Bastille Day — known in France simply as "le 14 juillet" — is France's national day, marked with the world's oldest military parade and fireworks over the Eiffel Tower. In 2026 it falls on Tuesday, 14 July. Here's the history behind the date.
See the Bastille Day holiday page or France's holiday calendar.
Why is Bastille Day on July 14?
It commemorates the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789 — when revolutionaries seized the Bastille, a fortress-prison in Paris that symbolised the absolute power of the monarchy. The event became the spark and enduring symbol of the French Revolution.
The date also marks the Fête de la Fédération of 14 July 1790, a celebration of national unity held on the first anniversary — so the day honours both the revolution and the unity that followed.
What the Bastille represented
The Bastille held only a handful of prisoners by 1789, but it stored gunpowder and stood as a hated symbol of royal tyranny. Its fall showed that the people could challenge the king — and within years the monarchy was gone and the French Republic born. The Revolution's ideals — liberté, égalité, fraternité — remain France's national motto.
How Bastille Day is celebrated
- The military parade on the Champs-Élysées in Paris — the oldest and largest regular military parade in Europe, dating to 1880.
- Fireworks, most famously over the Eiffel Tower.
- Fire-station balls (bals des pompiers), village parties and communal meals across France.
- It's a public holiday throughout France and its territories.
Quick answers
Why is Bastille Day on July 14? It marks the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789, a turning point of the French Revolution, and the unity celebration of 14 July 1790.
What is Bastille Day called in France? "La Fête nationale" or simply "le 14 juillet" — the French rarely call it "Bastille Day."
When is Bastille Day 2026? Tuesday, 14 July 2026 — it is always 14 July.
What happened at the Bastille? On 14 July 1789, revolutionaries stormed the Bastille fortress-prison in Paris, a symbol of royal power — igniting the French Revolution.