Europe Day is often observed over 2 days – Saturday and Sunday – on the third weekend in May. It is a time for many Ukrainians to celebrate their unity with the rest of Europe. Many cultural activities are held in different cities across Ukraine during the Europe Day weekend. Festivities include food events featuring different types of European food, as well as concerts showcasing musicians from across Europe.
Public Life
Europe Day is an observance and not an official public holiday in Ukraine.
Background
Europe Day is a day to celebrate unity and peace in Europe. There are 2 separate Europe Days in general: one to remember the Council of Europe’s establishment, which took place on May 5, 1949; and one to commemorate the Schuman Declaration of May 9, 1950, which proposed a new organization of states in Europe, a predecessor of the European Union (EU). In Ukraine, Europe Day is celebrated during the third weekend every May. The Ukrainian president established this day by decree in 1993.
Symbols
Flags of different European countries, including Ukraine, are often displayed together as a symbol of unity at various Europe Day events.
Europe Day Observances
Year
Weekday
Date
Name
Holiday Type
2018
Sat
May 19
Europe Day
Observance
2019
Sat
May 18
Europe Day
Observance
2020
Sat
May 16
Europe Day
Observance
2021
Sat
May 15
Europe Day
Observance
2022
Sat
May 21
Europe Day
Observance
2023
Sat
May 20
Europe Day
Observance
2024
Sat
May 18
Europe Day
Observance
2025
Sat
May 17
Europe Day
Observance
2026
Sat
May 16
Europe Day
Observance
2027
Sat
May 15
Europe Day
Observance
2028
Sat
May 20
Europe Day
Observance
While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know.