The UPS Holiday Schedule 2026: The Dates You Should Know

Holiday season is upon us and it helps toknow the major holidays so that you can plan your shipping dates for timely delivery. UPS is closed for pickup and delivery on 7 major U.S. holidays, New Year's Day (Jan 1), MLK Day (Jan 19), Memorial Day (May 25), Independence Day (July 4), Labor Day (Sept 7), Thanksgiving (Nov 26), and Christmas Day (Dec 25). UPS Express Critical stays available 24/7.

To ensure your shipments get delivered on time (while you enjoy shipping discounts up to 91%) you can use Easyship’s shipping rate calculator to smooth the shipping process even more. Whether you use the platform’s prenegotiated rates or access your own UPS rates, you’ll have access to Easyship’s suite of useful functions that make shipping easy, from automated labels and branded tracking to transparent taxes and pickup schedules.

2026 UPS Domestic Postal Holidays

Each year, there are a number of major holidays that eCommerce store owners should have on their radar. Online shopping peaks around these holidays, so you’ll need to be prepared for this with enough inventory, great promotions, and of course, a strong stripping strategy.

Knowing the 2026 UPS holiday schedule will help you understand when the last date you’ll be able to ship orders to customers for the holidays is; you’ll also be able to keep your customers aware of shipping cutoffs so they know to place their orders well ahead of time. Below, you’ll find all the info you need about the UPS holiday schedule this year.

Resource: What's the Cheapest Way to Ship Internationally?

UPS Holiday Schedule 2026 Shipping Deadlines for Dec.24 Delivery

To get a package delivered by Thursday, December 24, 2026, ship by Monday, Dec 21 with UPS 3 Day Select®, Tuesday, Dec 22 with UPS 2nd Day Air®, or Wednesday, Dec 23 with UPS Next Day Air®. UPS Ground has no fixed cutoff. 

Last Days to Ship for December 24 Delivery

Some destinations may need an earlier ship date. UPS recommends confirming transit times at ups.com/ctc.

Before you ship Next Day Air on Dec 23: a Next Day Air package only arrives by Christmas Eve if UPS gets it in one of these ways:

• A UPS On-Call Pickup®
• A UPS Smart Pickup®
• Another prearranged, scheduled pickup
• A drop-off at The UPS Store® or a UPS Authorized Service Location

2027 UPS Domestic Postal Holidays

While you plan your shipping for the busy 2026 holiday season, here’s an insight into what to expect in the upcoming year. Take a look to prepare in advance for the year 2027!

UPS Surcharges

UPS along with other couriers usually charge slightly higher rates around peak season due to the large volume of shipments. Here are this year’s UPS surcharge rates:

source: Demand Surcharges_2026

Alternatives To UPS During Holiday

While most couriers don’t work on major holidays, it is worth a shot to check out couriers that might help you ship when you’re in a time crunch.

How Easyship Can Help Ship Your Holiday Orders

UPS has maintained its position as one of the best parcel delivery service providers in the US for years. With its 2026 UPS holiday schedule, eCommerce store owners can use this renowned service and efficiently arrange for shipments to be delivered to their customers or loved ones on time for every given holiday.

Plus, integration with Easyship can help you ensure timely UPS shipments all year round as well as access great shipping discounts.

Ready to ship? Sign up for a FREE Easyship account and get instant access to high-volume discounts for UPS® shipping

FAQs

What are the UPS demand surcharges for 2026?

The UPS demand surcharges are applied to additional handling, large packages and over maximum weight packages. On the courier end, demand surcharges are applied to UPS Air, UPS Ground Residential, and UPS Ground Saver packages

What is the UPS US holiday schedule for 2026?

UPS holiday schedule 2026: UPS is closed for pickup and delivery on 7 major U.S. holidays — New Year's Day (Jan 1), MLK Day (Jan 19), Memorial Day (May 25), Independence Day (July 4), Labor Day (Sept 7), Thanksgiving (Nov 26), and Christmas Day (Dec 25). UPS Express Critical stays available 24/7.

Does UPS charge a surcharge for packages over 50 pounds?

Yes, especially during the holidays. From 9-27-26 through 11-21-26, its $96.25 per package,  from 11-22-26 through 12-26-26, its $117.50 per package, and from 12-27-26 through 1-16-27, its $96.25 per package

What is the UPS peak surcharge?

UPS peak surcharge is the period when shipping rates are higher than regular. For the season 2026-2027, the surcharge window is from September 27, 2026, through January 16, 2027. The highest surcharge among them is between November 22 and December 26, 2026. 

Is UPS open on Christmas Eve 2026? 

UPS offers open but limited service on Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24, 2026, with delivery times possibly extended. UPS is fully closed for pickup and delivery on Christmas Day, December 25, 2026, except for UPS Express Critical.

How many holidays does UPS observe in 2026? 

UPS observes 11 U.S. federal holidays in 2026, but most run close to normal. Only 7 result in no pickup or delivery: New Year's Day, MLK Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.