Bastille Day 2027 is Wednesday 14 July 2027. It is France's national holiday, marking the storming of the Bastille in 1789. In Paris, the day brings a free military parade on the Champs-Élysées in the morning, firemen's balls in the evening, and fireworks at the Eiffel Tower. Towns across France hold their own parades and fireworks.
When is Bastille Day 2027
Bastille Day 2027 is Wednesday 14 July 2027. The date never moves. It is a public holiday across France, so most shops, banks, and offices close. In Paris, the main events run from the morning parade to the evening fireworks. The full 2027 programme, with exact times and any viewing-area arrangements, is published closer to the date, so check the official programme before you travel.
| Date 2027 | What happens |
|---|---|
| Evening of Tuesday 13 July | First firemen's balls at fire stations across Paris and France. |
| Wednesday 14 July, morning | Military parade on the Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde, with a flyover. |
| Wednesday 14 July, evening | Firemen's balls continue; concert on the Champ de Mars, then fireworks at the Eiffel Tower. |
| Wednesday 14 July | Local parades, communal meals, dances, and fireworks in towns across France. |
What is Bastille Day
Bastille Day is the name English speakers give to France's national day. In France it is called le 14 juillet, the 14th of July, or La Fête Nationale, the national festival. The Bastille was a fortress-prison in Paris, a symbol of royal power. Its storming on 14 July 1789 became the defining moment of the French Revolution. The day honours the values the Revolution proclaimed: liberty, equality, and fraternity. It is a secular holiday, not a religious one, and it belongs to all of France. See the full list of national holidays in this category.
What happens on Bastille Day
The day opens with the military parade on the Champs-Élysées. Troops march from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde, where the President of France stands with government officials and foreign guests. Military aircraft fly overhead, and the Patrouille de France aerobatic team trails smoke in the colours of the French flag. The parade has run almost every year since 1880 and is one of the oldest regular military parades in the world. Read the Wikipedia guide to the Bastille Day military parade route and history for how the parade runs.
On the evenings of 13 and 14 July, fire stations across France open their doors for the bals des pompiers, the firemen's balls. These are open-air parties with music and dancing, family-friendly, and a much-loved local tradition. In the evening of the 14th, Paris holds the Concert de Paris, a free open-air classical concert on the Champ de Mars at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, ending with La Marseillaise. The fireworks follow, launched from the Eiffel Tower and the Trocadéro, usually around 11pm and lasting about half an hour. Towns across France hold their own fireworks, often set off from a hill, a harbour, or a castle. In Carcassonne, the display lights up the medieval fortress walls. See the Connexion France guide to what happens on 14 July across France for how the day plays out beyond Paris.
Tickets
There is no ticket to buy for the main events. The parade, the concert, and the fireworks are free and open to everyone. Firemen's balls are free or low-cost; check the listing for your local fire station. Viewing spots along the Champs-Élysées and around the Eiffel Tower are first come, first served, so arrive early. Some viewing areas may need advance registration in some years, so check the official programme before you go.
| What | Ticket | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Military parade, Paris | Free | Watch from the Champs-Élysées pavements. Arrive early for a front spot. |
| Concert de Paris, Champ de Mars | Free | Open-air concert before the fireworks. Arrive hours early for a good spot. |
| Fireworks, Eiffel Tower | Free | Best views from the Champ de Mars, Trocadéro, and Seine bridges. |
| Firemen's balls | Free or low-cost | Evenings of 13 and 14 July at fire stations. Check local listings. |
| Local events across France | Mostly free | Towns hold parades, dances, communal meals, and fireworks. Check local listings. |
How the day began
On the morning of 14 July 1789, crowds in Paris seized weapons from the Hôtel des Invalides, a military complex, but had no gunpowder for them. About a thousand people then marched on the Bastille, a fortress-prison in eastern Paris, to take its store of gunpowder and free its prisoners. Only seven prisoners were held there at the time. Guards fired on the crowd, fighting broke out, and about a hundred people died before the governor surrendered. The crowd freed the prisoners, took the gunpowder, and within months the fortress was pulled down. Its bricks were handed out as souvenirs. The storming did not end the monarchy on its own, but it became the symbol of the people's rising against royal power. Read the National Geographic account of the storming of the Bastille for the full story.
One year later, on 14 July 1790, the Fête de la Fédération brought the country together to mark the first anniversary and celebrate national unity. For nearly a century afterwards, the date was left alone by successive regimes, each wary of honouring the Revolution. It was only under the Third Republic that 14 July became the national holiday, by a law promulgated on 6 July 1880. The law does not say which 14 July it honours, 1789 or 1790, and that silence was deliberate: the date carries both memories, the people's rising and the promise of unity.
Another national day worth knowing is the German Unity Day date, host city, and visitor guide. For the full list of festivals across the world, go back to the World Festival and Holiday Calendar.
What to eat
There is no single official Bastille Day dish. What people eat depends on where they are and who they are with. Many Parisians picnic in parks with baguettes, cheese, charcuterie, and fruit. Neighbourhoods hold communal meals, called repas de quartier, with long tables in the local square, live music, and dancing. Food stalls line the streets near the fireworks, and restaurants stay open late. In smaller towns, the communal meal is often the heart of the day, with local dishes served at shared tables before the evening dance.
Safety and visiting tips
- Crowds: the parade and fireworks draw very large crowds. Keep your bag closed and in front, carry little of value, and agree a meeting point with your group.
- Security: expect bag checks, barriers, and controlled access around the parade route and the Eiffel Tower. Arrive early. Do not bring large bags.
- Transport: Metro and RER lines near the Champs-Élysées and Trocadéro are affected in the morning, and trains are very crowded after the fireworks. Check RATP before you travel, and consider walking or cycling where possible.
- Weather: mid-July in Paris is warm, often hot. Drink water, wear sun protection, and carry a light layer for the late evening.
- Fireworks spots: the Champ de Mars, the Trocadéro, and the Seine bridges give the best views. Arrive hours early for a spot near the Eiffel Tower. For fewer crowds, try Montmartre or Parc de Saint-Cloud.
- Stay: book months ahead. Paris fills fast for the 14 July weekend, and prices rise close to the dates.
- Beyond Paris: smaller towns offer a slower, local version of the day, with parades, communal meals, and fireworks. Check local listings if you are not in Paris.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Bastille Day military parade (route, history since 1880)
- Connexion France: July 14 in France, what to expect on France's national day
- National Geographic: Bastille Day celebrates the rebellion that ignited the French Revolution
- V and A: Bastille Day (storming, Fete de la Federation, 1880 holiday)
- Cute Calendar: Bastille Day 2027 (Wednesday 14 July 2027, nationwide)