Bastille Day (La Fête Nationale) is France's national holiday, celebrated on July 14 to commemorate the Storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, a pivotal moment in the French Revolution. Celebrations include the military parade on the Champs-Élysées and a fireworks display at the Eiffel Tower.
Bastille Day 2026 falls on Tuesday, July 14.
France celebrates with a military parade on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, a fireworks display at the Eiffel Tower, and balls and celebrations across the country.
On July 14, 1789, Parisian revolutionaries stormed the Bastille prison, a symbol of royal tyranny. The event marked a turning point in the French Revolution.
Yes. July 14 is a national public holiday in France. Businesses, schools and government offices are closed.
Bastille Day is seen globally as a symbol of the ideals of the French Revolution — liberty, equality and fraternity — making it one of the most recognised national holidays in the world.