Summer Sales 2026 Pyrenees-Orientales

The summer sales in the Pyrénées-Orientales have been set for a period of four weeks, starting on Wednesday 24 June 2026 at 8am and ending on Tuesday 21 July 2026 inclusive.

During the sales period, some shops may also open on selected Sundays, particularly in tourist areas and shopping centres.

Historically, the first day of the sales was once famous for queues outside major department stores in Paris, with some shoppers arriving before dawn to secure the best bargains.

ABOUT SALES IN FRANCE

Summer sales usually take place from the last week of June, while winter sales generally begin during the second week of January. Special promotions do not count as official sales and can take place at any time of the year, provided they comply with consumer protection regulations.

The Pyrénées-Orientales was once one of several border departments permitted to operate on different sales dates from the rest of France. Today, however, the department follows the national sales calendar.

DID YOU KNOW?
In 2009, a law proposed by President Nicolas Sarkozy was passed allowing shops to open on Sundays in certain tourist areas and large towns, despite opposition from the Catholic Church and protests from many political parties, including some members of his own.
When challenged at the time, Sarkozy famously replied: “Our country has the greatest number of tourists in the world – 80 million a year. Is it normal that on a Sunday, when Mrs Obama wants to take her daughters shopping in Paris, I have to make a phone call to ask the shops to open? How do I explain to the Obamas why on Sunday we’re the only country that’s closed?”
When the law was first passed, many large stores expressed little interest, arguing that Sunday opening was not always financially worthwhile given the additional staffing costs and compensation requirements.
Since then, Sunday trading has gradually become more common throughout France, particularly in tourist areas and for food retailers. However, the regulations governing Sunday opening remain complex and vary according to location and type of business.

Here in the Pyrénées-Orientales, competition from neighbouring Spain has long been a challenge for local retailers. Shops in Figueres, together with the seven-day opening enjoyed by businesses in Le Perthus and La Jonquera, continue to attract large numbers of French shoppers across the border.

The Sunday closing laws date back more than a century and are based on employees’ rights to a weekly period of rest rather than religious considerations, as is often assumed. Employees who work on Sundays may be entitled to enhanced pay rates or compensatory time off, depending on the sector and local agreements.

More and more shops throughout France now remain open on Sundays and public holidays. However, in the Pyrénées-Orientales many employers still report difficulties recruiting staff willing to work beyond the standard 35-hour working week or on weekends.

Online Shopping and Changing Consumer Habits

The traditional twice-yearly sales remain an important event for retailers, but shopping habits in France have changed dramatically over the past decade. The growth of online shopping means that many consumers now compare prices throughout the year rather than waiting for the official sales periods. Nevertheless, the summer and winter sales continue to attract bargain hunters because they are among the few times when retailers are legally permitted to sell stock below cost price in order to clear seasonal inventory.

DID YOU KNOW?
France’s official sales periods, known as les soldes, are strictly regulated by law. Unlike ordinary promotions, retailers are allowed to sell goods at a loss during the sales in order to clear stock. The products offered in the sales must also have been available for sale and paid for by the retailer before the sales begin, preventing businesses from bringing in special low-quality stock solely for the event.
Although online shopping has transformed retailing, internet retailers based in France must observe the same official sales dates as traditional shops. As a result, consumers can take advantage of discounts both online and in-store during the same four-week period.
Despite the rise of e-commerce, surveys regularly show that many French shoppers still enjoy visiting town centres and shopping streets during the sales, combining bargain hunting with a social outing, particularly in popular tourist destinations such as those found across the Pyrénées-Orientales.

The word “soldes” means a balance or settlement of accounts.