Public holiday in Russia
Victory Day - in lieu in Russia
Monday, May 11, 2026
Nationwide public holiday
Victory Day (in lieu) is the Russian public-holiday day off moved from the Victory Day observance when the May 9 holiday falls on a weekend. It gives residents an extra weekday break tied to Russia’s main commemoration of the end of the Second World War in Europe.
About Victory Day - in lieu in Russia
In Russia, this in-lieu day is the postponed public holiday connected to Victory Day, the annual commemoration of the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War. It is observed nationwide as a day off when the original May 9 holiday is shifted because of the calendar, so it functions as an official substitute rather than a separate commemorative event. For many people it has a practical value as a long weekend or midweek break, but its meaning remains linked to the country’s central wartime remembrance day rather than to a distinct celebration of its own.
History
Russia’s Victory Day commemorates the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. The in-lieu day exists because the holiday can be moved to preserve a day off when the fixed-date observance falls on a weekend, a practice used in Russia’s holiday calendar for public holidays that are transferred to another date.
Traditions
Because this is an in-lieu day, it does not have separate traditions of its own. Any commemorative customs remain associated with Victory Day itself, such as remembering wartime losses, laying flowers at memorials, and attending official or community ceremonies.
How Victory Day - in lieu is celebrated in Russia
People generally treat the day as an ordinary public-holiday day off. Some use it for travel, time with family, or rest, while public attention remains on the nearby Victory Day observances rather than on any special rituals for the substitute day.
Interesting facts
The date shown for this holiday can vary by year because it is moved from the fixed Victory Day observance when needed. It is observed nationwide in Russia, not in a limited region.
Dates in published calendars
| Year | Holiday date | Observed date | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 11 May 2026 | — | Nationwide |
Import sources
- Generic ICS feed
An import is not an independent verification.