Public Holidays in Russia
Statutory public holidays in Russia, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Russia at a glance
Russia’s public holidays include a long New Year and Christmas break in early January, followed by Defender of the Fatherland Day, Women’s Day and Victory Day on 9 May.
Orthodox Christmas on 7 January uses the Julian calendar, and the New Year holidays are the longest break in the year.
Russia public holidays 2026
Russia has 14 public holidays in 2026 – the statutory days off. The table below lists those public holidays; observances and other non-statutory dates are not part of the total.
| Holiday | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| New Year Holidays | Jan 1Thu | National |
| New Year Holidays | Jan 2Fri | National |
| New Year Holidays | Jan 3Sat | National |
| New Year Holidays | Jan 4Sun | National |
| New Year Holidays | Jan 5Mon | National |
| New Year Holidays | Jan 6Tue | National |
| Christmas Day | Jan 7Wed | National |
| New Year Holidays | Jan 8Thu | National |
| Defender of the Fatherland Day | Feb 23Mon | National |
| International Women's Day | Mar 8Sun | National |
| Holiday of Spring and Labor | May 1Fri | National |
| Victory Day | May 9Sat | National |
Showing 12 of 14 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Russia
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Russia.
Moscow
A capital of onion domes, Stalinist towers and a vast metro of decorated stations.
Saint Petersburg
A city of canals, palaces and the White Nights on the Neva.
Novosibirsk
The largest city in Siberia, a rail and science hub on the Ob.
Yekaterinburg
A city on the Iset, where the Urals mark the continental divide.
Kazan
A Tatar capital of kremlin walls, mosques and cathedrals on the Volga.
Vladivostok
A Pacific port city at the end of the Trans-Siberian railway.
Top attractions in Russia
The places that draw most visitors to Russia.
Red Square & Kremlin
The fortified heart of Moscow, with St Basil's and the Kremlin cathedrals.
Hermitage Museum
One of the world's great art collections, housed in the Winter Palace.
Lake Baikal
The deepest and oldest lake on earth, holding a fifth of unfrozen fresh water.
Golden Ring
A ring of medieval towns and monasteries northeast of Moscow.
Kizhi Island
Wooden churches and windmills built without nails on an island.
Kamchatka Volcanoes
Active volcanoes, geysers and brown bears on a Pacific peninsula.
Festivals, food and getting around Russia
What the calendar looks like on the ground, and how to move through the country around it.
Festivals behind the holidays
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🎉
New Year's Day
Falls on Jan 1
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🎉
New Year Holiday
Falls on Jan 2
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🎉
New Year Holiday
Falls on Jan 5
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🎉
New Year Holiday
Falls on Jan 6
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🎉
Orthodox Christmas Day
Falls on Jan 7
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🎉
New Year Holiday
Falls on Jan 8
Food & drink
Getting around
The Trans-Siberian and long-distance rail are legendary; flights are essential for the Far East and the Arctic.
Travelling around Russia’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Russia tighten around major holidays; reserve early for the busiest weeks.
Check opening hours
Museums, banks and government offices usually close on statutory holidays, and often on the nearest Monday.
Carry local currency
Small vendors and rural businesses frequently take cash only, especially on holidays when banks are shut.
Expect crowded transport
Long weekends produce the year's heaviest road, rail and air traffic. Build in extra travel time.
Confirm the official list
Russia's holiday dates are confirmed by government announcement; check the year page for the final arrangement.
Plan the long weekends
Pairing a holiday with adjacent weekends gives the longest breaks of the year — and the busiest.
Russia public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Russia have?
Russia has 14 public holidays in 2026, counting every date typed National, Substitute or Bank in our calendar. Observances, religious dates and regional holidays are listed separately and left out of the total, because they are not days off across the whole country.
Where can I find the full 2026 list?
The complete 2026 calendar for Russia is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Russia's public holidays paid?
Statutory national holidays are generally paid leave for employees. Observances and commemorative days are usually not.
Do holidays move if they fall on a weekend?
Where a holiday falls on a weekend, Russia typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Russia?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Russia?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Russia
School term dates in Russia
School calendar data last updated 10 Sep 2026. Dates come from education ministries and local education authorities; always re-check with the school before booking travel.