In brief
- Date in 2026: 27 September (Sunday). In 2026, both traditional dates coincide — this is both the fixed date of 27 September and the last Sunday of the month.
- Official status: There is no specific decree or law regarding Educator’s Day. Within the professional community, and with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science, the name All-Ukrainian Preschool Day, which is traditionally celebrated on the last Sunday in September. Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 629 of 13 April 2011, which is often cited online, makes no mention of this holiday and ceased to be in force on 20 March 2014.
- Names of the holiday: Teachers’ Day, Teachers’ Day and all pre-school staff, All-Ukrainian Pre-school Day, Preschool Staff Day — these are different names for the same professional day.
- Public holiday status: 27 September is not a public holiday or a non-working day in accordance with Article 73 of the Labour Code.
- Other public holidays: Education Workers’ Day (Teachers’ Day) is celebrated on the first Sunday in October (on 4 October in 2026). This holiday was established by Presidential Decree No. 513/94 of 11 September 1994.
- In this article: Ready-made greetings in various styles, gift ideas and prices (from 220 to 1,150 UAH), anti-corruption restrictions on gifts, working hours and holiday entitlements for nursery teachers, as well as a calendar of celebrations up to 2028.
When is Preschool Teacher’s Day in 2026?
In 2026, All-Ukrainian Preschool Education Day falls on 27 September (Sunday). This year, the date is unambiguous, as 27 September coincides with the last Sunday of the month.
Differences in dates arise in years when 27 September falls on a weekday:
In 2025, 27 September was a Saturday, so the Trade Union of Education and Science Workers of Ukraine congratulated educators on 28 September (a Sunday).
In 2022, the Higher School of Advocacy of the National Bar Association of Ukraine observed the holiday on 25 September (the last Sunday of the month).
Is 27 September a public holiday
No. This date is not included in the list of public holidays and non-working days (Article 73 of the Labour Code of Ukraine). Furthermore, whilst martial law is in force, the provisions of Article 73 of the Labour Code do not apply (Part 6 of Article 6 of the Law ‘On the Organisation of Labour Relations under Martial Law’ No. 2136-IX). 27 September 2026 is a day off according to the standard calendar, as it is a Sunday.
Four names for one holiday
People search for information online using four different names: Teacher’s Day, Teacher’s Day and All Pre-school Workers’ Day, All-Ukrainian Pre-school Day and Pre-school Workers’ Day. No regulatory act sets specific dates for these names — they all refer to the same day.
Who is congratulated on this day?
It is not only nursery teachers who receive congratulations. In accordance with Part 1 of Article 18 of the Law of Ukraine ‘On Pre-school Education’ dated 6 June 2024 No. 3788-IX, the teaching staff of a pre-school education establishment include:
headteachers, their deputies, and heads of pre-school departments;
methodologists, teachers and teaching assistants;
teachers, special needs teachers and speech and language therapists;
practising psychologists and social educators;
physical education instructors;
music directors, leaders of clubs, studios and sections.
Please note: Education Workers’ Day (Teachers’ Day) is celebrated on the first Sunday in October (in 2026 — 4 October). Unlike Preschool Education Day, this holiday is officially enshrined in Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 513/94 of 11 September 1994. Nursery teachers are part of the education sector, so they can be congratulated on both days.
Why does the holiday not have an official date?
In Ukraine, there is no current law or presidential decree that officially establishes Preschool Teacher’s Day.
20 August 2010: Order No. 828 of the Ministry of Education and Science convened the First All-Ukrainian Congress of Early Years Education Staff.
5 November 2010: The Congress proposed celebrating Preschool Education Day on 3 November.
23 March 2012: The Association of Early Years Educators approached the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport with a proposal to establish the date as 27 September.
2016: A draft Presidential Decree ‘On All-Ukrainian Pre-school Education Day’ was drawn up, but the document was never signed.
As a result, two parallel traditions have emerged: the media and private websites tend to use the fixed date of 27 September, whilst education trade unions and educational institutions tend to use the last Sunday in September.
Greetings on Educators’ Day
Official greetings — from management and the community
Dear educators and staff at pre-school establishments! Your working day begins earlier than everyone else’s and ends only when the last child has been taken home. Thank you for your boundless patience, resilience and love for the children. Happy Teacher’s Day!
Colleagues! Early years education is the first important step in every person’s life. It is you who instil in children a curiosity to explore the world and a love of learning. We congratulate you on your professional holiday and wish you inspiration, a warm and welcoming atmosphere in your classes, and good health!
We extend our warmest congratulations to the teachers, teaching assistants, music leaders, psychologists and speech therapists in our community! This celebration is for everyone who creates a safe and joyful environment for our youngest children. Thank you for your daily, invaluable work!
Short messages — via messenger
Happy Preschool Teachers’ Day! We wish you a cosy atmosphere in your class, boundless patience and peaceful, quiet moments.
Happy Educators’ Day! May your paperwork be a breeze to complete, and may the children delight you with their achievements every day.
Thank you for every morning that you start earlier than the parents! Happy Professional Holiday!
Happy Teachers’ Day! Years have gone by, but I still think back fondly on my first teacher. Thank you for all your hard work!
Happy Teacher’s Day! We hope your working day ends on time and that the parents’ chat group stays quiet at least until morning!
From parents and children
Dear [First Name, Middle Name]! Over the past year, [Child’s Name] has learnt independence, friendship and many useful things. We know how much of your heart you put into the children every day. Thank you for your care and happy Teachers’ Day!
Thank you for those mornings when our child runs joyfully into the classroom and even forgets to say goodbye to us. That is the highest praise for your work! Happy Teachers’ Day!
Happy Teachers’ Day! Thank you for your understanding, your kind words and for teaching the children to explore the world without fear of making mistakes.
With a sense of humour
Happy Nursery Teacher’s Day! We hope that ‘quiet time’ is truly quiet, and that parents come to collect their children 10 minutes before the nursery closes, not after!
Happy Teacher’s Day! May the porridge never burn, and may all the building block pieces always be found on the first try.
Happy Teachers’ Day! Taking 20 children out for a walk and bringing back exactly 20 is pure magic. Thank you for your superb profile!
What to give a nursery teacher: ideas and approximate prices
Approximate cost of gifts on marketplaces (as of September 2026):
| Gift | Price |
|---|---|
| Personalised ceramic mug | 220 UAH |
| Chameleon mug with inscription | 399 UAH |
| Gift set (tea, sweet treat, mug) | 455 UAH- 636 UAH |
| Bouquet of soap flowers | 830 UAH |
| Large themed gift set | 1,009 UAH |
| Leather notebook with personalised engraving | 1,150 UAH |
Legal restrictions on gifts
In accordance with the Law of Ukraine ‘On the Prevention of Corruption’ dated 14 October 2014 No. 1700-VII (Articles 3 and 23):
Who is subject to the restrictions: Heads of state and municipal educational institutions (as public officials). For ordinary teaching staff, the restrictions apply if they perform organisational and administrative duties.
Prohibition (Part 1 of Article 23): It is prohibited to accept gifts if they are related to the performance of official duties or if the donor is a direct subordinate.
Exception for hospitality (Article 23(2)): It is permitted to accept gifts that are in line with generally accepted notions of hospitality, provided that:
- The value of a single gift does not exceed 2 times the minimum subsistence level for able-bodied persons (as of 2026: 2 × 3,328 UAH = 6,656 UAH).
- The total value of gifts from a single person (or group of persons) in a year does not exceed 4 subsistence minimums (13,312 UAH).
Conclusion for the parents’ committee: The sum of 6,656 UAH is the maximum limit for an exception, not a recommendation. Symbolic flowers, sweets or commemorative souvenirs from a group of parents are entirely in keeping with the concept of hospitality and do not contravene the law.
The profession of a nursery teacher: working hours, leave and groups
| Indicator | Standard | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Working hours per full-time equivalent | 30 hours | Law No. 3788-IX, Article 26(2) |
| Teaching workload (work with children) | 25 hours per week | Article 26, Part 3 |
| Annual leave | 56 calendar days | CMU Resolution No. 346, Section I of the Annex |
Leave during a period of martial law
Under Part 1 of Article 12 of Law No. 2136-IX, an employer may limit the duration of an employee’s annual basic leave to 24 calendar days for the current working year. Any unused days of leave (out of the 56 due) shall be carried over to the period following the lifting of martial law.
Maximum number of children per group (Article 17 of Law No. 3788-IX)
The law sets out the ratio of children to one carer:
- Up to 1 year: no more than 5 children;
- From 1 to 2 years: no more than 10 children;
- From 2 to 3 years: no more than 15 children;
- From 3 years and above: no more than 20 children;
- Mixed-age groups: up to 15 children (if there are children aged between 1 and 3 years — no more than 10);
- Inclusive groups: no more than 3 children with special educational needs.
Jobs in pre-school education on Injobe: what’s currently listed in this section
Employers publish vacancies in pre-school and school education in the section ‘Education, Science’.
All vacancies can be found in the vacancy catalogue, and employers in the company directory, and resources for job seekers can be found in the ‘For Job Seekers’ section.
Teachers’ Day in 2027 and 2028
The coincidence of the two dates in 2026 is an exception.
| Year | 27 September — day of the week | Last Sunday in September | What this means |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sunday | 27 September | both versions indicate the same day |
| 2027 | Monday | 26 September | a difference of 1 day |
| 2028 | Wednesday | 24 September | a difference of 3 days |
Advice for parents: If 27 September falls on a working day, it is more convenient to congratulate the nursery staff on the last working day before the weekend (on Friday) or on Sunday itself — subject to agreement with the nursery.
