France's 2026 sales (soldes): winter and summer dates, rules and review

In mainland France, the 2026 winter sales ran from Wednesday January 7 to Tuesday February 3, 2026, and the 2026 summer sales ran from Wednesday June 24 to Tuesday July 28, 2026, after a one-week extension triggered by a heatwave. Both periods are over: the next national sales are the 2027 winter sales, January 6 to February 2, 2027 (a few départements excepted).

France is unusual in that its "soldes" are regulated by law: the state sets the dates, the duration and what shops may do. This guide covers the 2026 calendar and its exceptions, the rules behind the sales, how they differ from ordinary promotions, your rights as a buyer and how to prepare for the next round.

What were the 2026 sales dates in France?

Here is the official calendar for most mainland départements, as published by Service-Public.fr, the French government's information site:

Period	Start	End	Note
Winter sales 2026	Wednesday January 7, 2026, 8:00 am	Tuesday February 3, 2026 inclusive	4 weeks (over)
Summer sales 2026	Wednesday June 24, 2026, 8:00 am	Tuesday July 28, 2026, evening	Originally due to end July 21, extended by one week (over)

Regional exceptions in 2026

• Meurthe-et-Moselle, Meuse, Moselle and Vosges (north-east France): earlier winter sales, January 2 to 29, 2026 inclusive. These four départements follow the national calendar in summer.
• Corsica (Corse-du-Sud and Haute-Corse): later summer sales, July 8 to August 4, 2026 under the original calendar.
• Overseas territories: each has its own dates. Réunion, for instance, held its winter sales from September 5 to October 2, 2026.

Online shops follow the same dates as physical stores: a website cannot start "its soldes" early just because it sells at a distance.

Why were the summer 2026 sales extended?

Because of the heatwave that hit France in late June 2026, the government issued a ministerial order dated July 3, 2026 extending the period by one week: the summer sales, due to end on Tuesday July 21, finished on Tuesday July 28, 2026 in the evening.

The takeaway for future editions: sales dates follow a stable rule, but they can be changed by order. Check the official calendar a few days ahead rather than relying on an old article.

How are French sales dates set?

The soldes are governed by article L310-3 of the French Commercial Code and a ministerial order of May 27, 2019, in force since 2020. The calculation works like this:

• Winter sales start on the second Wednesday of January at 8:00 am, moved to the first Wednesday if the second falls after January 12.
• Summer sales start on the last Wednesday of June at 8:00 am, moved to the second-to-last Wednesday if the last falls after June 28.
• Duration: each period lasts four weeks.
• Exceptions: the four north-eastern départements start winter sales on the first working day of January, Corsica starts summer sales on the second Wednesday of July, and overseas territories have their own calendar.

In 2026, the second Wednesday of January was the 14th, after the 12th, so the sales started on the first Wednesday, January 7. The same mechanism puts the start of the 2027 winter sales on January 6.

Soldes vs promotions: what is the difference?

In France, "soldes" is a legal term. Not every discount shown during the year is a sale in that sense, and the distinction matters:

Criterion	Soldes (official sales)	Promotions (Black Friday, French Days…)
Timing	Two periods set by the state	Any time, at the seller's initiative
Selling at a loss	Allowed	Prohibited (except specific cases set by law)
Eligible goods	Items offered for sale and paid for at least one month before, no restocking	No stock-age condition
Use of the word "soldes"	Reserved for these periods	Not allowed
Reference price	Struck-through price regulated: lowest price of the previous 30 days	Same 30-day rule

Using the word "soldes" outside the legal periods can lead to a fine of up to €15,000 for an individual and €75,000 for a company. The struck-through price has been regulated by article L112-1-1 of the French Consumer Code since May 28, 2022, which transposes the EU Omnibus directive: our guide to the 30-day rule explains it.

In practice, permission to sell at a loss makes genuine markdowns possible, especially late in the period. But "possible" is not "guaranteed": a sale price can still be higher than what the same product cost elsewhere a few weeks earlier.

What are your rights on a sale item?

Legally, a sale item is not a second-class purchase. It carries the same guarantees as any other product:

• Legal guarantee of conformity and hidden-defects guarantee: a faulty product must be repaired, replaced or refunded. A "no returns, no exchanges during the sales" notice has no effect on a defective item.
• Online purchases: the legal 14-day withdrawal period still applies during the sales, with the usual exceptions (personalised items, for example).
• In-store purchases: exchanging or refunding a non-faulty item depends on the store's own policy. Ask before you pay.

2026 sales review: the key lessons

Without pretending to measure average discounts, three practical lessons stand out from the year:

1. The calendar can move. The summer extension shows an order can change announced dates.
2. Sales and retail events overlap. In 2026, Amazon's Prime Day in France ran June 23 to 26, alongside the start of the summer sales. When events pile up, the only reliable yardstick is the price you actually pay, compared with the product's history.
3. The struck-through price is not enough. Even regulated, it tells you nothing about the lowest price of previous months. Our tips to spot a fake discount apply fully to the soldes.

When are the next sales in France?

Under the May 27, 2019 order, and unless changed:

• Winter sales 2027: Wednesday January 6, 2027, 8:00 am to Tuesday February 2, 2027, with separate dates in Meurthe-et-Moselle, Meuse, Moselle, Vosges and overseas. Full details in our winter sales 2027 guide.
• Summer sales 2027: Wednesday June 23 to Tuesday July 20, 2027, under the same calculation.

Before then, Black Friday 2026 (Friday November 27) is the next major promotional moment. It is not an official sales period, so selling at a loss remains prohibited. To place every event in the year, see our best time to buy calendar.

Put it into practice: get ready for the 2027 winter sales

Noting each product's price by hand every few days for weeks is time-consuming and misses short-lived drops. That is exactly what UniverTrack automates:

1. Paste the product link (Amazon, Cdiscount or another online store) now: its price history builds up before the sales, giving you a real point of comparison in January.
2. Set a target price: the price below which the purchase is worth it to you, whatever percentage the banner shows.
3. Get an email alert when the price hits your target, then buy, or wait if the "markdown" does not beat the price of previous weeks.

If you are eyeing several items during the sales and struck-through prices make you sceptical, the Malin plan (up to 50 products, fake-discount detection) fits best; for a single big purchase, Découverte is enough. Compare plans on the pricing page: each one starts with a 14-day free trial, no commitment.