Public holiday in Russia
International Women's Day - in lieu in Russia
Monday, March 9, 2026
Nationwide public holiday
A nationwide public holiday in Russia, observed as the substituted day off for International Women’s Day when the date falls on a weekend. It affects the country’s early-March holiday schedule and gives many people a long weekend.
About International Women's Day - in lieu in Russia
In Russia, this in-lieu day exists because International Women’s Day is a public holiday and its day off is moved when 8 March falls on a weekend. The substitute observance is nationwide and is treated as an official non-working day, so it is mainly relevant for planning around the early-March holiday period rather than for any separate ceremonial meaning of its own.
History
Russia, like other countries in the former Soviet sphere, formally celebrates International Women’s Day on 8 March. When the holiday date falls on a weekend, the rest day is transferred to a weekday to preserve the public day off; the in-lieu observance is part of Russia’s modern holiday calendar arrangement.
How International Women's Day - in lieu is celebrated in Russia
The day is generally observed as a regular day off, with the practical effect being a weekday break after the weekend holiday date. Many people use the extra free day for rest, travel, or domestic plans, and workplaces and schools follow the official holiday schedule.
Interesting facts
Because the holiday is tied to a fixed calendar date, the substituted day can shift from year to year depending on the weekday on which 8 March falls. The observance applies across Russia rather than to a limited region.
Dates in published calendars
| Year | Holiday date | Observed date | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 9 Mar 2026 | — | Nationwide |
Import sources
- Generic ICS feed
An import is not an independent verification.