Constitution Day in Ukraine is celebrated annually on 28 June. It is the only public holiday specified in our country’s Constitution. On this day, Ukrainians commemorate the adoption of the Constitution, as well as the establishment of the fundamental rights and duties of our country’s citizens, the structure of government and the legal system of Ukraine.

When is Ukraine’s Constitution Day in 2026

Ukraine’s Constitution Day in 2026 will be celebrated, as usual, on 28 June. This date is enshrined in the document itself. It was on this day that our country’s Basic Law, which defines Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, was officially adopted. The Constitution marked an important step in defining the rights, freedoms and duties of every citizen of Ukraine.

Furthermore, the Constitution has helped to enhance Ukraine’s international standing on the global stage. The day the Constitution of Ukraine was adopted has always been a public holiday for the entire Ukrainian people. However, due to current circumstances and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, the provisions contained in Article 6 of the Law of Ukraine ‘On the Organisation of Labour Relations under Martial Law’ have come into force. In accordance with this provision, all additional public holidays in Ukraine have been cancelled.

This year, 28 June, Constitution Day in Ukraine, falls on a Sunday, so Ukrainians will still be able to enjoy a day off on this date.

What date is Constitution Day in Ukraine and the date of its adoption

The history of the Constitution of Ukraine began immediately after the proclamation of our state’s sovereignty on 16 July 1990. In October, a Constitutional Commission was established. Between 1991 and 1996, commissions specially created by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the President developed several drafts of the Constitution, which were subsequently thoroughly discussed and amended.

Constitution Day in Ukraine is a major holiday, as people worked tirelessly on the creation of this document. There were many disputes and differing views on exactly what the Constitution should contain. Indeed, the issues that sparked the most controversy were the distribution of property and power, state symbols, the status of the Russian language, and the status of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Some were more inclined towards limiting presidential power and private property rights, equality between the Ukrainian and Russian languages, and preserving the autonomous status of the Crimean peninsula. Others, however, advocated for a strong presidential hierarchy, full private property rights, the dominance of the Ukrainian language alone, and the abolition of Crimea’s autonomy.

On the night of 27–28 June 1996, the Constitution of Ukraine was adopted in its final form. It is important to note that the document was approved by a two-thirds majority of the parliamentary body. The 1996 Constitution provided for strong presidential powers, guaranteed private property rights, established state symbols, recognised Ukrainian as the sole state language, and granted Crimea the status of an autonomous republic within Ukraine.

Since then, Ukrainians have been congratulating one another on Constitution Day, a holiday that marked the beginning of the safeguarding of citizens’ rights and duties, as well as the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state.

The date of the adoption of the Constitution of Ukraine is a special day for our people. This holiday has come to embody the Ukrainian spirit, resilience, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the rights and freedoms of citizens. This approach has enabled Ukraine to declare itself to the whole world as a sovereign and independent state.

The history of the adoption of the 1996 Constitution

Ukrainians will celebrate Constitution Day 2026 on 28 June, as in all previous years. This holiday is cherished by Ukrainians, as the Basic Law defines the territorial integrity and independence of our state. The Constitution has its own history and the difficult path the Ukrainian people travelled to create it.

The history of the adoption of the Constitution of Ukraine dates back to 1710, when Pylyp Orlyk drafted a document entitled ‘Pacts and Constitutions of the Rights and Freedoms of the Zaporizhian Host’. This document is considered one of the first constitutions and plays a significant role in the history of the Ukrainian people. In Pylyp Orlyk’s document, power was divided into three branches — legislative, executive and judicial. Furthermore, power was somewhat limited, whilst the interests and rights of the Cossacks took centre stage.

The second Constitution of Ukraine was adopted in 1918 by the Central Rada of the Ukrainian People’s Republic and contained a rather progressive vision of statehood for its time. This document was drafted under the leadership of Mykhailo Hrushevsky. Although the 1918 Constitution had already been adopted, it never came into force due to the German invasion and changes in the general political situation in Ukraine at the time.

28 June, when Ukraine’s Constitution Day is celebrated, became a truly significant event in 1996. At 9.18 am, following a round-the-clock session, the Verkhovna Rada brought the current Constitution into force.

Why Ukraine’s Constitution Day is a public holiday

Constitution Day is considered a public holiday, which Ukrainians celebrate every year on 28 June. It was on this day that the Constitution of Ukraine was adopted and ratified. It is the only public holiday mentioned in the document itself.

To understand why Ukraine’s Constitution Day 2026 is a public holiday, we must first define the concept of statehood.

Statehood is a state in which the citizens of a country organise the government and social structure, define the rights and duties of the people, have their own political and economic sphere, and are endowed with the right to defend their territorial integrity.

As can be seen, the Constitution of Ukraine has become a unique and clearly defined embodiment of our country’s statehood and independence. That is precisely why Constitution Day of Ukraine, which we celebrate on 28 June, is a public holiday.

The core values and principles of the Constitution of Ukraine

Constitution Day of Ukraine is not merely a festive day, but an additional reason to take pride in our country’s independence and statehood. After all, this document enshrines the highest values and principles of the Ukrainian people, including:

the principles and functioning of the executive, legislative and judicial branches;
the state structure of Ukraine;
the rights and duties of the state, Ukrainian citizens and society as a whole;
the electoral system;
the territorial integrity and independence of our state.

Ukraine’s Constitution Day and the date of 28 June is a holiday that cannot be overestimated; it is a turning point when Ukraine gained a reputation on the international stage and clearly defined its own form of statehood, which remains in force to this day.

How Ukraine’s Constitution Day is celebrated

Traditionally, on Constitution Day in Ukraine, our people mark the occasion with solemn ceremonies, festivals and cultural events. Every year, educational programmes are held in schools and universities to share knowledge about the history of the Constitution’s creation and its important role in our society with the younger generation.

In addition, concerts and official ceremonies are often held on this day. The streets are decorated with flags and national symbols, which further lifts the Ukrainian spirit.

Unfortunately, due to martial law and the threat of shelling from the Russian Federation, most mass events have been cancelled in Ukraine for the time being. We will also be celebrating Ukraine’s Constitution Day in 2026 amidst the war, but this will not prevent us from taking pride in Ukraine, its statehood and independence.

Is Constitution Day a public holiday in 2026?

On Sunday 28 June, when Ukraine’s Constitution Day 2026 falls, we will traditionally mark one of the greatest holidays in our country. And although martial law stipulates the cancellation of all additional public holidays, this year Ukrainians will still be able to rest on this day.

Constitution Day has always been, is, and will remain a huge celebration for the Ukrainian people. Regardless of whether it is a public holiday or a working day, every year our people will bow their heads in respect to Pylyp Orlyk, who drafted the first Constitution, take pride in the Verkhovna Rada, which made every effort to create the current Constitution, and love independent Ukraine with all their heart and soul.

Interesting facts about the Constitution of Ukraine

If you are wondering what date Ukraine’s Constitution Day falls on, you should first explore the history of its creation and the interesting facts surrounding this document. We carry the day the Basic Law was created in Ukraine and the traditions of its celebration through the generations as a symbol of resilience, independence and the highest level of statehood.

There are many interesting facts about the creation of the Constitution:

Between 1990 and 1996, around 15 different versions of the Constitution were proposed. In particular, the Communists proposed retaining the name ‘Ukrainian SSR’ and restoring the Soviet form of government.
The session of the Verkhovna Rada at which the text of the current Constitution was adopted lasted a full 24 hours. The 24-hour session bore fruit, and at 9.18 am on 28 June, a vote was held, bringing the Basic Law of Ukraine into force.
“We have a Constitution!” – these were the first words of Oleksandr Moroz, who at the time held the post of Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
On 21 June 1996, Oleksandr Moroz’s amendment regarding the exclusive right of the Ukrainian people to determine and amend the constitutional order was adopted. This right cannot be usurped by any state body or authority.
The then President, Leonid Kuchma, was not present in the chamber during the adoption of the Constitution. He entered the chamber just a few minutes before the fateful vote. In his address, he described the adoption of the Constitution as a historic event.
The international community warmly congratulated Ukraine on the adoption of the Basic Law. Our country was named one of the most democratic in the world.

Ukraine’s Constitution Day 2026 is a public holiday celebrated by Ukrainians on 28 June. We are proud of our democratic system, independence and statehood. The adoption of the Constitution resonated in the heart of every Ukrainian, for our people have travelled a long road to the recognition of Ukraine as a separate, sovereign and strong state in the world.