USPS Holiday Schedule 2026: Closed Days and Christmas Deadlines

2026 USPS holiday schedule: USPS is closed with no regular mail delivery on Veterans Day (Wednesday, November 11), Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 26), Christmas Day (Friday, December 25) and New Year’s Day (Friday, January 1, 2027). For delivery before Christmas, USPS recommends shipping USPS Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail by December 17, Priority Mail by December 18 and Priority Mail Express by December 19.

Quick answer: Black Friday (November 27) and Christmas Eve (December 24) are not USPS holidays, so mail and packages are delivered as normal on both days. On Sundays, including the Sundays in December, regular mail is not delivered; only Priority Mail Express and Amazon parcels are eligible for Sunday delivery. Priority Mail Express Sunday or holiday delivery costs an extra $12.50 where it is offered. USPS package prices are also temporarily higher from October 4, 2026 until January 17, 2027.

Sources: USPS Holidays & Events page (2026 and 2027 holidays), USPS news release of September 22, 2026 and the USPS 2026 Holiday Shipping Deadlines page (send-by dates), Notice 123 Price List effective October 4, 2026 (Sunday/Holiday premium) and the USPS FAQ on delivery days. All checked October 30, 2026.

USPS Holidays for the 2026 Holiday Season

USPS lists these days as postal holidays with no mail service. Post Offices are closed and regular mail and packages are not delivered. Priority Mail Express can still be delivered on a holiday in some markets if you pay the Sunday/Holiday premium (see below).

The open days in the table are the ones USPS does not list as holidays on its holiday schedule. Individual Post Office hours can still vary, so check your location’s hours before a late drop-off.

Is USPS Open on Black Friday?

Yes. Friday, November 27, 2026 is not a USPS holiday. Post Offices are open and mail is delivered as normal. The only closure that week is Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26. Anything you hand to USPS on Wednesday, November 25 will not move on Thanksgiving, so allow an extra day on time-sensitive shipments that week.

Does USPS Deliver on Christmas Eve?

Yes. Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24, 2026, is not on the USPS holiday list, so USPS delivers as normal. Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, is a postal holiday with no regular delivery. Delivery resumes on Saturday, December 26, because USPS delivers regular mail Monday through Saturday.

Note that USPS’s recommended send-by dates aim for delivery before December 25. A package that misses those dates may still arrive on December 24, but USPS does not promise it.

Does USPS Deliver on Sundays in December?

Not for regular mail. Per the USPS FAQ, regular delivery runs Monday through Saturday except postal holidays, and Priority Mail Express items and Amazon parcels are the only mail eligible for Sunday delivery. The four Sundays in December 2026 are December 6, 13, 20 and 27.

For Priority Mail Express, USPS says Sunday and holiday delivery is available in many major markets for an additional fee. In Notice 123 (effective October 4, 2026), that fee is listed as $12.50 for Sunday/Holiday delivery, under both the retail and commercial Priority Mail Express price tables. If the delivery date falls on a Sunday or holiday and you don’t want to pay it, you can take the next delivery day instead.

USPS Christmas Shipping Deadlines 2026

USPS announced its recommended send-by dates on September 22, 2026 and published the full domestic, international and military tables on its holiday shipping page. These are recommended dates for expected delivery before December 25, not guarantees.

Domestic (lower 48 states)

Typical delivery times are from the USPS October 22, 2026 holiday release. To Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and U.S. territories, the First-Class Mail, Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express dates are the same (December 17, 18 and 19). USPS Ground Advantage to or from those locations has a 10-day or longer service expectation, so USPS gives no single date and points shippers to its Service Commitments tool.

International and military

USPS lists the same international dates for Africa, Asia/Pacific Rim, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe, Mexico and the Middle East. The military Ground Advantage date of November 4 is the one many shippers miss.

The Priority Mail Express Guarantee During Christmas Week

Priority Mail Express normally comes with a money-back guarantee, but DMM 604.9.5.5 carves out the holiday week: USPS does not refund postage on a Priority Mail Express 1-Day shipment mailed December 22 through December 25 if it was delivered, or delivery was attempted, within 2 business days. Refunds for late delivery (other than loss) are also not given on items to or from Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the other locations the DMM lists. If you are sending something overnight that week, ship earlier rather than count on a refund.

USPS Holiday Prices: October 4, 2026 to January 17, 2027

USPS does not add a separate holiday surcharge. Instead, it filed a temporary price change for Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage and Parcel Select, in effect from 12 a.m. Central Time on October 4, 2026 until 12 a.m. Central Time on January 17, 2027. The higher prices are built into the label price for that whole window, including every shipment in this schedule. For amounts by weight and zone, see our USPS peak season price increase guide.

Planning Tips for Holiday Shipping With USPS

• Work back from the send-by dates. December 17 for Ground Advantage is the latest recommended date. Earlier is safer, especially for Alaska, Hawaii and military addresses.
• Remember the closed days. Packages do not move on November 26, December 25 or January 1, and regular mail does not move on Sundays.
• Price Sunday delivery deliberately. The $12.50 Sunday/Holiday premium only applies to Priority Mail Express. Check whether the next delivery day is good enough before paying it.
• Check the date for your ZIP Code pair. USPS’s Service Commitments tool shows the expected delivery date for a specific mailing date and route.
• Compare carriers. UPS and FedEx publish their own 2026 cutoffs; see our holiday shipping deadlines comparison.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is USPS open on Black Friday 2026?

Yes. Friday, November 27, 2026 is not a USPS holiday, so Post Offices are open and mail is delivered as normal. USPS is closed on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 26.

Does USPS deliver on Christmas Eve 2026?

Yes. Thursday, December 24, 2026 is not a USPS holiday, so USPS delivers as normal. There is no regular delivery on Christmas Day, Friday, December 25.

What is the USPS Christmas shipping deadline for 2026?

USPS recommends sending by December 17 for USPS Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail, December 18 for Priority Mail and December 19 for Priority Mail Express for expected delivery before December 25 in the lower 48 states.

What days is USPS closed in November and December 2026?

Veterans Day (November 11), Thanksgiving Day (November 26) and Christmas Day (December 25). The next closure is New Year’s Day, Friday, January 1, 2027.

Does USPS deliver on Sundays in December?

Regular mail is not delivered on Sundays. Priority Mail Express items and Amazon parcels are the only mail eligible for Sunday delivery, and Priority Mail Express Sunday or holiday delivery costs an extra $12.50 where available.

Does USPS deliver on New Year’s Eve?

Yes. Thursday, December 31, 2026 is not a USPS holiday. USPS is closed on New Year’s Day, Friday, January 1, 2027.

What is the last day to mail to APO/FPO addresses for Christmas 2026?

USPS recommends November 4 for USPS Ground Advantage, December 9 for First-Class Mail and Priority Mail, and December 16 for Priority Mail Express Military Service where available.

Does USPS charge more during the holidays?

Yes, through a temporary price change rather than a surcharge. Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage and Parcel Select prices are higher from October 4, 2026 until January 17, 2027.

Related Reading

• Holiday Shipping Deadlines 2026: USPS, UPS and FedEx Compared
• UPS Holiday Schedule 2026: Christmas Deadlines and Closed Days
• FedEx Holiday Schedule 2026: Christmas Deadlines and Closed Days
• USPS Peak Season Price Increase 2026-27: Dates, Amounts vs UPS
• USPS Overnight Shipping Cost 2026: Priority Mail Express Prices
• USPS Priority Mail Express Money-Back Guarantee: Refund Rules 2026

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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.