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Ukrainians’ expectations for 2026 remain cautiously optimistic. This is evidenced by the results of a Gradus survey conducted in January 2026. 62% of respondents hope their personal financial situation will improve over the year. Women demonstrate a higher level of optimism than men (65% vs 59%), while younger people expect positive changes more often than older age groups: 70% among respondents aged 18–24, compared with 50% among those aged 55–60.

At the start of the year, prospects for a peaceful resolution remain the most pressing issue. 59% of Ukrainians hope for an end to active hostilities in 2026, 54% expect an improvement in the security situation, and 53% anticipate the beginning of post-war recovery in 2026.

How the war is changing Ukrainians’ holiday traditions

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian society has shown a clear shift toward European traditions and the European holiday calendar. Following the nationwide change of the Christmas celebration date from January 7 to December 25 in 2023, Ukrainians have been gradually adjusting their family traditions as well. According to Gradus, nearly 93% of respondents are aware of the change in the Christmas date.

At the same time, a part of the population continues to follow the old calendar or combines both dates. In 2025, 54% of respondents celebrated Christmas on December 25, 14% on January 7, and 21% on both dates. 11% did not celebrate Christmas at all. For comparison, in the pre-war year of 2021, only 5% of Ukrainians celebrated Christmas on December 25, while 72% observed January 7.

Young people are the most active in adopting the new calendar: 62% of respondents aged 18–24 celebrated Christmas on December 25 this year. Greater attachment to the old holiday calendar was shown by the 25–34 age group (47%).

“Despite the difficult circumstances Ukrainians live in today, we observe a persistence of cautious optimism regarding peace, financial prospects, and the country’s future. The shift to the new holiday calendar has advanced significantly compared to the pre-war period. This is likely driven by the desire to mentally distance from the aggressor state, to move in a European direction, and by the large number of families currently separated by borders who nevertheless seek to preserve unity and shared traditions,” notes Evgeniya Blyznyuk, Founder and CEO of Gradus.

The survey was conducted by Gradus using a self-administered questionnaire in the Gradus mobile application. Target audience: men and women aged 18–60 living in Ukrainian cities with a population of over 50,000, excluding temporarily occupied territories and active combat zones. Fieldwork date: January 8, 2026. Sample size: 1,000 respondents.

*The full research report is available for download via the form below.