Russia's 2026 May Holidays to Offer Briefest Break Since 2018

Moscow, April 14 – RIA Novosti. Russians planning their spring getaways should prepare for a shorter stretch of time off than they've grown accustomed to. According to Alexander Yuzhalin, head of legal practice at SuperJob, the upcoming May holidays will be the briefest in eight years, consisting of two separate three-day weekends.

"This year's May holidays will be less extended because no additional days off were moved from the New Year's break, which often happens," Yuzhalin explained. "The result is two distinct three-day periods for rest."

The calendar for those on a standard five-day workweek shows 19 working days and 12 days off in May 2026. The official public holidays fall on Friday, May 1, and Saturday, May 9.

The first break runs from May 1 through May 3. The second period, from May 9 to 11, includes a Monday off due to the standard rule moving a holiday that lands on a weekend to the next available weekday. This creates a long weekend from Saturday to Monday.

While the total number of days off remains, the absence of a bridging weekday between the holidays means a more fragmented schedule, breaking the traditional week-long 'May vacation' many have enjoyed in recent years.