'Shirtless' and 'Macho' Are Gone... This Is Putin's Image in Next Year's Calendar

2026 'Putin Calendar' Released
Focusing on Calm Photos and Quotes

A 2026 calendar featuring President Vladimir Putin of Russia has been released.

A 2026 calendar featuring Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, has been released. Russian online shopping mall

On November 25 (local time), The New York Times reported, "Around this time every year in Russia, calendars featuring celebrities are sold at newspaper stands and bookstores, and the main star is undoubtedly President Putin."

According to the report, in this calendar, President Putin is portrayed in various roles: as the father of the nation, a strong leader, a devout believer, an athlete who enjoys sports, a historian, an animal lover, and a lifestyle advisor.

Each month features a different photo of President Putin, accompanied by a short quote selected from his speeches or public statements over the past year.

The January photo shows him skiing in a padded jacket, with the phrase, "Russia's borders never end." In February, he is depicted throwing an opponent using judo techniques, alongside the quote, "I am a dove, but I have very strong steel wings."

Fiona Hill, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, described the concept as "the man of four seasons," and evaluated it as "an effort to establish President Putin as a symbolic figure, reminding people of how impressive, how in control, and how much he embodies the nation."

Some calendars also include statements from President Putin that seem to imply the justification for the war in Ukraine, such as, "Over the past two to three years, Russia has become much stronger and is moving toward true sovereignty."

The calendars are commercially produced by various publishers and sold for about $3.50 (approximately 5,000 won) each. They are commonly displayed not only in schools, post offices, and government offices, but also in private homes. Maxim Trudolyubov, a journalist who left Russia, pointed out, "It’s the same monotonous atmosphere as always," and said, "It presents an emperor-like figure who has ruled for decades as a symbol of 'stability' and 'predictability.'"

Depending on the role, President Putin appears in the calendar with various outfits, creating an image reminiscent of a 'Ken doll' (the male counterpart to Barbie). In July, he is shown in a suit, contemplating at a piano, while in August, he appears in hunting attire with the advice, "My vitality recipe: sleep little, work a lot, and do not complain."

There are also quotes reflecting President Putin's characteristic blunt humor, such as, "Burying your head in the sand is inefficient. Other parts will stick out."

President Vladimir Putin of Russia participating in the Epiphany ice water event in 2021. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

President Vladimir Putin personally boarded a hang glider in 2012 to assist the migration of Siberian migratory birds. Channel 4 UK YouTube

This year's calendar does not include any shirtless photos of President Putin. Born in 1952 and now 73 years old, he has previously emphasized his 'strong leader' image by appearing shirtless while horseback riding or fishing. However, such depictions are absent from this calendar. Heroic images previously released, such as helping the migration of Siberian migratory birds with a motorized hang glider or retrieving a Greek amphora from the Black Sea without scuba gear, have also been excluded.

'Putin Calendar' Debuted in 2000... Building the Image of a Strong Leader

The Putin calendar first appeared in 2000 and gained significant popularity around 2011. The media reported, "In the 2011 calendar, twelve female students from Moscow State University in Russia created a calendar in their underwear with phrases praising President Putin," and "Conversely, a 'counter-calendar' featuring young women criticizing President Putin with their mouths taped shut was released online."

Fellow Hill explained this branding as "a method of constructing a populist strongman image," adding, "Former U.S. President Donald Trump uses the same strategy."

The New York Times pointed out, "Since President Putin amended the constitution to allow himself to remain in power until 2036, Russians will have plenty of time to buy 'Putin calendars' for more than 4,000 days to come."