In early 2026, Russians will enjoy the traditional New Year's long weekend. According to the production schedule, the remainder will begin on December 31, 2025, which falls on a Wednesday, and end on January 11, 2026, which falls on a Sunday. Thus, the country's citizens have almost two weeks of vacation ahead and the opportunity to spend time with family or travel.
Weekends are regulated according to Article 112 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation. According to Government Decree No. 1466, January 3 and 4 are postponed to January 9, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively. This makes it possible for the January holiday to last as long as possible.
For those who want to extend their vacation, simply go on vacation on January 12 and 13 – in this case, you can get two consecutive weekends off, spending only two days from your vacation. However, employers should agree on working days in advance to avoid duplication and delays in work.
Working on public holidays is paid at double pay or compensated with additional days off, except in sectors where operations cannot be suspended – transportation, healthcare, utilities and emergency services.
Standard working hours in January 2026 will be: for a 40-hour week – 120 hours, for a 39-hour week – 117, for a 36-hour week – 108 and for a 30-hour week – 90 hours. In total, in 2026, Russians will have 247 working days and 118 days off, which is important to take into account when calculating vacation pay and drawing up an annual schedule.
