INFORMATION
Public Holidays in Russia 2026 – National & Public Observances
Post Date · Modified · Country · Russia
Russia’s public holidays in 2026 are based on the nationwide non-working public holidays established under Article 112 of the Labour Code of the Russian Federation. The official calendar includes the extended New Year holiday period, Christmas Day and major national commemorations. Additional days off created by weekend substitution or government transfers are explained separately so they are not confused with the statutory holiday dates themselves.
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Next Public Holiday in Russia
| Date | Day | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 4, 2026 | Wednesday | National Unity Day | Confirmed |
Public Holidays in Russia 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Thursday | New Year Holidays | Confirmed |
| January 2, 2026 | Friday | New Year Holidays | Confirmed |
| January 3, 2026 | Saturday | New Year Holidays | Confirmed |
| January 4, 2026 | Sunday | New Year Holidays | Confirmed |
| January 5, 2026 | Monday | New Year Holidays | Confirmed |
| January 6, 2026 | Tuesday | New Year Holidays | Confirmed |
| January 7, 2026 | Wednesday | Christmas Day | Confirmed |
| January 8, 2026 | Thursday | New Year Holidays | Confirmed |
| February 23, 2026 | Monday | Defender of the Fatherland Day | Confirmed |
| March 8, 2026 | Sunday | International Women's Day | Confirmed |
| May 1, 2026 | Friday | Spring and Labour Holiday | Confirmed |
| May 9, 2026 | Saturday | Victory Day | Confirmed |
| June 12, 2026 | Friday | Day of Russia | Confirmed |
| November 4, 2026 | Wednesday | National Unity Day | Confirmed |
How Public Holidays Work in Russia
Russia’s nationwide non-working public holidays are defined by Article 112 of the Labour Code. The federal list includes the New Year Holidays, Christmas Day, Defender of the Fatherland Day, International Women’s Day, the Spring and Labour Holiday, Victory Day, the Day of Russia and National Unity Day.
When each legally specified New Year holiday date is counted separately, Article 112 provides 14 nationwide statutory holiday dates. This figure does not include additional days off created when a holiday falls on a weekend or when the Russian Government transfers a weekend to another date.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Russia reproduces the statutory list and explains the rules governing the transfer of days off.
Transferred Days Off in Russia in 2026
Transferred days off are important for planning, but they are not separate statutory holidays under the federal holiday list. Russia uses weekend-replacement and transfer rules to create days off when holidays coincide with normal weekends or when the Government redistributes particular January weekend days.
For 2026, Government Resolution No. 1466 of September 24, 2025 transfers the day off from Saturday, January 3 to Friday, January 9, and from Sunday, January 4 to Thursday, December 31.
International Women’s Day falls on Sunday, March 8 in 2026, resulting in a day off on Monday, March 9. Victory Day falls on Saturday, May 9, resulting in a day off on Monday, May 11. The Bank of Russia 2026 holiday calendar therefore lists January 9, March 9, May 11 and December 31 as additional holidays alongside the statutory public-holiday dates.
Long Weekends in Russia in 2026
The combination of statutory holidays, ordinary weekends and transferred days off creates several extended breaks during 2026. The Ministry of Labour’s calendar identifies the following main periods of rest:
- December 31, 2025 to January 11, 2026: the extended New Year and Christmas break.
- February 21 to February 23: a three-day break around Defender of the Fatherland Day.
- March 7 to March 9: a three-day break around International Women’s Day.
- May 1 to May 3: a three-day break around the Spring and Labour Holiday.
- May 9 to May 11: a three-day break around Victory Day.
- June 12 to June 14: a three-day break around the Day of Russia.
National Unity Day falls on Wednesday, November 4 and does not create a three-day federal break. December 31, 2026 is also a nationwide day off because of the Government’s January weekend transfer.
The Ministry of Labour’s 2026 calendar guidance provides the full pattern of holiday and weekend rest periods.
Is Orthodox Easter a Public Holiday in Russia?
No. Orthodox Easter is an important religious observance in Russia, but it is not one of the nationwide non-working public holidays listed in Article 112 of the Labour Code. It should therefore not be included in the main nationwide public-holiday schedule.
Christmas Day on January 7 is different: it is expressly included in the federal statutory holiday list and is therefore a nationwide non-working public holiday.
Is December 31 a Public Holiday in Russia in 2026?
December 31, 2026 is a nationwide day off, but it is not a separate statutory public holiday under Article 112. It is a transferred day off created by Government Resolution No. 1466, which moves the day off associated with Sunday, January 4 to Thursday, December 31.
This distinction matters when counting Russia’s statutory public holidays. December 31 should be considered when planning working and non-working days in 2026, but it should not be counted as an additional statutory holiday date.
What Happens When a Public Holiday Falls on a Weekend in Russia?
As a general rule, when a non-working public holiday coincides with a normal weekend, the day off is transferred to the next working day. Special rules apply to weekends that coincide with the New Year Holidays and Christmas period in January, where the Government can transfer qualifying days off to other dates in the calendar year.
This is why the statutory holiday date and the actual replacement day off can be different. The public-holiday database should preserve the statutory holiday date, while transferred days off should be explained separately.
Are Public Holidays Paid in Russia?
Article 112 states that the presence of non-working public holidays in a calendar month is not a basis for reducing the salary of employees who receive a monthly salary.
For employees who do not receive a fixed salary, the Labour Code provides for additional remuneration for statutory non-working public holidays on which they are not required to work. The amount and payment procedure may be determined by a collective agreement, employment agreement or applicable local employment rules.
Are Banks Closed on Public Holidays in Russia?
The Bank of Russia publishes a calendar of nationwide public holidays and additional days off. However, financial-market operations and the schedule of the Bank of Russia’s settlement system may be subject to separate operating announcements.
People who need branch banking, settlement services or time-sensitive financial transactions should therefore check the operating schedule of their bank or financial institution as well as the national holiday calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many statutory public holiday dates does Russia have in 2026?
Russia has 14 nationwide statutory holiday dates when every individual date specified by Article 112 is counted separately. This includes each legally designated New Year holiday date and excludes transferred days off such as January 9 and December 31.
Why is January 9, 2026 a day off in Russia?
January 9 is a day off because Government Resolution No. 1466 transfers the day off from Saturday, January 3 to Friday, January 9. January 9 is therefore a transferred day off rather than a separate statutory public holiday.
Why is March 9, 2026 a day off?
International Women’s Day falls on Sunday, March 8 in 2026. Under Russia’s weekend-replacement rules, the associated day off extends to Monday, March 9.
Why is May 11, 2026 a day off?
Victory Day falls on Saturday, May 9 in 2026. The weekend substitution rule results in Monday, May 11 being a day off.
Is Orthodox Easter an official public holiday in Russia?
Orthodox Easter is not included in the nationwide statutory non-working holiday list in Article 112 of the Labour Code. It should not be treated as a federal public holiday in the main Russia public-holiday schedule.
Is New Year’s Eve a statutory public holiday in Russia?
No. December 31 is not itself listed as a statutory public holiday under Article 112. December 31, 2026 is nevertheless a nationwide day off because a January weekend day was officially transferred to that date.
Who determines public holidays and transferred days off in Russia?
The nationwide statutory public holidays are established by the Labour Code of the Russian Federation. The Russian Government can issue resolutions transferring days off, while the Ministry of Labour and the Bank of Russia publish official information explaining the resulting holiday and working-day calendar.
Official Sources for Public Holidays in Russia
- Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Russia – Article 112 holiday guidance: verifies the nationwide statutory non-working public holidays and the basic weekend-transfer rules.
- Government of the Russian Federation – Resolution No. 1466: confirms the official transfer of days off in 2026, including January 9 and December 31.
- Ministry of Labour – 2026 holiday and weekend calendar: explains the extended New Year break and the principal three-day rest periods during 2026.
- Bank of Russia – Public Holidays in Russia: provides the official English-language holiday list and separately identifies additional holidays in 2026.
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