What date is Bastille Day celebrated?

Bastille Day is celebrated on July 14.

In France, the holiday is officially called the national day, or la fête nationale, and is commonly referred to as le 14 juillet. The date recalls the Storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, a dramatic event that became a symbol of the French Revolution and opposition to royal authority.

The modern holiday also commemorates the Fête de la Fédération, held on July 14, 1790. That celebration emphasized national unity, so the date carries both revolutionary and unifying meanings. France formally adopted July 14 as its annual national festival in 1880.

A frequent mix-up is treating Bastille Day as equivalent to the United States' July 4. Both are national-day celebrations associated with revolution, but they occur on different dates and commemorate different historical events. Celebrations in France commonly include fireworks, concerts, public dances, and a major military parade in Paris.