Putin's New Year's Address 2026: watch live online

On Wednesday, December 31, Russians will receive the annual traditional address by President Vladimir Putin. Five minutes before midnight, the head of state will wish citizens a Happy New Year and summarize the results of 2025. Izvestia is broadcasting a live broadcast of the Russian leader's speech.

New Year's address by President Vladimir Putin, beginning at 23:55 Moscow time

The President's New Year's address will begin at 23:55 Moscow time. In his speech, the head of state, as a rule, gives parting words to Russians, summarizes the results of the past 12 months for the last time and sets goals for the next year. After that, the chimes sound on the Spasskaya Tower in the Kremlin, and then the Russian national anthem plays.

Leonid Brezhnev, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU, initiated one of the most recognizable New Year's traditions. On December 31, 1970, he first congratulated the citizens of the USSR on television. In the mid-1970s, the Secretary General's speeches were abandoned due to Brezhnev's serious health condition. However, in 1985, Happy New Year greetings from the head of state returned to the air.

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For more than five decades, the President's New Year's address has become an integral part of the holiday. The tradition was broken only once — in 1991, after the collapse of the USSR, comedian Mikhail Zadornov replaced the country's leader. At the same time, uttering his "Satirical forecast", he could not meet the allotted time, which is why the chimes sounded a minute later.

Earlier, Elena Kosheleva, director of Sberbank Insurance projects, told Izvestia how to choose a safe firework display for New Year's Eve.