Everything that changes in France in May 2026

Public holidays

Depending on the year, three or four public holidays fall in the month of May. This year, there are four, thanks to May Day (the Fête du travail) on May 1st, VE Day (La victoire de 1945) on May 8th, and Ascension, which this year falls on May 14th and Pentecost Monday – another Christian festival, this year on May 25th.

Having said that Pentecost has an odd holiday status with some people getting the day off while others don’t. 

READ ALSO: How to make the most of May in France

Tax Deadlines

May also brings the first deadlines for the annual tax declaration – compulsory for almost everyone in France.

If you are unable to file the declaration online, you can use a paper declaration. This must be mailed by May 19th.

For the online declarations, you have until May 21st (at 11.59 pm) if you live in the départements 1 to 19 (or if you live outside of France), and until May 28th for the départements from 20 to 54. For the remaining départements and France’s overseas territories, you have until June 4th.

Household gas prices

Due to the war in Iran, the benchmark price for natural gas is rising significantly. According to the Commission de Régulation de l’Energie (CRE, France’s energy monitor), the benchmark retail price for gas will rise by an average of 15.4 percent (including VAT) as of May 1st. In practical terms, it is rising from €139.12/MWh to €160.54/MWh including VAT. 

This means an estimated average increase of €6.19 (including VAT) on your May bill; a direct impact for households on an index-linked tariff, but no change for those on a fixed-price tariff. 

New fees for French citizenship and residency permits

Foreign residents in France will face significantly higher administrative fees from 2026 after the government confirmed increases to the cost of both residency permits (titres de séjour) and French citizenship (naturalisation) applications. 

The changes come into effect on May 1st 2026, and apply to all applications made on or after that date.

The price increases include the delivery of a first carte de séjour – €350 (up from €225), while the cost of renewing a carte de séjour will rise to €250, up from €225.

Under the new rules, the timbre fiscal required for applications for French nationality, whether by residency (par décret) or par déclaration (example through marriage or family ties), will rise from €55 to €255. 

Read more about all the fee increases here. 

Fees for driving licence exchange

Foreigners living in France who need to swap their driving licence for a French one will, from May 1st, be required to pay a €40 ‘administration fee’ in order to get their new licence.

It applies to both EU and non-EU licences.

People who have already applied for a swap and are waiting for their request to be processed are not affected.

READ MORE: France to impose fees for driving licence exchange

Student meals

The 2026 budget, enacted by the French government in February, allows all students to have access to a full meal for €1 in university canteens. This scheme is being implemented in university canteens managed by the Crous (French regional student assistance office).

Chèque énergie 

Normally, the chèque énergie – which is a government voucher to help low-income households pay their energy bills – is paid in the springtime (usually the month of April). 

This year, 4.5 million households have been identified to receive the voucher and will automatically receive it between April 1st and April 20th 2026. But a further 700,000 households will then receive their energy voucher from May 1st, having been identified through additional data cross-referencing.

European Night of Museums

On Saturday, May 23rd, many museums will keep their doors open – for free – all night long as part of the “European night of museums”. You can find all the museums that are participating across France here.

The Cannes Film Festival

The 79th edition of the Cannes film festival will take place from May 12th to May 23rd at the Palais des festivals et des congrès in Cannes. This year, during the opening ceremony, the Honorary ‘Palme d’Or’ will be awarded New-Zealand filmmaker Peter Jackson.

Eurovision

You can watch France compete in the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria. The semi-finals are set for May 12th and May 14th. The final is on Saturday, May 16th. France will be represented by the 17-year-old singer Monroe and her song Regarde.

Mother’s Day and Neighbour’s Day

Mother’s Day in France will fall on Sunday May 31st, though if your mother is in the UK you may have already missed it (it was on March 7th). For Americans, Mother’s Day always falls on the second Sunday of May – so May 10th this year. 

Then there is also Neighbour’s Day, or the Fête des Voisins. If you live in an apartment, sometimes you will see a reminder for this in your building and an even can even be organised. This year it will take place on Friday, May 29th.

READ MORE: Fête des Voisins: All you need to know about ‘neighbours day’ in France

Roland-Garros tennis tournament

The French Open begins on Monday, May 18th and it will run until Sunday, June 7th. You can see the provisional schedule on the Roland-Garros website.

French films to see

Lost in Frenchlation is a Paris-based club that runs screenings of French films – both new releases and timeless classics – with English subtitles, in order to allow language learners to appreciate the offerings of French cinema.

Here’s what’s on the program in May: French films with English subtitles to watch in May 2026