Key practical and cultural dates for your diary in France for February 2026
The UK ETA rules are due to start this month
The Nice Carnival is France’s leading international carnival
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February 2: La Chandeleur is a religious celebration (known as Candlemas in English) held on the 40th day of the Christmas-Epiphany season. It could be considered the French equivalent to Shrove Tuesday, as this is the traditional day to eat crêpes in France.
February 6: Mille et une orchidées is all about admiring orchids at the Jardin des Plantes in Paris. This floral event will also feature a photo exhibition and pop-up boutique (until March 10).
February 6: Jumping International. The 52nd edition of this four-day horse-jumping event in Bordeaux (until February 9).
February 12: The Nice Carnival is France’s leading international carnival featuring a series of all-singing, all-dancing costume parades. This year, the festival theme is: King of the Ocean (until March 2).
February 14: Celebrate la Saint-Valentin (Valentines Day) in style, at Strasbourg Mon Amour, from February 7 until 16. Concerts, conferences and cultural visits are among highlights of this poetic and romantic festival.
February 15: The Menton Lemon Festival. It is the 91st edition of this fruity festival, featuring a whole host of lemon and orange creations. This year's theme is: Journeys into the Stars (until March 2).
February 15: Grand Corso du Mimosa. Numerous floral floats will pass through Bormes-les-Mimosas (Var) at this winter flower festival (until February 16).
February 22: Paris International Agricultural Show (until March 2). Visitors can explore marquees dedicated to crops, livestock, local produce and careers in farming.
February 28: International Games Festival in Cannes (until March 2). Publishers, distributors, authors, illustrators and players will be present at the 38th edition of this event dedicated to games and toys.
February 28: The 50th edition of the Césars will be held at l’Olympia in Paris. France’s equivalent to the Oscars will be presided over by actress Cathérine Deneuve.
Practical dates
February 7-23: Zone A (Besançon, Bordeaux, Clermont-Ferrand, Dijon, Grenoble, Limoges, Lyon, Poitiers).
February 14–March 2: Zone B (Aix-Marseille, Amiens, Lille, Nancy-Metz, Nantes, Nice, Normandy, Orléans-Tours, Reims, Rennes and Strasbourg).
February 21–March 9: Zone C (Créteil, Montpellier, Paris, Toulouse and Versailles).
Dates for the full 2026-27 school year holidays in France can be found in our article here.
Corsica dates are not yet confirmed, but in previous years have aligned with Zone B.
February 25: UK ETA rules enforced for arrivals from France. UK and Irish passport holders are exempt.
