Mark the calender. Winter sales 2026 in France begin on Wednesday 7 January at 8:00, department by department across almost the entire country, and run for four weeks. That places the closing bell on Tuesday 3 February 2026 at 23:59 for the metropolitan map, the slot defined by the French Commercial Code and confirmed each season by the Ministry for the Economy.
The rule is clear and simple: winter sales open the second Wednesday of January at 8:00, except when that Wednesday falls after 12 January. In 2026 it does, which shifts the start to the first Wednesday, hence 7 January. This framework, set in Article D310-15-2 of the Commercial Code on Legifrance and relayed by Bercy, is the reference used to publish the department-by-department calendar every winter.
Winter sales 2026 dates by department : the national rule
For the 95 metropolitan departments, the same window applies unless a prefectural order says otherwise: start Wednesday 7 January 2026 at 8:00, end Tuesday 3 February 2026 at 23:59. Since 2019, the legal duration has been reduced from six to four weeks according to the Ministry for the Economy, which helps concentrate discounts and stock rotations.
Shoppers want a quick answer. Most departments share this one national timing. Retailers prepare markdowns in waves during those four weeks, with the first days usually bringing the deepest selection and the last stretch focusing on clearance.
Departments that may deviate and the overseas timetable
Some areas can deviate. Prefectural derogations may shift opening dates in certain border or mountain tourist zones, and the two departments of Corsica can also appear on separate orders. These decisions are published by prefectures and compiled by the Ministry for the Economy on its seasonal “Dates des soldes” page.
Overseas departments and regions do not follow the metropolitan calendar. Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyane, La Réunion and Mayotte set their own sales periods by local order. The dates are usually announced in the months leading up to the season on prefecture and government portals.
How the dates are set : the law and the 2026 calendar math
Everything starts with the legal algorithm. Article D310-15-2 stipulates an 8:00 opening on the second Wednesday of January, except when that Wednesday would land after 12 January, triggering a shift to the first Wednesday. In 2026, the second Wednesday is 14 January, hence the national move to 7 January. The end date then falls four weeks later on a Tuesday night, which is 3 February 2026.
Two other pillars frame your rights. The duration has been four weeks since 2019, as stated by the Ministry for the Economy and the DGCCRF. Consumer law guarantees a legal conformity warranty of two years on goods, sales or not, and online purchases benefit from a 14‑day right of withdrawal under European rules and the French Consumer Code.
Plan your bargains by department : smart checks before the opening bell
The first morning goes fast, stocks even faster. A few simple steps help tailor the plan to a department’s specifics without missing a good deal.
- Confirm your department’s line on the Ministry for the Economy page and your prefecture website for any derogation and local store hours.
- Note the 8:00 legal start. Some malls open earlier for queuing, doors still stay shut until the official time.
- Prioritize categories that sell out first in your area, often sneakers, tech accessories and branded coats during week one.
- Keep invoices. In-store sales have no legal right of withdrawal, but warranties and defect remedies apply. Online orders keep a 14 day withdrawal right.
- Check cross-border trips. Prices can differ, yet your two-year legal guarantee remains, based on EU and French consumer law.
If a department does receive a derogation, the prefectural order will state the exact Wednesday and the same four-week span. The Ministry aggregates those documents each season, department by department, which makes it the authoritative checklist for 2026 once posted.
Bottom line for the 2026 grid: a national opening on 7 January at 8:00, a four-week race ending 3 February, and a handful of local exceptions settled by official orders. One glance at the official sources, and the shopping route is set.