What’s happening in France this week

Monday

Blockades — The French hauliers association has announced blockades across France, and other “symbolic” actions to protest at spiralling fuel prices in the wake of the war in the Middle East and to call for government aid, starting on Monday.

READ ALSO French truckers plan blockades to protest fuel prices

Tuesday

Strike — School staff are expected to walk out on strike across the country, as part of a week of action. The strike call, from an inter-union alliance, is in opposition to the 2026 budget, which they consider to be an austerity budget, leading to the suffocation of the public education service and job cuts.

School closures, reduced services and disruption to school and after-school transport are possible, depending on the local education authorities and local councils.

International — French President Emmanuel Macron visits Japan.

Film — The sixth international Reims Polar festival — which focuses on crime thrillers — opens. US director Gus Van Sant is the guest of honour.

Wednesday

Poisson d’avril — April 1st is the day of ‘April fish’ – when France goes crazy for practical jokes. Basically, France’s version of April Fool’s Day.

READ ALSO READER QUESTION: Can you explain the French ‘poisson d’avril’ tradition?

Finances — The prime d’activité will increase as part of the 2026 Finance Act. This income supplement may be paid, under certain conditions, to workers with the lowest incomes. It will be increased by an average of €50 per month per beneficiary. 

Students and apprentices can also benefit from it if they receive a monthly net social income exceeding €1,117.26 or if they are solely responsible for one or more children.

READ ALSO: Everything that changes in France in April 2026✎

Truce — During the winter months, tenants who cannot pay their rent cannot be evicted in France due to the trêve hivernale (winter truce). This ends on March 31st, meaning on April 1st, evictions in France can begin again.

Passover — The Jewish festival of Passover begins. It ends on April 9th, 2026.

Cafés — The city of Paris allows bars and restaurants to extend their outdoor ‘terraces’ between April 1st and October 31st. The extended terraces can stay open until 10pm every night. 

Courts — Rapper Booba on trial in Paris for racist insults and cyberbullying against two journalists.

Courts II — The appeal hearing for actress Isabelle Adjani, who was convicted of tax fraud and money laundering, resumes.

Thursday

Diplomacy — After his visit to Japan, President Macron visits South Korea.

Friday

Good Friday — The Easter weekend begins here, but only if you live in the north-eastern part of France, where it’s a public holiday. For the rest of the country, it’s just an ordinary working day.

READ ALSO: Why does north-east France have different laws and more holidays?

Holidays — Some schools break up for their spring holidays. Pupils in Zone A, which includes both Lyon and Bordeaux, are off from the end of classes and return on April 20th. Zone B, which includes Aix-Marseille, Nice, and Strasbourg, the Spring holidays run from April 11th to April 27th. And then there’s Zone C, which includes Paris, Toulouse and Montpellier, which has holidays from April 18th to May 4th.

Sport — Champions and Challenge Cup rugby returns for a fortnight of knockout rugby action. Castres, Toulon, Toulouse and holders Bordeaux fly the flag for France in the Champions Cup; while Montpellier, Perpignan, Stade Francais, Pau, and La Rochelle are involved in the round-of-16 in the Challenge Cup.

Sunday

Easter Sunday — Christians across France mark Easter Sunday. 

. . . and Monday off

Easter Monday is a holiday in France, so schools and many businesses will be closed.