What Months in 2026 are the Most Cost-Effective for Vacations in Russia and Which Ones Result in Income Losses? An Analysis of Working Days, Holidays, and Recommendations for the Workforce.
Russian experts warn that the most advantageous months for vacations in 2026 are July, April, September, October, and December, as they have the highest number of working days. Conversely, January, February, and May are the least beneficial months. The choice of vacation timing directly influences the amount of vacation pay, making it crucial for working individuals to consider not only their personal plans but also the labor calendar. Let's delve into why certain months provide greater financial benefits for vacationing, while others can lead to financial losses.
Why Some Months are More Advantageous for Vacations than Others
The financial benefit of taking a vacation largely depends on the number of working days in the chosen month. Vacations in Russia are calculated based on the employee's average earnings over the past 12 months. Simply put, employees with a fixed salary receive not their current monthly pay during vacations but their average daily earnings multiplied by the days off. If a month is shorter (due to holidays), the average daily income used for vacation pay is generally lower than the actual income for a regular working day in that month. As a result, during vacation time, an employee may earn less than if they had worked.
Conversely, in months with a higher number of working days, the difference between the average payment and regular salary is minimal. A vacation taken in a "long" month virtually has no impact on the employee's overall income. This is why, from a financial standpoint, months with the maximum number of working days are optimal for vacationing, while vacations in "holiday" months are considered financially disadvantageous.
The Most Beneficial Months for Vacations in 2026
From a financial perspective, it is optimal to take vacations in months where the number of working days is maximized. In 2026, several months stand out as record holders for this criterion:
- July — 23 working days (the highest figure of the year).
- April — 22 working days.
- September — 22 working days.
- October — 22 working days.
- December — 22 working days.
Scheduling vacations during these months will enable employees to receive maximum vacation pay without a decrease in their usual income level. For example, July, as the "longest" working month, guarantees the highest vacation payments. The other months with 22 working days (April, September, October, December) come very close to July in terms of financial benefits. Experts recommend planning vacations during these periods whenever possible to ensure the vacation compensation is as high as possible.
The Least Beneficial Months for Vacations
A contrasting situation arises in months with the minimum number of working days. In 2026, the "shortest" months in terms of labor will be:
- January — 15 working days (extended New Year holidays reduce the number of working days).
- February — 19 working days (considering the holiday on February 23).
- May — 19 working days (May holidays occurring at the beginning and middle of the month).
Due to the large number of non-working holidays, taking vacation during these periods is considered financially disadvantageous. The losses in January are particularly pronounced, as the New Year holidays "consume" almost half the month. If a vacation is taken immediately after the New Year holidays, the total income for January (considering the vacation pay) could shrink to one-third of the usual monthly salary. A similar situation occurs in May: two weeks off during the early May holidays will lead to a noticeable decrease in payments. Specialists estimate that a vacation lasting around 14 days in a "holiday" month (such as January or May) reduces the total income of an employee by 10-15% compared to a regular month.
February incurs slightly fewer losses than January and May, but still falls under the category of months that are not advantageous for vacations. Therefore, during these periods, it is more beneficial to work all days and receive the full salary, postponing the vacation for another time.
Other Months: Vacations Without Notable Losses
Aside from the mentioned extremes, the remaining months of the year can be considered neutral from a financial perspective. In these months, the number of working days ranges from 20-21, and taking a vacation will not significantly impact income. For instance, March, June, August, and November in 2026 will each have about 20-21 working days, making it possible to take a vacation during this time without significant losses in salary. If work schedules or life circumstances dictate that a vacation should be taken in one of these months, there is no need to fear serious income reductions.
How to Extend Your Vacation Using Holidays
Financial gain is not the only criterion when choosing the timing of a vacation. Many strive to leverage holidays and official days off to obtain a longer break. Indeed, with proper planning of dates, it is possible to significantly extend the duration of relaxation while using fewer days of paid annual leave.
- February: February 23, 2026, falls on a Monday, resulting in three consecutive days off (February 21-23).
- March: March 8 is on a Sunday, so the day off is moved to Monday, March 9 — again creating a long weekend of three days.
- May: The holidays are split into two blocks — from May 1 to May 3 and from May 9 to May 11 (Victory Day on May 9 falls on a Saturday, thus the day off is moved to Monday, May 11). If vacation is taken on the working days between these blocks or immediately afterward, it’s possible to achieve up to 10 days of continuous rest.
- June: Russia Day on June 12 (Friday) automatically provides a long weekend from June 12-14.
- November: National Unity Day on November 4 falls on a Wednesday, so there isn’t a long weekend. However, by adding 2-3 days of leave before or after this date, one can arrange a short autumn break.
Recommendations for Vacation Planning
When choosing the timing of annual leave, it is crucial to weigh the balance between vacation duration and financial benefits. Here are several tips to help plan time off optimally:
- Determine your priorities. First, decide what is more important to you — maintaining as much income as possible or increasing vacation length. This will influence your choice of months and days for your vacation.
- Choose the month consciously. If financial gain is the priority, plan vacations in months with 22-23 working days (e.g., July, April, October). This will allow you to receive vacation pay nearly in full. Conversely, if a longer break is desired, consider taking a vacation in a month with holiday periods (January, May), keeping in mind that the vacation pay might be somewhat lower than usual.
- Consider additional factors. Besides the calendar, pay attention to other circumstances: seasonality of work and workload, colleagues' plans, ticket prices, and tours. Sometimes it may make sense to shift your vacation to a less popular month to save costs on travel or choose a period when there is a lull at work.
Ultimately, effective vacation planning allows for both quality relaxation and avoidance of unnecessary financial losses. By finding balance between vacation length and monetary compensation, you will maximize the benefit from your annual leave.
