes: Saturday, April 10, 2027 Classes resume: Monday, April 26, 2027 | End of classes: Saturday, April 17, 2027 Resumption of classes: Monday, May 3, 2027 | End of classes: Saturday, April 3, 2027 Classes resume: Monday, April 19, 2027 | Not known to date |
| Summer holidays 2027 | End of classes: Saturday, July 3, 2027 | Not known to date | ||
| The start of the holidays is after classes; classes resume on the morning of the indicated dates. Since the holidays begin on Saturday, for students who do not have classes that day, the start of the holidays is on Friday after classes. There will be no classes on Friday, May 7, 2027. | ||||
Download the official French school holiday calendar for 2026-2027
National education zones for school vacations in Mainland France
| Zones | Zone A | Zone B | Zone C | Corsica |
| National education academies. | Besançon, Bordeaux, Clermont-Ferrand, Dijon, Grenoble, Limoges, Lyon and Poitiers. | Aix-Marseille, Amiens, Caen, Lille, Nancy-Metz, Nantes, Nice, Orléans-Tours, Reims, Rennes, Rouen and Strasbourg. | Créteil, Montpellier, Paris, Toulouse and Versailles. | Departments of Corse-du-Sud (2A) and Haute-Corse (2B). |
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the 2026-2027 school vacation calendar
Further information for French school vacations 2026-2027
- The 2026-2027 school calendar is now available, featuring the start dates for the school year (for primary, middle, and high school students, as well as university students), as well as the school holiday dates. Different dates apply depending on the academic zone to which your home is assigned. In metropolitan France, there are four zones (including Corsica) encompassing different academic regions. For the 2026-2027 school year, the start and holiday dates are as follows:
- The start of the holidays is after classes; classes resume on the morning of the indicated dates. Students who do not have classes on Saturdays are on holiday from Friday evening after their last class on that day.
- Whit Monday is a school holiday, designated as a “solidarity day.”
- For the 2026-2027 school year, classes will be suspended on Friday, May 7, 2027.
- Start of summer holidays: Teachers required to participate in exam-related activities are on duty until the date specified in the official memo for the end of these exams, as set for the session schedule.
- For teachers, two half-days (or an equivalent amount of time) may be allocated outside of regular teaching hours during the school year to facilitate reflection and professional development on topics proposed by the academic authorities.
- The dates set by the national school calendar may, under certain conditions, be modified locally by the rector. This calendar does not include the end dates of school examinations.
- For Corsica, the overseas departments, and the overseas collectivities, the rectors, vice-rectors, and heads of departments of the National Education system are authorized to adapt the national calendar by establishing, by decree, school calendars for a period of three years that take into account the specific characteristics of each of the regions concerned.
Latest school start and holiday French calendars
Your opinion on the 2026-2027 school vacation calendar and your children’s back-to-school season
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