February 8 — Russian Science Day: history, traditions, congratulations

At the end of winter, Russian Science Day is celebrated in Russia. On this day, congratulations are accepted by everyone who has devoted their lives to research: from laboratory assistants and graduate students to professors and academics. Every year, the event is widely celebrated at the federal and regional levels, emphasizing the enormous contribution of scientists to the development of technology, economy and security of the country. Izvestia tells us when the holiday appeared and how it will be held in 2026.

When is the Day of Russian Science in 2026

Russian Science Day is celebrated on a fixed date — February 8th. Her choice is connected with the most important historical event. It was on February 8, 1724, that Emperor Peter I signed a decree establishing the Academy of Sciences and Arts, marking the beginning of the systematic development of science in Russia.

In 1999, in the year of the 275th anniversary of the Academy of Sciences, the first President of Russia Boris Yeltsin signed a decree on the establishment of the holiday. The establishment of Russian Science Day has become a symbol of the state's recognition of the key role of science in building the country's future. In addition, the holiday helped to strengthen the prestige of scientific work, which was especially important in the difficult 1990s for Russian science.

Since then, Science Day has been celebrated annually. In 2026, the celebrations will be held on Sunday. However, many events, including major festivals, exhibitions and open days, will begin on Friday, February 6. This will attract the maximum number of participants — schoolchildren, students, young scientists and anyone interested in science.

Russian Science Day — the history of the holiday

The history of the holiday goes back to the era of Peter the Great's transformations. During his famous trips around Europe, Peter the Great got acquainted with the work of leading scientific institutions. For example, I visited the Paris Academy of Sciences. After returning to Russia, he decided to create a similar institution that would not only do research, but also train its own scientific staff.

Such employees were needed for the successful implementation of reforms. The state needed qualified doctors, engineers, cartographers, astronomers, and specialists in many other fields. Lavrenty Blumentrost, Peter the Great's life physician and later the first president of the Academy of Sciences, took over the development of the project. By 1724, the project was ready, it was considered at a meeting of the Senate, which was attended by Peter I.

The established Academy has become a unique institution for its time. It combined a research institute, a university, and a gymnasium, which created a continuous chain of academic training. An important principle laid down by Peter was that education in it was available not only to the children of the nobility, but also to talented people from other classes. This approach laid the foundation for future great discoveries by Mendeleev, Lobachevsky, Pavlov, and many others.

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In the first decades, the academy laid the foundations for the development of mining, metallurgy and other important industries. Leading geographers and travelers mastered geodesy and cartography. Thanks to these works, the first map of the country, the Russian Atlas, appeared in 1745. Much attention was paid to ethnographic research, flora and fauna of the regions.

In 1934, the academy moved from St. Petersburg to Moscow, remaining the highest state academic institution. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, it was renamed the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS). In 2013, two other academies were added to it — the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences (RAMS) and the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences (RAS).

How to celebrate the Day of Russian Science — the tradition of celebration

On Russian Science Day, scientists and young researchers are honored throughout the country. Special attention is paid to the popularization of science among young people. Thematic lessons, quizzes, and science quests are organized in schools and libraries. Museums open special exhibitions dedicated to the history of science and great scientists. And universities hold open days, inviting students to get acquainted with scientific specialties.

One of the key traditions of recent years has been the holding of popular science lectures, where they tell in an accessible form about scientific discoveries, achievements and practical research results. The value of such meetings is that you can not only hear the opinions of experts from various fields of knowledge, but also get inspiration for your own ideas.

In 2026, the central event of the holiday will be a large-scale Festival of Russian Science, which will be held on February 8 at the Moscow National Center "Russia". The festival program is designed for a full day and includes interactive exhibitions, sessions with leaders of scientific fields and demonstrations of advanced developments.

The Moscow Science Festival on Vorobyovy Gory will also be held in the capital. Its events are designed for schoolchildren, teachers and young scientists. The program includes practical workshops from DNA modeling to growing microgreens, experiments and demonstrations from leading Moscow universities, and the exhibition "Moscow Science in Person: Stories of Those who are Changing the World Today." You can visit the festival by pre-registration on the Nauka website.RF.

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How to congratulate on the Day of Russian Science on February 8th

Scientists who work in research institutes, universities, laboratories and academies are congratulated on Russian Science Day. Among them are laboratory assistants, teachers, professors, graduate students, doctors and candidates of sciences, as well as schoolchildren and students who are taking their first steps in science. Holiday greetings are not just a formality, but an important sign of recognition and respect for the hard work of a researcher.

"Dear scientists, researchers and all those involved in the great cause of science! On your professional holiday, we wish that the unquenchable fire of knowledge always burns in your hearts. May every hypothesis be brilliantly confirmed, and may experiments lead to stunning discoveries. We wish you new horizons, bold ideas and a worthy assessment of your achievements!"

"We cordially congratulate you on the Day of Russian Science! Your work is a daily feat for the sake of the future. You solve the mysteries of the universe, find cures for diseases, and create the technologies of tomorrow. We wish you inexhaustible curiosity, which is the driving force of any researcher, energy and great success in your chosen field!"

"Happy Science Day to all those whose work is related to research and development! Your painstaking work in laboratories, experimental stations, and design bureaus creates Russia's technological sovereignty. You are the intellectual shield and strategic potential of the country. We wish you strength, optimism and an endless stream of brilliant ideas!"

"Dear graduate students, laboratory assistants, and young scientists! Congratulations on the Day of Russian Science! On your holiday, we wish you the courage to challenge established paradigms and not be afraid of mistakes, because they lead to the truth. May you be lucky in your experiments, and may your scientific publications become a notable event. Believe in yourself and remember that the future of Russian science belongs to you!"

"Congratulations on the holiday to all those who serve science! Your path is a path of constant search, doubt, and overcoming. Today we honor your steadfastness and loyalty to your chosen path. We wish that your enthusiasm never fades, and that every discovery brings not only benefits to society, but also recognition of your achievements at the highest level!"

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the International Postgraduate Student Day, which was celebrated at the end of January.

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