On 1 January 2026, Moscow falls silent. Bank branches lock their doors and do not reopen for eight straight days. Only a handful of central offices resume limited service on 6 January.
Official Russian public holidays in 2026
Russia observes eight public holidays in 2026. Two land on a Saturday or Sunday, so no substitute weekday is given.
| Date | Holiday | Day of Week |
|---|---|---|
| 1-8 January | New Year Holidays | Thu-Thu |
| 7 January | Christmas Day | Wed |
| 23 February | Defender of the Fatherland Day | Mon |
| 8 March | International Women's Day | Sun |
| 1 May | Holiday of Spring and Labor | Fri |
| 9 May | Victory Day | Sat |
| 12 June | Russia Day | Fri |
| 4 November | Unity Day | Wed |
What’s open during the 1-8 January shutdown?
The eight-day break is the longest annual closure in Russia. Offices, government services and banks go dark for the full stretch. The period combines the New Year Holidays (1-6 January), Russian Orthodox Christmas Day (7 January) and a final New Year Holidays bridge day on 8 January.
Banks: Nearly every branch stays shut from 1 January through 5 January. A small number of main branches in central Moscow open on 6, 7 and 8 January, usually 10:00-16:00. Check your bank’s app for the specific location. ATMs and online banking run as normal.
Retail: Shopping malls and major grocery chains stay open daily, including 1 January. Smaller shops and kiosks often close from 1 January through 3 January.
Government offices: Closed 1-8 January. Multi-functional centres (MFCs) return to normal hours on 9 January.
Public transport: Moscow Metro runs a Sunday timetable on 1 January. Weekday service resumes on 2 January.
How the remaining holidays affect business hours
Banks: Branches close on 23 February, 8 March, 1 May, 9 May, 12 June and 4 November. Saturday hours on adjacent weekends may be cut short.
Retail: Shopping malls and supermarkets operate normal hours on all public holidays outside the January shutdown. Smaller independent shops sometimes close on 1 May and 9 May.
Government offices: Closed on every official public holiday. If a holiday falls on a Monday or Friday, expect slower service the following weekday.
Public transport: Metro and ground transport run a Sunday schedule on public holidays. Peak-hour crowding eases, but intervals between trains lengthen.
Long weekends and bridge holidays
The government occasionally shifts a holiday to create a longer break. For 2026, no official bridge days have been announced beyond the fixed 1-8 January block.
The most useful long weekends:
- 23-24 February, Defender of the Fatherland Day on Monday gives a two-day break.
- 1-4 May, Spring and Labor Day on Friday creates a three-day weekend.
- 12-14 June, Russia Day on Friday creates a three-day weekend.
How to plan around the Moscow holiday calendar
Schedule meetings and bank visits away from 1-8 January and any Monday or Friday that borders a public holiday. For business hours outside holiday periods, most offices run 09:00-18:00 Monday to Friday.
Recurring payments and visa appointments should be completed before 25 December. The last reliable business day for in-person banking is 30 December.