What Bastille Day is

The French national day, marking the storming of the Bastille in 1789 and the Fête de la Fédération a year later. In France it is simply called the fourteenth of July.

The military parade on the Champs-Élysées is the oldest regular parade in Europe.

When it falls, and why the date moves

The countdown at the top of this page is live, and the date beneath it is the next occurrence. This is a fixed date: it falls on the same day of the month every year, so only the weekday changes.

It is grouped here under National, alongside the other observances that share its calendar.

What is coming up next

Once this date passes, the countdown moves on according to the recurrence rule described above. Calculated lunar dates remain estimates until the relevant calendar or local authority confirms them. See the full list of upcoming events, or use the countdown timer for a duration of your own.