French School Holidays 2026-2027: Official Dates by Zone (A, B, C) + UK, Belgium and Spain
Quick answer: French schools went back on Tuesday 1 September 2026. The autumn break runs from 17 October to 2 November 2026 and Christmas from 19 December 2026 to 4 January 2027 for everyone. February half term 2027 is staggered: Zone C from 6 February, Zone A from 13 February and Zone B from 20 February. Summer holidays start on Saturday 3 July 2027.
French School Holidays 2026-2027 at a Glance
| Holiday | Zone A | Zone B | Zone C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Back to school | Tuesday 1 September 2026 | ||
| Autumn (Toussaint) | Saturday 17 October to Monday 2 November 2026 | ||
| Christmas | Saturday 19 December 2026 to Monday 4 January 2027 | ||
| Winter (February) | 13 February to 1 March 2027 | 20 February to 8 March 2027 | 6 February to 22 February 2027 |
| Spring (Easter) | 10 April to 26 April 2027 | 17 April to 3 May 2027 | 3 April to 19 April 2027 |
| Ascension long weekend | Wednesday 5 May (after class) to Monday 10 May 2027 | ||
| Summer | From Saturday 3 July 2027 | ||
Zone A: Besançon, Bordeaux, Clermont-Ferrand, Dijon, Grenoble, Limoges, Lyon, Poitiers. Zone B: Aix-Marseille, Amiens, Lille, Nancy-Metz, Nantes, Nice, Normandy, Orléans-Tours, Reims, Rennes, Strasbourg. Zone C: Créteil, Montpellier, Paris, Toulouse, Versailles.
French Autumn Half Term 2026 (Toussaint)
Common to all three zones: two weeks from Saturday 17 October to Monday 2 November 2026. This is also when winter bookings speed up, especially for February weeks.
Planning your ski season already? Browse our apartments in Les Arcs
French Christmas Holidays 2026
From Saturday 19 December 2026 to Monday 4 January 2027 for all zones. Christmas Day and New Year’s Day both fall on a Friday, giving two full weeks that sell out early in ski resorts.
Christmas on the slopes? Les Arcs or Méribel
French February Half Term 2027 (Winter Holidays by Zone)
- Zone C (Paris, Montpellier, Toulouse): Saturday 6 February to Monday 22 February 2027
- Zone A (Lyon, Grenoble, Bordeaux): Saturday 13 February to Monday 1 March 2027
- Zone B (Lille, Marseille, Nantes, Strasbourg): Saturday 20 February to Monday 8 March 2027
Zone C goes first in 2027. Between 13 and 27 February, two French zones overlap every week, on top of the UK half term: this is the most in-demand fortnight of the ski season.
Planning a ski trip in February? Browse our apartments in Les Arcs, Méribel and Valmorel. These weeks book up first.
French Easter Holidays 2027 (Spring Holidays)
- Zone C: Saturday 3 April to Monday 19 April 2027
- Zone A: Saturday 10 April to Monday 26 April 2027
- Zone B: Saturday 17 April to Monday 3 May 2027
Easter Sunday falls on 28 March 2027, so French spring holidays start after Easter in every zone. UK families on their Easter break (26 March to 9 April) will find quieter resorts in late March, with sunny spring skiing at high altitude.
Spring skiing over Easter? Les Arcs and Méribel ski until the end of the season.
French Summer Holidays 2027
Summer starts on Saturday 3 July 2027 for all zones. The Alps offer hiking, mountain biking, alpine lakes and cool air, often at better prices than the coast.
A summer in the mountains? Les Saisies or Valmorel, two family resorts with mountain views.
UK, Belgium and Spain School Holidays 2026-2027
United Kingdom (England)
| Holiday | Dates |
|---|---|
| October half term | 26 to 30 October 2026 |
| Christmas | 21 December 2026 to 1 January 2027 |
| February half term | 15 to 19 February 2027 (8 to 12 February in some areas) |
| Easter | 26 March to 9 April 2027 |
| May half term | 31 May to 4 June 2027 |
| Summer | From around 22 July 2027 |
Belgium
| Holiday | French-speaking (FWB) | Flanders |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn | 19 October to 1 November 2026 | Own Flemish dates |
| Christmas | 21 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 | 21 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 |
| Carnival / winter break | 22 February to 7 March 2027 | 8 to 14 February 2027 |
| Spring / Easter | 26 April to 9 May 2027 | 29 March to 11 April 2027 |
| Summer | From 3 July 2027 | 1 July to 31 August 2027 |
Spain
Each autonomous community sets its own calendar. In Madrid: back to school on 7 September 2026, Christmas from 23 December 2026 to 10 January 2027, Holy Week from 19 to 29 March 2027, last day of school 18 June 2027. In other regions, Easter holidays fall roughly between 22 March and 2 April 2027.
Other countries
Germany and Switzerland set dates by state or canton, with staggered ski weeks in February and March. The Netherlands spreads its February spring break across three regions. Italy has a short Easter break around 28 March 2027 and summer from mid-June. Always check with the relevant national education ministry.
Best Weeks to Ski in the French Alps in 2027
We cross-checked the French, UK and Belgian calendars to estimate resort crowds week by week.
| Week (Saturday to Saturday) | Who is on holiday | Crowds |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Dec to 2 Jan | All of France, Belgium, UK | Very busy |
| 2 Jan to 6 Feb | No French zone | Quiet |
| 6 to 13 Feb | Zone C, Flanders, some UK areas | Busy |
| 13 to 20 Feb | Zones A and C, UK half term | Very busy |
| 20 to 27 Feb | Zones A and B, French-speaking Belgium | Very busy |
| 27 Feb to 6 Mar | Zone B, French-speaking Belgium | Busy |
| 6 Mar to 3 Apr | No French zone (UK Easter from 26 March) | Quiet |
| 3 to 24 Apr | French spring holidays (Zones C, A then B) | Moderate |
Quieter slopes and better prices? Aim for January or March. See availability in Les Arcs
Frequently Asked Questions
When is French February half term 2027?
French winter holidays 2027 are staggered by zone: Zone C from Saturday 6 to Monday 22 February, Zone A from Saturday 13 February to Monday 1 March, and Zone B from Saturday 20 February to Monday 8 March 2027.
When are the French Easter holidays in 2027?
French spring holidays do not include Easter in 2027. Easter Sunday is 28 March 2027, while spring holidays run from 3 to 19 April (Zone C), 10 to 26 April (Zone A) and 17 April to 3 May 2027 (Zone B).
Which school zone are the French Alps in?
Savoie, Haute-Savoie and Isère belong to the Grenoble academy, in Zone A. Local families are on winter holiday from 13 February to 1 March 2027.
When do French summer holidays 2027 start?
French summer holidays start on Saturday 3 July 2027 for all zones. The 2026-2027 school year started on Tuesday 1 September 2026.
What is the busiest ski week in February 2027?
13 to 27 February 2027. Two French zones are on holiday at the same time each week, overlapping with the main UK February half term (15 to 19 February) and then French-speaking Belgium’s winter break from 22 February.
When is UK February half term 2027?
Most schools in England break from 15 to 19 February 2027. Some local authorities use 8 to 12 February 2027. Easter holidays generally run from 26 March to 9 April 2027.
When is the quietest time to ski in the French Alps in 2027?
There are no French school holidays from 4 January to 6 February 2027 and from 8 March 2027 until the spring holidays. These weeks usually offer quieter slopes and lower rental prices.
Sources: French Ministry of Education (Service-Public.fr), Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, UK local authorities (GOV.UK), Comunidad de Madrid. Dates checked on 24 September 2026 and subject to change: always confirm with the school.
