Labour Day, the VE Day commemorations and Ascension Thursday… Each year in May, public holidays abound, pleasing many French people. But don’t forget Pentecost as well. Celebrated by Christians 50 days after Easter, this religious feast marks the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles. This year, Pentecost Monday falls on May 25, 2026.
As with Easter, Pentecost is celebrated on a Sunday and continues on the following day, and has been since the 4th century. The law of March 8 , 1886 officially declared Whit Monday a public holiday.
But things have changed since then. In the wake of the 2003 heatwave, which claimed over 15,000 lives in France, Jean-Pierre Raffarin's government decided to abolish the public holiday status of the day. The minister thus transformed Whit Monday into a day of solidarity"in favor of the autonomy of the elderly or disabled". The consequence? Whit Monday remainsa "public holiday but not a day off". In concrete terms, employees work on this day, but are not paid.
Then, in 2008, another change. Whit Monday became a public holiday again. The government then gave employers the choice of cancelling a day off or offering the day to their employees. In France, around a third of employees work on Whit Monday. What about you?
What to do on May 25, 2026, Pentecost Monday public holiday in Paris and Île-de-France
This Monday, May 25, 2026, Pentecost Monday promises a beautiful day in Paris and Île-de-France. Exhibitions, strolls, flea markets, parks, outdoor dining on terraces... Plenty of ideas for outings on this public holiday. [Read more]
Pentecost Monday is a public holiday in France, so many take the opportunity for a long weekend to explore Paris's museums and art spaces. Discover which museums and monuments are open this Monday, May 25, 2025, in Paris and Île-de-France. [Read more]
What are we doing this Pentecost weekend in Paris, on Saturday 23, Sunday 24 and Monday 25 May 2026? Easy: make the most of the long weekend to discover the season’s best exhibitions. Here’s a quick roundup of outings for the Pentecost weekend. [Read more]
What to do on May 25, 2026, Pentecost Monday public holiday in Paris and Île-de-France
Pentecost Monday 2026: the museums and monuments to visit on Monday, May 25, a public holiday in Paris.
Pentecost Weekend 2026: 10 fantastic exhibitions to discover in Paris on May 23–25
