At the beginning of May, Russians are treated to a traditional long weekend. This year there will be no consecutive May holidays: the non-working days reserved for May 1 and 9 are divided by working days. Lenta.ru tells you which days in May 2026 you can relax, whether it is profitable to go on vacation this month and where you can go on vacation in May.
How to relax in May 2026
According to the decree on holidays and weekends, in May 2026, Russians will have a series of 2 long weekends.
In 2026, non-working days will be from May 1 to 3 and from May 9 to 11
There are 31 calendar days in May. Employees who work 5 days/week will have a total of 12 days off, the remaining 19 days are working days.
May Day weekend
May 1, the holiday of spring and labor, is inextricably linked in the minds of Russians with protests in the Soviet Union. In the Soviet Union, all workers were honored on this day.
May Day will give Russians three days of rest – from May 1 to May 3
Australia. There, on April 21, 1856, groups of workers held rallies demanding the establishment of an eight-hour workday instead of an irregular or longer workday. The protesters' demands were heard – the working day was reduced.
The most famous was the anarchist demonstration in the United States 30 years after the events in Australia – May 1, 1886. Then, during the dispersal of the action, several protesters died due to police actions, making the protests even larger. As a result, some people were sentenced to death. To commemorate these events, in 1889 the Paris Congress of the Second International declared May 1 as the Day of Solidarity of the World's Workers.
Weekend honoring May 9 (Victory Day)
On May 9, Russia celebrates Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War. This memorable day was established by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on May 8, 1945. Since then, May 9 has been one of the biggest holidays; On this day, parades are held throughout Russia, songs of the war years are sung.
On Victory Day, Russian people will take 3 more days off: from May 9 to May 11
Why is the May holiday not uniting?
In 2021, May holidays are combined, leaving the intermediate days between the first and second days off still paid. This measure was taken due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Since then, almost every year there have been initiatives aimed at regulating long May days. So, in 2023, to combine the May holiday at the expense of four days taken away from the New Year's holiday, the State Duma, its deputy Vladislav Davankov, people will be much happier going on a picnic in May than sitting down to eat salad in January.
The government rejected the proposal, noting that the proposed provisions “do not correspond to the objective of ensuring employees make appropriate use of non-working weekends and holidays”. In addition, according to the Cabinet of Ministers, such changes will create additional burdens on employers and hinder the educational process in schools.
Is it profitable to go on vacation in May?
There are only a few working days between the first and second holidays in May, and of course, many people want to take a vacation to make the long weekend uninterrupted. But in this case, you will have to face financial losses.
Human resources expert Yanina Mishcherskaya, in an interview with Lenta.ru, emphasized that May, like January, is one of the most unfavorable months for vacation. After all, according to the law, vacation pay is calculated by calendar days, wages are calculated by working days.
Therefore, when thinking about a vacation in May, you need to understand what you want more: to relax longer or to pay more for the vacation. If it is the former, then May is a suitable choice. If the latter, it is better to choose another month.
Employers can only offer leave in May for an extended period, for example from April 22 to May 5 or from May 6 to May 19. After that, some leave will remain because it falls on weekends and holidays. But you will receive less vacation pay, for example, in July, HR expert Yanina Mishcherskaya
How is work paid in May?
As a rule, on holidays, Russians work according to a schedule: emergency service workers, store employees, restaurant and hotel employees, media workers and other specialists work, for example, every other day or three to three days. In this case, working on weekends is stipulated in the employee's contract and they receive no special compensation for working on a day off.
But Russians with a standard 5/2 work schedule whose employer requires them to work in May can count on compensation:
double pay for each working day; off on any workday at the employee's option.
The place to relax during the May holidays
Traditionally, the May holidays are the time for barbecues and first trips to nature, but you can arrange a whole trip on these few days. In a conversation with Lenta.ru, the owner of the travel agency Travel Club, Anastasia Marinkina, offered several travel options.
Where to relax in Russia during the May holidays
If you are planning a trip for several days, then you can pay attention to river cruises: ships depart from St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Volgograd, Moscow and other cities.
You might also consider active author tours. Most often, they now offer trips to the Caucasus – for example, to Dagestan or North Ossetia – or to Kaliningrad, which have become especially popular in recent years. Tours can be of different types – for example, rafting, fitness camps or trips with scientists. It all depends on the wishes of the traveler.
If this format is not interesting then you can go on a tour to neighboring cities. For example, Muscovites can go to the Moscow region, Tver or Yaroslavl. On tours, it's better to book your favorite guides in advance. There is a great need for good guides; Before the May holidays it was impossible to find a professional. It is better to do this in February-March. Where to relax abroad during the May holidays. For short trips, it is better to choose countries with direct flights and no need for a visa. For example, Türkiye and Russia's neighbors Uzbekistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus and Kazakhstan. Swimming in May is still cold, but this month you can go on excursions, winery tours and master classes without fear of freezing.
photo: Vitaly Timkiv / RIA NovostiPlace to relax with children during the May holidays To travel with children, you can also choose tours, but this time interactive. For example, quests or travel with guidebooks and maps. A child can also enjoy a cruise ship excursion. From Moscow, such trains go to Minsk, Karelia, Lipetsk, Kostroma and Pereslavl-Zalessky. The average trip takes from one to 4 days. Festivals during the May holidays If you want to get acquainted with culture not only as part of excursion programs, you can pay attention to the festivals that traditionally take place in different regions of Russia. For example, in Kaliningrad, during the May holidays they organize “Fishtival” – a fish and seafood culinary festival, a free opportunity to get acquainted with local cuisine and traditions. Fishtival has become the hottest culinary event in Russia in 2022. In Altai, from late April to mid-May, maralnik usually blooms – a soft purple shrub that covers mountains and rocks. In honor of this, they hold the “Elkweed Flower” festival, which kicks off summer in the region. F
then: Vitaly Timkiv / RIA Novosti When we are still resting in 2026 In 2026, 247 out of 365 calendar days will be working days for five-day workers. The remaining 118 days are weekends and holidays. Holidays in 2026: January 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9 – Tet holiday; January 7—Christmas Day; February 23 – National Defense Day; March 8—International Women's Day; May 1 – Spring and Labor Festival; May 9 – Victory Day; June 12—Russia Day; November 4 is national unity day. According to the 2026 production schedule, Russians take a break: January 1 – January 11; February 21 – 23; March 7 – 9; May 1 – May 3 (April 30 – short day); May 9 – May 11 (May 8 is a short day); June 12 – June 14 (June 11 is a short day); November 4 (November 3 is a short day); December 31.
