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October 31, 2026
UPS Holiday Schedule 2026: Christmas Deadlines and Closed Days
2026 UPS holiday schedule: UPS is closed on Thursday, Nov. 26 (Thanksgiving), Friday, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day) and Friday, Jan. 1, 2027. For delivery on Thursday, Dec. 24, the last days to ship are Monday, Dec. 21 for UPS 3 Day Select, Tuesday, Dec. 22 for UPS 2nd Day Air and Wednesday, Dec. 23 for UPS Next Day Air.
Quick answer: UPS does not deliver on Thanksgiving. It does deliver on Black Friday (Nov. 27), with normal pickup and delivery. On Christmas Eve, UPS delivers all services, including UPS Ground, but picks up only Air and international Air packages, and only if the pickup was prearranged by Friday, Dec. 18. UPS does not deliver on Christmas Day. On New Year’s Eve it delivers Air packages only. UPS has not published one Ground deadline for Christmas; it depends on your origin and destination, so check transit time in UPS Calculate Time and Cost.
Sources: UPS Holiday Schedule page, UPS 2026 Year-End Holiday Schedule (PDF), 2026 UPS Holiday Operations Schedule (PDF) and the UPS Service Guarantee page, all checked October 30, 2026. UPS says its schedule is subject to change.
UPS Holiday Schedule for the Rest of 2026
This is the year-end part of the schedule, when most people are checking. “Air” below means UPS Next Day Air Early, Next Day Air, Next Day Air Saver, 2nd Day Air A.M., 2nd Day Air and the UPS Worldwide Express Plus, Express, Saver, Expedited and Express Freight services, as UPS defines it in the year-end schedule.
| Date | UPS pickup | UPS delivery |
|---|---|---|
| Wed., Nov. 25 | Normal | Normal. Next Day Air picked up today delivers Fri., Nov. 27; 2nd Day Air delivers Mon., Nov. 30 (unless labeled for Saturday, Nov. 28) |
| Thu., Nov. 26 (Thanksgiving) | None | None. UPS holiday |
| Fri., Nov. 27 (Black Friday) | Normal | Normal |
| Mon., Dec. 21 to Wed., Dec. 23 | Normal | Normal |
| Thu., Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve) | Air and international Air only, if prearranged by Fri., Dec. 18. No UPS Ground pickup | All services, including Ground |
| Fri., Dec. 25 (Christmas Day) | None | None. UPS holiday |
| Sat., Dec. 26 | Regularly scheduled Air pickups only | Air packages labeled for Saturday delivery only |
| Mon., Dec. 28 to Wed., Dec. 30 | Normal | Normal |
| Thu., Dec. 31 (New Year’s Eve) | Air and international Air only, if prearranged by Mon., Dec. 28. No UPS Ground pickup | Air and international Air only. No UPS Ground delivery |
| Fri., Jan. 1, 2027 (New Year’s Day) | None | None. UPS holiday |
| Sat., Jan. 2, 2027 | Regularly scheduled Air pickups only | Air packages labeled for Saturday delivery only |
UPS says that on its holidays (Nov. 26, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1) there is no movement of any packages, whenever they were tendered. A package already in transit sits for that day. UPS Express Critical (provided by Marken) is the exception: it runs every day of the year, including UPS holidays.
On Veterans Day (Wed., Nov. 11), UPS picks up and delivers as normal, but UPS Ground Saver and UPS Mail Innovations deliveries take one more business day because it is a USPS holiday.
UPS Christmas Shipping Deadlines 2026
UPS’s year-end schedule lists these “recommended last days to ship” for delivery on Thursday, Dec. 24:
| Service | Last day to ship for Dec. 24 delivery |
|---|---|
| UPS Ground | No single date published. UPS says to check Calculate Time and Cost (ups.com/ctc) |
| UPS 3 Day Select | Monday, Dec. 21 |
| UPS 2nd Day Air | Tuesday, Dec. 22 |
| UPS Next Day Air | Wednesday, Dec. 23 |
| To Canada: UPS Worldwide Expedited / Worldwide Express | Tuesday, Dec. 22 / Wednesday, Dec. 23 |
| To Mexico: UPS Worldwide Expedited / Worldwide Express | Monday, Dec. 21 / Tuesday, Dec. 22 |
| UPS Standard to Canada or Mexico (from the 48 contiguous states) | No single date published. Check ups.com/ctc |
A few conditions sit behind those dates:
- Next Day Air on Dec. 23 needs a UPS On-Call Pickup, UPS Smart Pickup or other prearranged scheduled pickup, or drop-off at The UPS Store or a UPS Authorized Service Location.
- Some international destinations need an earlier ship date. UPS sends you to Calculate Time and Cost for other countries.
- Late 2nd Day Air and 3 Day Select can slip a day. UPS warns that a limited number of 2nd Day Air packages tendered Dec. 14, 15, 16 or 21, and 3 Day Select packages tendered Dec. 14 or 15, may need an extra day in transit.
- Ground is slower than usual all season. From Nov. 16, 2026 to Jan. 8, 2027, a limited number of UPS Ground and UPS Standard packages will need extra transit time.
If you miss a cutoff, here is what UPS says happens: 3 Day Select picked up Dec. 22 is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 28. Next Day Air picked up on Christmas Eve is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 28 unless it is labeled for Saturday delivery on Dec. 26.
New Year’s Week Transit
Packages picked up Wednesday, Dec. 30 are scheduled as follows: Next Day Air on Thursday, Dec. 31; 2nd Day Air on Monday, Jan. 4 (unless labeled for Saturday, Jan. 2); 3 Day Select on Wednesday, Jan. 6. Next Day Air picked up on New Year’s Eve is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 4 unless labeled for Saturday, Jan. 2.
All 2026 UPS Holidays
| Holiday | Date | UPS pickup and delivery |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thu., Jan. 1 | Closed |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Mon., Jan. 19 | Closed |
| Presidents’ Day | Mon., Feb. 16 | Open (Ground Saver and Mail Innovations +1 business day) |
| Easter | Sun., Apr. 5 | Closed |
| Mother’s Day | Sun., May 10 | No pickup or delivery |
| Memorial Day | Mon., May 25 | Closed |
| Independence Day (observed) | Fri., Jul. 3 | Open (UPS Air and Ocean Freight closed) |
| Independence Day | Sat., Jul. 4 | Closed |
| Labor Day | Mon., Sept. 7 | Closed |
| Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Columbus Day) | Mon., Oct. 12 | Open (Ground Saver and Mail Innovations +1 business day) |
| Veterans Day | Wed., Nov. 11 | Open (Ground Saver and Mail Innovations +1 business day) |
| Thanksgiving | Thu., Nov. 26 | Closed |
| Christmas Day | Fri., Dec. 25 | Closed |
| New Year’s Day 2027 | Fri., Jan. 1, 2027 | Closed |
Good Friday (Apr. 3), Juneteenth (Jun. 19) and Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) were normal service days. UPS has not yet published its 2027 schedule, so dates such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2027 (Monday, Jan. 18, 2027) are not confirmed.
Holiday Delivery Time Extensions and the Service Guarantee
For Air packages scheduled for delivery from Nov. 27, 2026 to Jan. 2, 2027, UPS extends its delivery times:
- Next Day Air Early and Worldwide Express Plus: 90 minutes later.
- Next Day Air, 2nd Day Air A.M. and Worldwide Express to commercial addresses with a typical 10:30 a.m. or 12:00 p.m. delivery time: 3:00 p.m.
- Next Day Air and Worldwide Express to residential addresses, and all other time-definite Air services: end of day.
That matters for refunds. The UPS Service Guarantee is currently active only for Next Day Air Early, Next Day Air, Next Day Air Saver and 2nd Day Air A.M. (plus some international express services). It remains suspended for everything else, including UPS Ground, 2nd Day Air and 3 Day Select. During the holiday window, a covered package only counts as late if it misses the extended time. See our UPS late delivery refund guide.
UPS Demand Surcharges in Effect
Holiday shipping also costs more. UPS’s current demand surcharge schedule (August 26, 2026 update) adds these per-package charges on top of all other charges:
| Charge | Oct. 25 – Nov. 21 | Nov. 22 – Dec. 26 | Dec. 27 – Jan. 16, 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPS Ground Residential | $0.50 | $0.75 | $0.50 |
| UPS Ground Saver | $0.50 | $0.75 | $0.50 |
| UPS Next Day Air | $1.35 | $2.50 | $1.35 |
| All other UPS Air (2nd Day Air A.M., 2nd Day Air, 3 Day Select) | $1.35 | $2.50 | $1.35 |
| Additional Handling* | $8.75 | $11.90 | $8.75 |
| Large Package* | $96.25 | $117.50 | $96.25 |
| Over Maximum Limits* | $530 | $590 | $530 |
*The Additional Handling, Large Package and Over Maximum demand surcharges started earlier, on Sept. 27, 2026. Shippers billed for more than 20,000 packages in any week after October 2025 pay from a separate higher-volume table instead, up to $8.00 per Ground Residential or Ground Saver package and $9.35 per residential Air package, depending on volume against their June baseline. On the invoice these appear as “Demand Surcharge” lines. Our UPS peak surcharge guide explains how to read them.
Starting December 21, 2026, UPS’s 2027 daily rates take effect (a 5.9% average increase), so a package shipped in the last days before Christmas is billed on the new rates. See every 2027 UPS surcharge change.
The UPS Store and Saturday Delivery
The UPS Store locations are independently owned, so holiday hours vary. UPS lists them as open on Black Friday and Christmas Eve, and “limited locations” on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Check your local store before you go.
On Saturday, Dec. 26 and Saturday, Jan. 2, UPS delivers only Air packages labeled for Saturday delivery. Saturday delivery on Air is an added-cost option; see what the UPS Saturday delivery charge means.
What to Check on Your Holiday Invoices
- Demand surcharge dates and amounts. Each charge should match the period the package shipped in.
- Service upgrades that missed. If you paid for Next Day Air to beat the Dec. 23 cutoff and it arrived after the extended commitment time, it may qualify for a refund under the Service Guarantee.
- Saturday delivery fees. Confirm each one is on a package you chose to send for Saturday delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does UPS deliver on Thanksgiving 2026?
No. Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026, is a UPS holiday with no pickup or delivery. Normal service resumes Friday, Nov. 27. Only UPS Express Critical (Marken) runs that day.
Does UPS deliver on Black Friday?
Yes. UPS lists Friday, Nov. 27, 2026 as a normal pickup and delivery day, and The UPS Store locations are open.
Does UPS deliver on Christmas Eve 2026?
Yes. On Thursday, Dec. 24, UPS delivers all services, including UPS Ground. Pickup is limited to Air and international Air packages, and only if prearranged by Friday, Dec. 18. There is no UPS Ground pickup.
Does UPS deliver on Christmas Day?
No. Friday, Dec. 25, 2026 is a UPS holiday with no pickup or delivery, and no packages move in the UPS network that day.
What is the last day to ship UPS for Christmas 2026?
For delivery on Dec. 24: UPS 3 Day Select by Monday, Dec. 21, UPS 2nd Day Air by Tuesday, Dec. 22 and UPS Next Day Air by Wednesday, Dec. 23. UPS has not published a single Ground date; check Calculate Time and Cost for your route.
Does UPS deliver on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day?
On Thursday, Dec. 31, UPS delivers Air and international Air packages only, with no Ground delivery. Friday, Jan. 1, 2027 is a UPS holiday with no pickup or delivery.
Is UPS open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day?
In 2026 UPS was closed on MLK Day (Jan. 19). UPS has not yet published its 2027 holiday schedule.
Does the UPS Service Guarantee apply during the holidays?
Only for Next Day Air Early, Next Day Air, Next Day Air Saver and 2nd Day Air A.M. domestically, and Air delivery times are extended for packages scheduled Nov. 27, 2026 to Jan. 2, 2027. The guarantee is suspended for Ground, 2nd Day Air and 3 Day Select.
Related Reading
- FedEx Holiday Schedule 2026: Christmas Deadlines and Closed Days
- USPS Holiday Schedule 2026: Closed Days and Christmas Deadlines
- Holiday Shipping Deadlines 2026: USPS, UPS and FedEx Compared
- UPS Peak Surcharge 2026: What It Means on Your Invoice
- UPS Saturday Delivery 2026: Cost, Eligibility & How to Avoid the Fee
- UPS Late Delivery Refund 2026: Money-Back Guarantee Rules & How to Claim
Get a free shipping invoice audit
Peak season adds demand surcharges, Saturday fees and late Air shipments that may qualify for refunds. D’arrigo Consulting audits UPS and FedEx invoices line by line. Request a free invoice audit to see what you can recover.
This article is for informational purposes only. Carrier rates, surcharges, and policies change frequently — always verify current terms directly with the carrier for your specific situation. Have questions? Reach out to us — we're happy to help.
Meet the Author
paul@darrigoconsulting.com
I’m Paul D’Arrigo. I’ve spent my career building, fixing, and scaling operations across eCommerce, fulfillment, logistics, and SaaS businesses, from early-stage companies to multi-million-dollar operators. I’ve been on both sides of growth: as a founder, an operator, and a fractional COO brought in when things get complex and execution starts to break
