Public Holidays in Ukraine
Statutory public holidays in Ukraine, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Ukraine at a glance
Ukraine’s public holidays follow the Orthodox calendar for religious dates, with Independence Day on 24 August the central national celebration.
Since 2023 Ukraine observes Christmas on 25 December rather than 7 January, aligning it with Western practice.
Ukraine public holidays 2026
Ukraine has 11 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's Day | Jan 1Thu | National |
| International Women's Day | Mar 8Sun | National |
| Easter Sunday | Apr 12Sun | National |
| International Workers' Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Victory day over Nazism in World War II | May 8Fri | National |
| Pentecost | May 31Sun | National |
| Constitution Day | Jun 28Sun | National |
| Statehood Day | Jul 15Wed | National |
| Independence Day | Aug 24Mon | National |
| Defender of Ukraine Day | Oct 1Thu | National |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25Fri | National |
Showing 11 of 11 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Ukraine
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Ukraine.
Kyiv
A capital of gold-domed monasteries, river hills and a long civic history.
Lviv
A Habsburg city of coffee houses, cobblestones and a UNESCO old town.
Kharkiv
The second city, an industrial and scientific hub with a vast central square.
Odesa
A port city of a Potemkin stairway, opera house and Black Sea beaches.
Dnipro
A major city on the Dnipro, an industrial and space-industry centre.
Top attractions in Ukraine
The places that draw most visitors to Ukraine.
Saint Sophia Cathedral
An 11th-century cathedral of mosaics and frescoes in the capital.
Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra
A monastery complex of caves, churches and a bell tower above the river.
Lviv Historic Centre
A central European old town of squares, churches and a market.
Carpathian Mountains
Forested ranges of wooden churches, hiking trails and ski villages.
Chernobyl Exclusion Zone
The abandoned reactor zone, visited on guided tours from Kyiv.
Kamianets-Podilskyi Castle
A fortress city on a river island, with towers and a walled old town.
Festivals, food and getting around Ukraine
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 (Suspended)
Falls on Jan 1
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Epiphany
Falls on Jan 6
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Orthodox New Year
Falls on Jan 14
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Valentine's Day
Falls on Feb 14
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International Women's Day (Suspended)
Falls on Mar 8
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International Women's Day (Suspended) observed
Falls on Mar 9
Food & drink
Getting around
Travel is currently restricted; check official guidance before considering any journey to the country.
Travelling around Ukraine’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Ukraine 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
Ukraine'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.
Ukraine public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Ukraine have?
Ukraine has 11 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 Ukraine is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Ukraine'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, Ukraine typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Ukraine?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Ukraine?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Ukraine
School term dates in Ukraine
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.