Press release prepared by Volodymyr Paniotto

The majority of the population of Ukraine (approximately 66-67%) celebrates Christmas and Easter as the most popular holidays, followed by Independence Day of Ukraine (54%) and Defenders of Ukraine Day (53%).

The attitude towards Labor Day on May 1st has not changed significantly from 2010 to 2021, with only 12% of Ukrainians in 2010 and the same number in 2021 considering it the most important or favorite. After 2022, the number of supporters of this holiday fell to 5% and continues to remain at the same level. It is now the least favorite holiday among Ukrainians.

Attitudes towards Victory Day on May 9 have undergone significant changes. In 2010, it was one of the most important holidays, considered so by 58% of the population. By 2021, its popularity had halved, and only 30% considered it the most important holiday. And after 2022, only 11% of supporters of this holiday remained.

During January 9-14, 2026, the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) conducted its own all-Ukrainian public opinion survey, which, among other things, included a KIIS monitoring question about attitudes towards public holidays. Bythemethodoftelephoneunterviews (computer-assisted telephone interviews, CATI) based on a random sample of mobile phone numbers (with random generation of phone numbers and subsequent statistical weighting) in all regions of Ukraine (the territory controlled by the Government of Ukraine), 601 respondents were surveyed. The survey was conducted with adult (aged 18 and older) citizens of Ukraine who, at the time of the survey, lived in the territory of Ukraine controlled by the Government of Ukraine. The sample did not include residents of territories temporarily not controlled by the Ukrainian authorities (at the same time, some of the respondents are IDPs who moved from the occupied territories), and the survey was not conducted with citizens who left abroad after February 24, 2022.

Formally, under normal circumstances, the statistical error of such a sample (with a probability of 0.95 and taking into account the design effect of 1.3) did not exceed 5.3% for indicators close to 50%, 4.6% for indicators close to 25%, 3.2% for indicators close to 10%, 2.4% for indicators close to 5%.

Under conditions of war, in addition to the specified formal error, a certain systematic deviation is added. Factors that may affect the quality of results in "wartime" conditions were previously cited by KIIS.

In general, we believe that the obtained results are still highly representative and allow a fairly reliable analysis of the public moods of the population.

As a particular holiday approaches, it becomes more relevant in the minds of respondents and may seem more popular. Therefore, KIIS conducts a study of the popularity of holidays once a year in January-February, and not on the eve of a particular holiday. We ask, “Which of these holidays are the most important or favorite for you?” and read to the respondent all the official state holidays (see Appendix 1).

Previously, we published the overall results with a separate analysis for March 8[1]. In this press release, we recall the main results, as well as pay special attention to the holidays of May 1 and May 9.

According to the research data (see graph 1), Easter (67%) and Christmas (66%) remain the most popular. They have consistently held leading positions in recent years, which indicates the significant role of religion in the cultural life of Ukrainians.

Graph 1. What holidays are the most popular (important or favorite) among the population of Ukraine, February 2026

Next comes Independence Day of Ukraine (54%) as one of the main holidays of Ukrainians, which is a testament to national pride and patriotism. Equally popular is the Day of Defenders of Ukraine (53%), which indicates significant respect for military personnel and gratitude for their protection and heroic fight against the enemy in defending the country's independence and sovereignty.

New Year is associated with Christmas and is traditionally popular among Ukrainians. But before its popularity was the same as Christmas (about 80%), and now it is 40%.

This is followed by Constitution Day of Ukraine (28%), Trinity (27%) and International Women's Day (24%). Victory Day (11%) and Labor Day (May 1) 5% complete the list.

What changes have occurred in the popularity of May holidays since 2010? In graph 2, we see the dynamics of attitudes towards these two holidays (attitudes towards all holidays in the appendix, see Appendix 2).

Graph2. How the popularity of Labor Day and Victory Day changed from 2010 to 2026.

Which holidays are the most popular (important or favorite), %.

Attitudes towards Labor Day on May 1st have not changed significantly from 2010 to 2021, it was one of the least popular holidays, with only 12% of Ukrainians in 2010 and the same number in 2021 considering it the most important or favorite. After 2022, the number of supporters of this holiday fell to 5% and continues to remain at the same level. It is now the least favorite holiday among Ukrainians.

Attitude towards Victory Day on May 9 has undergone significant changes. In 2010, it was one of the most important holidays, considered so by 58% of the population. By 2021, its popularity had halved and only 30% considered it the most important holiday. And after 2022, initially 13% remained, and from 2024 only 11% of supporters of this holiday remained, fewer supporters only for Labor Day. Obviously, this is connected with the war, with the fact that Victory Day is very actively celebrated in Russia as a militaristic, aggressive holiday.

According to our research in January 2023, according to the vast majority of Ukrainians (62%), Ukraine should celebrate the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation on May 8, while 22% believe that Victory Day over Nazism should be celebrated on May 9, and another 6% – both dates[2]. Presumably, in subsequent years this ratio shifted even more in favor of May 8, which is consistent with the sharp decline in the significance of May 9 according to later KIIS surveys.

Appendix 1. Formulation of questions from the questionnaire

Which of these Ukrainian public holidays are the most important or favorite for you? Please indicate no more than 5 holidays. NO MORE THAN 5 ANSWER OPTIONS

Appendix 2. Tables

Which of these holidays are the most important or favorite for you? Please list no more than 5 holidays.

Dynamics in Ukraine as a whole from 2013 to 2026, %

* telephone survey (CATI), in previous years it was a F2F interview