Parental leave In an effort to improve parents’ work-life balance, and promote greater equality for new mothers and fathers following the birth of a child, a new law – which comes into effect on July 1st – allows each parent to add a period of one or two months paid leave to their existing maternity, paternity, and child-rearing or adoption leave entitlements. READ ALSO How new parents in France can now take an extra two months’ leave Energy ratings Originally planned for January, but finally
coming into effect on July 1st, new energy calculations for DPE certification for property, with the value of the conversion factor for electricity is lowered, bringing it into line with the rest of Europe. The coefficient will drop from 2.3 to 1.9. READ ALSO What DPE energy rating change means for (some) French homeowners Property tax If you own property in France you may be required to complete the property tax declaration, the deadline for which is July 1st. Full details here Festival season Carcassonne
hosts its annual festival of music, theatre, arts, dance, comedy and cinema – all set against the dramatic backdrop of the famous citadel – between July 1st and 31st. Laurent Gerra, virtuoso violinist Esther Abrami, Feu! Chatterton, Chris Isaak, Tom Odell, Zaz and Claudio Capéo, and Kool and the Gang are all slated to perform. Find out more here. READ ALSO 37 unmissable festivals and events in France this summer School holidays The long summer holidays officially begin at the end of classes on Friday,
July 3rd. Pupils will return to school – with a bag full of new books, stationery, pens and pencils – on Tuesday, September 1st. As a result of the big schools’ break-up… Travel trouble Roads watchdog Bison Futé has flagged every weekend of July as having ‘very difficult’ or ‘extremely difficult’ conditions on the country’s roads as holidaymakers head out – and home. The dreaded ‘crossover weekend’, however, is not scheduled until the first weekend of August. Messing about in the river Parisians and tourists
will be able to splash about in three dedicated sections of the river from July 4th, according to authorities. READ ALSO: Everything you need to know about swimming in the Seine in summer 2026 Bicycle Race The 2026 Tour de France sets off from Barcelona on Saturday, July 4th – and the peloton will cross the border into France a day later. After winding its way across the country, it will arrive in Paris on Sunday, July 26th. Exam results Teenage nerves ramped up to
the max as the results of this year’s baccalauréat exams are due to be published on Tuesday, July 7th – prompting a rush to the Parcoursup website as offers are accepted and rejected. The results of this year’s brevet exams – taken by pupils aged 15 or 16 – are due to be published between Wednesday, July 8th, and Friday, July 10th. From July 7th, all new car models registered as they leave the factory will have to be equipped with mandatory safety features, such
as emergency braking systems, and driver distraction alerts. They must also be equipped with a socket capable of taking an alcohol ignition interlock device. Fête nationale July 14th is France’s Fête nationale, sometimes known as Bastille Day in the Anglophone world. The big military parade is on the Champs-Elysées in Paris but most towns mark the occasion with concerts, parties and big, loud, fireworks displays. And it’s a public holiday … on a Tuesday, too, so expect offices to be closed on ‘bridging’ Monday. The
Fifa World Cup 2026 final is on July 18th. France have been involved in the last two finals, winning the tournament in 2018, and losing to current champions Argentina in 2022. Will they be involved in the showpiece match this year? Bargain Hunt The government-mandated four-week summer sales period ends on July 21st. Unless you’re on the island of Corsica, when they run from July 8th to August 4th. READ ALSO What you need to know about France’s 2026 summer sales
France July 2026, parental leave law July 1st, DPE coefficient drop 2.3 to 1.9, property tax declaration deadline July 1st, Bison Futé very difficult weekends, swimming in the Seine July 4th, Tour de France 2026 July 4th and July 26th, baccalauréat results July 7th, brevet results July 8th to July 10th, car safety features July 7th, Fête nationale July 14th Tuesday, summer sales end July 21st