Public holiday in Belarus
Victory Day in Belarus
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Nationwide public holiday
Victory Day in Belarus is a nationwide public holiday on 9 May that marks the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War. It is one of the country’s most significant remembrance days.
About Victory Day in Belarus
In Belarus, Victory Day is observed nationwide and is closely tied to public remembrance of the Second World War, which caused immense loss across the country. The day is mainly about honoring military and civilian victims, veterans, and the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. It is a formal day off and is among the major state holidays in the Belarusian calendar.
History
The holiday dates to the Soviet-era commemoration of victory over Nazi Germany on 9 May 1945. In Belarus, the date remained a key official remembrance after independence and continued to be marked as a public holiday. Over time, it has become one of the most visible state observances connected with the wartime experience of the Belarusian population.
Traditions
Common symbols of the day in Belarus include flowers, ribbons, and wartime memorial imagery. People often lay flowers at monuments and memorials dedicated to the war dead and veterans. The orange-and-black St. George ribbon is also widely associated with Victory Day observance in Belarus.
How Victory Day is celebrated in Belarus
Ceremonies, wreath-laying, and visits to memorials are the most familiar public observances. In Minsk, the day is marked by official events and public commemorations, and many people watch televised coverage of the celebrations and remembrance ceremonies.
Interesting facts
Belarus uses 9 May for Victory Day rather than the 8 May commemoration seen in some other countries. The holiday is observed alongside other war-related remembrance on the national calendar, reflecting the scale of wartime loss in Belarus.
Dates in published calendars
| Year | Holiday date | Observed date | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 9 May 2026 | — | Nationwide |
Import sources
- Generic ICS feed
An import is not an independent verification.