What Are The Public Holidays in Russia in 2026?

List of Public Holidays in Russia (2026)

Russia sets public holidays at the federal level, and the government may shift working days to create long weekends. The table below lists the core nationwide public holidays for 2026; keep in mind that official transfer and bridge days are confirmed by separate government decrees closer to the year.

Do Employers Have to Provide Paid Leave on Public Holidays?

Yes, Russian labour law requires employers to provide paid days off on official non-working public holidays. Employees who normally work on the day of the week on which the holiday falls are entitled to be off with their average earnings preserved. Part-time employees are treated proportionally: if the holiday falls on a day they would usually work, it is a paid non-working day; if it falls on a non-working day for them, there is no additional entitlement.

If you require staff to work on a public holiday, you must obtain their written consent in most cases and pay at least double the normal hourly or daily rate, or provide an additional paid day off instead of the premium, in line with the Labour Code. Certain categories of employees (for example, pregnant employees and some minors) enjoy extra protection and generally cannot be required to work on public holidays. When a public holiday falls on a weekend, the day off is typically moved to the next working day, and that substitute day is treated as the paid holiday.

Legal Penalties for Not Providing Paid Holiday Leave

Failure to comply with public holiday rules can expose your company to administrative liability under the Russian Labour Code and the Code of Administrative Offences. Labour inspectors and the State Labour Inspectorate can investigate complaints or conduct audits, and may order you to correct violations, pay wage arrears, and compensate employees for underpaid holiday work.

Fines can be imposed on both the employing entity and responsible officials, with higher penalties for repeated violations. Common mistakes include treating public holidays as ordinary working days without premium pay, misclassifying substitute days as normal workdays, and failing to document employee consent to work on holidays where required. Keeping clear records of schedules, consent forms, and pay calculations is essential if you are audited or challenged by employees.

How Do Holidays Affect Overtime Thresholds?

Work performed on a public holiday in Russia is not treated as standard overtime but as work on a non-working holiday, which triggers special premium pay rules. The Labour Code requires at least double pay for hours worked on a public holiday, regardless of whether the employee has exceeded their normal weekly or daily hours. If you grant an additional day off in exchange, the hours worked on the holiday are usually paid at the regular rate, and the extra day off is paid as a normal working day.

These hours can still count toward general overtime limits if they exceed the employee’s normal working time, so you must track them carefully to avoid breaching maximum overtime thresholds. For shift workers and employees on irregular schedules, you should align rosters with the official holiday calendar and any government decrees on transferred days, and clearly communicate how holiday work and compensation will be handled in employment contracts and internal policies.

Stay 100% Compliant with Leave Regulations Using Playroll

Navigating Russia’s mix of fixed public holidays, substitute days, and premium pay rules can be challenging, especially if your HR and payroll teams are based outside the country. Playroll helps you stay compliant by building Russian labour law requirements directly into your employment, time-off, and payroll workflows.

When you hire in Russia through Playroll, we localise contracts, apply the correct public holiday calendar, and ensure that paid leave, substitute days, and holiday pay are calculated in line with the Labour Code and current government decrees. If your team members work on a public holiday, Playroll automatically applies the correct premium rates or additional paid days off, so you do not have to interpret complex rules on your own.

Our in-country experts monitor legal changes, including annual decisions on transferred working and non-working days, and update your settings so your company remains compliant without constant manual adjustments. You get clear visibility into holiday costs, accurate payslips for your Russian employees, and peace of mind that your global operations respect local law.