Victory Day in Moscow is observed every year on 9 May and is a public, non-working holiday in Russia. It marks the German surrender in 1945, signed on the night of 8 to 9 May, which was already 9 May in Moscow time, and the end of what is called in Russia the Great Patriotic War. The date is among the most revered in the Russian calendar.
The main event is a military parade on Red Square in the morning, followed in many years by the Immortal Regiment march, in which people carry photographs of relatives who lived through the war, and by fireworks in the evening. The center is closed to traffic and access to Red Square is restricted, so visitors mostly watch the city’s decorations, memorials and ceremonies. The scale and format change from year to year, so check the official sources.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | День Победы в Москве |
|---|---|
| Type | Holiday / observance |
| When | Every year on 9 May, a fixed date; if it falls on a weekend the day off may be moved, and it is often part of the May holidays. |
| Next occurrence | May 9 (same date every year) |
| Typical duration | One day, with rehearsals and preparations in the preceding weeks and the main events in the morning and evening. |
| Public holiday | Yes, a non-working day in Russia |
| Address | Red Square, Tverskoy District, Moscow (main parade site); the Victory Park on Poklonnaya Hill is the second major memorial site OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Tverskoy |
| Metro | Okhotny Ryad (Sokolnicheskaya Line (Line 1, red), A central station beside Manezhnaya Square and the Red Square approach; access to the area is restricted on the day, and the exit and the walking time were not verified) Aleksandrovsky Sad (Filyovskaya Line (Line 4, light blue), A station next to the Kremlin wall; access may be restricted on the day, and the exit and the walking time were not verified) Teatralnaya (Zamoskvoretskaya Line (Line 2, green), A central station near Revolution Square; access may be restricted on the day, and the exit and the walking time were not verified) |
| Admission | The street celebrations and memorials are free to see. The parade on Red Square is not a ticketed event for visitors, and concerts and museum events set their own rules and prices. |
| Best time to visit | The parade is held in the morning, the Immortal Regiment march follows, and the fireworks are in the evening. Rehearsals in the weeks before the day let visitors see the columns. Early May weather ranges from cool to warm. Crowd patterns were not verified. |
| Last updated | October 7, 2026 |
Dates, programs and prices change from year to year. Always check the official website for the current edition.
Why Visit Victory Day in Moscow?
The day shows how the memory of the war is kept in Russian families: portraits of grandparents carried in the street, the black and orange St George ribbon pinned on coats, flowers laid at memorials and veterans greeted in parks. It is a solemn, public day rather than a festival, and many events are free to watch.
It is also a practical day to understand, since the center is closed to traffic, Red Square is restricted around the parade, metro stations may close or have changed entrances, and offices and banks are shut. Visitors who plan around this, and who respect the nature of the day, can see the decorated city and the memorial culture of Moscow.
How Victory Day in Moscow Is Celebrated
The main official event is the Victory Parade on Red Square, which has started in the morning, at 10:00 in one published schedule, and is broadcast live on federal television channels. During rehearsals before the day and on 9 May itself, military columns can be seen moving through central Moscow toward Red Square. In many years the Immortal Regiment march follows, in which participants carry photographs of relatives who fought in the war or worked behind the front.
Streets, embankments, parks, bridges and the metro are decorated with flags, St George ribbons and themed displays, and volunteers hand out ribbons in the center, near railway stations and in Zaryadye Park. Flowers and wreaths are laid on wartime graves and memorials, and concerts and parties are organized for veterans. Fireworks begin in the evening, traditionally at 22:00 in one schedule. The program and the security arrangements differ each year.
Highlights of Victory Day in Moscow
The parade on Red Square
The Victory Parade has been held on Red Square on 9 May, with the military columns and the veterans honored, and it is broadcast live on television. The first Victory Parade took place on Red Square on 24 June 1945, and annual parades were resumed later. Red Square is closed to ordinary visitors on the day, so the best view is on television. See the Red Square guide on this site.
Tip: Do not plan to enter Red Square on 9 May; watch the parade on a screen.
Columns on the streets during rehearsals
During the rehearsals before the day and on 9 May itself you can walk through central Moscow and see the military columns heading toward Red Square, according to a city university news piece. Rehearsal days and their routes change each year, and some streets are closed. Check the official announcements for the current dates.
Tip: Keep a safe distance from the vehicles and follow police instructions.
The Immortal Regiment march
The march is a public procession on 9 May in which people carry photographs of relatives who fought in the war or contributed away from the front. In 2015 the Moscow march took place for the first time on Red Square, immediately after the parade. It is not held in the same format every year, and its route and rules vary.
Tip: Check the current format before you go, since it varies by year.
Victory Park on Poklonnaya Hill
Victory Park on Poklonnaya Hill is the main memorial park for the Great Patriotic War, with the Museum of the Great Patriotic War, whose construction began in 1987. In the past the heavy equipment and air parts of the parade were moved there for a time. Its events and hours differ by year. See the Dorogomilovo guide on this site.
Tip: Check the park's own program and opening hours for the day.
The St George ribbon and city decorations
The black and orange or yellow ribbon was first attached to the Order of St George under Empress Catherine II and has become a symbol of Victory Day. Volunteers hand out ribbons in the center, near railway stations and in Zaryadye Park, and the city is decorated with flags and displays. See the Zaryadye Park guide on this site.
Tip: Accept a ribbon only if you wish to wear it; it is a voluntary symbol.
Evening fireworks
The traditional fireworks begin in the evening, at 22:00 in one published schedule, and are held in Moscow and other large cities. Viewing points and security zones change from year to year, and some areas in the center are closed. The official city portal publishes the current viewing places.
Tip: Choose a viewing place from the official list and arrive early.
What It Means for Your Visit
9 May is a public holiday and a non-working day, so government offices and banks are closed, while many shops, restaurants and museums are open with holiday hours. The center is closed to traffic, Red Square is restricted around the parade and rehearsals, and some metro stations in the center may be closed or have changed access, so plan routes in advance. Mobile internet and other services in the center may be limited at times, as the arrangements change.
Streets near Red Square and along the parade routes are blocked in the morning, and the Immortal Regiment march and fireworks add closures and crowds. Public transport is crowded, and taxis are slow. The 9 May holiday is often combined with 1 May, so travel hubs can be busy. Check the official city portal for the current closures and transport arrangements.
Atmosphere
On 9 May the center is quiet in the early hours and then fills with people in coats and ribbons, many holding flowers, flags or photographs of relatives. The streets are closed to cars, so the sounds are footsteps, brass bands and the announcements of the day, with the Red Square events heard rather than seen.
The mood is solemn, with moments of song and applause, and veterans are greeted with flowers. In the evening families gather on embankments and in parks for the fireworks, with the metro crowded and the streets slow. The crowd varies by year and no figures were verified.
History of Victory Day in Moscow
The German instrument of surrender was signed on 8 May 1945 in Berlin, which was already the night of 9 May in Moscow time, and 9 May was proclaimed Victory Day. The first Victory Parade took place on Red Square on 24 June 1945, at the order of the Supreme Commander, and the captured German banners were thrown at the foot of the Mausoleum.
In December 1947 the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet made 9 May a working day, and the celebrations were largely stopped. On 9 May 1965, the 20th anniversary of victory, Moscow held its first Victory Day parade in 20 years, and 9 May became a non-working holiday again. In 1985 a large parade marked the 40th anniversary, and in 1990 a parade was held for the first time without a portrait of Lenin on Red Square, which continued afterward.
The Museum of the Great Patriotic War on Poklonnaya Hill, whose construction began in 1987, opened in 1995, and the parade of that year was held in two parts: a military parade on Poklonnaya Hill and a veterans’ ceremony on Red Square. Annual parades on Red Square were held again from 2008, with a column of equipment and aircraft.
In 2015 the Immortal Regiment march was held for the first time on Red Square, immediately after the parade, with over 500,000 participants reported in the center of Moscow. The march began as a local initiative in Tomsk and spread to many cities and countries.
Today Victory Day is a public holiday with a parade, fireworks and concerts, and its scale and format change from year to year. The programs and security arrangements are announced by the authorities each year.
Tickets and Booking for Victory Day in Moscow
There is no ticket for Victory Day. The street decorations, memorials and fireworks are free to see, and the parade on Red Square is not a public event with tickets. Concerts, museum events and restaurants sell their own tickets, usually online or at the venue, and restaurants fill up around the holiday, so book ahead. The program and the security arrangements change every year, so no program or prices are given here.
- Official information: the city’s official portal, mos.ru, publishes the current closures, viewing places and transport arrangements.
- Payment: foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are reported not to work in Russia, and the sanctions rules of your own country may restrict some Russian payment services, so check this yourself.
Rates for Russian citizens and concessions differ at ticketed events, so check each organizer’s own page for the current edition.
Get Tickets for Victory Day in Moscow
How to Get to Victory Day in Moscow
Red Square is reached from Okhotny Ryad (Line 1), Aleksandrovsky Sad (Line 4) and Teatralnaya (Line 2), but access to the center is restricted on the day and some stations may be closed or exit only. The exits and walking times were not verified. For Poklonnaya Hill, Park Pobedy is the nearest station, though its lines and exits were not verified.
- Metro: check the official announcements for closed stations and changed exits; the metro guides on this site explain the lines.
- Taxi: streets in the center are closed; the taxi apps guide of this site explains the options.
Accessibility
No accessibility information was found for the day. Closures, crowds and security checks in the center make movement difficult, so check conditions and the official viewing places before you go.
Food Nearby
Cafes and restaurants outside the closed zone are open, though many fill up. No individual venue was verified for this guide, so check opening hours and book ahead.
What to Bring
Layers for changeable weather, comfortable shoes for a lot of walking around closed streets, and rubles in cash for small purchases, since foreign cards are reported not to work.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Victory Day in Moscow
The decorated streets of the center
Flags, ribbons and displays along a central street on the morning of the holiday. It shows the city's decoration without entering restricted areas.
Best time: Morning, outside the closed zone.
Victory Park on Poklonnaya Hill
The memorial park and its monuments with visitors laying flowers, from the paths. The open space suits wide shots.
Best time: Midday.
An embankment or park viewpoint for the fireworks
The sky over the river or a park with the evening fireworks, from a place listed by the city. Check the list of viewing places.
Best time: Evening.
Photography Rules
No general photography rules for the day were found. Security zones near Red Square and the Kremlin restrict photography, tripods and drones, and officers may give instructions, so follow them, avoid photographing veterans and ceremonies without permission and keep a respectful distance. Drone rules in Moscow are strict and were not checked.
Family Suitability
The day suits older children interested in history, who can see decorations, memorials and fireworks, but crowds, closures and long walks are hard for young children. Stroller access is difficult in crowded areas.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Plan your route the day before, since metro stations and streets in the center may be closed on 9 May.
- Check the official announcements for the rehearsal days in the weeks before 9 May if you want to see the columns.
- Treat the day with respect: it is solemn, and the ribbon and flowers are voluntary symbols.
- Book a restaurant early, since tables fill around the May holidays.
- Choose a fireworks viewing place from the official list and not an improvised spot.
- Check whether the holiday forms a long weekend with 1 May, since travel hubs are busy then.
Explore Nearby Victory Day in Moscow
Sights near Victory Day in Moscow
Red Square Moscow – about 50 m away (~1 min walk) · typical visit: 1–2 hours for the square, 3–5 hours with St Basil's and one museumMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Zaryadye Park Moscowabout 550 m away (~9 min walk) · typical visit: 1–2 hours; 3 hours with the pavilionsMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Lenin’s Mausoleum Moscow – about 50 m away (~1 min walk) · typical visit: 30–60 minutes including the queue; a few minutes insideMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
GUM Moscowabout 100 m away (~2 min walk) · typical visit: 1–2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
St. Basil’s Cathedral Moscowabout 200 m away (~3 min walk) · typical visit: 45–90 minutes insideMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
State Historical Museum Moscowabout 250 m away (~4 min walk) · typical visit: 2.5–4 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metro stations near Victory Day in Moscow
Aleksandrovsky Sad Metro Stationabout 800 m away (~13 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Ploshchad Revolyutsii Metro Stationabout 300 m away (~5 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Okhotny Ryad Metro Stationabout 500 m away (~8 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Restaurants and cafes near Victory Day in Moscow
Stolovaya 57about 100 m away (~2 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Varenichnaya No. 1about 300 m away (~5 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Kappo Hiroki Arakawaabout 450 m away (~7 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
SAVVAabout 500 m away (~8 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Nightlife near Victory Day in Moscow
Papa's Barabout 500 m away (~8 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Kadril Karaoke Clubabout 800 m away (~13 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotels near Victory Day in Moscow
Four Seasons Hotel Moscowabout 450 m away (~7 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotel Metropol Moscowabout 500 m away (~8 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotel National Moscowabout 550 m away (~9 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Events and traditions near Victory Day in Moscow
Spasskaya Tower Military Music Festivalabout 50 m away (~1 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
National Unity Day in Moscowabout 50 m away (~1 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Russia Day in Moscowabout 50 m away (~1 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Related guides
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Kitay-Gorod: Walls, Varvarka Street and What to SeeMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Dorogomilovo: Kutuzovsky Prospekt, Borodino Panorama and UkrainaMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Victory Park and Poklonnaya Hill Walking Itinerary: Route and RulesMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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FAQ: Victory Day in Moscow
When is Victory Day?
Every year on 9 May.
Is it a day off?
Yes, it is a public, non-working holiday.
Can I watch the parade on Red Square?
Red Square is restricted; it is broadcast on television.
What is the Immortal Regiment?
A march in which people carry photographs of relatives from the war.
What is the St George ribbon?
A black and orange ribbon that became a symbol of Victory Day.
When are the fireworks?
In the evening; the exact time is announced each year.
Is the metro open?
Yes, but some central stations may be closed or have changed exits.
Why 9 May and not 8 May?
The surrender was signed late on 8 May, which was 9 May in Moscow time.
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Last updated: October 7, 2026. Found an error or something out of date? Report it and we will check and fix it.
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