The 2025-2026 school calendar is now available, with dates for the start of the school year (pupils, secondary school pupils, and students) and school vacations. Different dates apply depending on the academic zone to which your home is attached. In mainland France, four zones (including Corsica) are grouping together various academies. For the year 2025-2026, the dates for the start of the school year and school vacations are as follows:
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Back-to-school dates and school vacations 2025-2026
| Back to school and vacations/education zones | Zone A | Zone B | Zone C | From Saturday, December 20, 2025, to Monday, January 5, 2026 |
| Students start school in September 2025 | Monday, September 1, 2025 | Monday, September 1, 2025 | Monday, September 1, 2025 | Date unknown |
| Autumn vacations 2025 | Saturday, October 18 to Monday, November 3, 2025 | Saturday, October 18 to Monday, November 3, 2025 | Saturday, October 18 to Monday, November 3, 2025 | Dates unknown |
| Christmas (or end-of-year) vacations 2025 | From Saturday, December 20, 2025, to Monday, January 5, 2026 | From Saturday, December 20, 2025, to Monday, January 5, 2026 | From Saturday, April 11 to Monday April 27, 2026 | Dates unknown |
| Winter vacation (or February break) 2026 | Saturday, February 7 to Monday, February 23, 2026 | Saturday, February 14 to Monday, March 2, 2026 | Saturday, February 21 to Monday, March 9, 2026 | Dates unknown |
| Easter vacation (or spring break) 2026 | Saturday, April 4 to Monday, April 20, 2026 | From Saturday, April 11 to Monday, April 27, 2026 | Saturday, April 18 to Monday, May 4, 2026 | Dates unknown |
| Summer vacation 2026 | Saturday, July 4, 2026 | Saturday, July 4, 2026 | Saturday, July 4, 2026 | Date unknown |
Download the 2025-2026 school vacations calendar
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). |
Further information for school vacations 2025-2026
- Students will not have “Class” on Friday, May 15, 2026, and Saturday, May 16, 2026.
- Vacations start on the days indicated, after school. For students who do not have classes on Saturdays, holidays begin on Fridays after school. Classes resume on the mornings of the days indicated.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the 2025-2026 school vacation calendar
Other back-to-school and school vacation calendars
Your opinion on the 2025-2026 school vacation calendar and your children’s back-to-school season
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