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USPS Holiday Schedule 2026: Complete Shipping & Delivery Calendar for Businesses
Time: Jan 29,2026 Author: SFC Source: www.sendfromchina.com
For e-commerce sellers, logistics managers, and international shippers, understanding the United States Postal Service (USPS) Holiday Schedule for 2026 is essential. Whether you’re coordinating cross-border freight or planning peak season deliveries, a clear grasp of USPS closures helps you avoid delays, missed cut-offs, and customer dissatisfaction.
In this guide, we break down the entire USPS holiday calendar for 2026, how closures impact mail delivery and pickups, and practical strategies for planning your shipping windows. This is especially important for international logistics partners like SendFromChina, whose clients depend on accurate transit timelines and proactive communication.
1. Why USPS Holidays Matter for Logistics
USPS, as an independent federal agency, observes a set of national holidays each year. On these days:
Retail post offices are closed
Mail and standard package deliveries are suspended
Pickups from carriers and collection boxes may not occur until the next business day
For businesses shipping domestically or internationally, these closures influence:
Cut-off dates for peak season shipments
Customer satisfaction during busy periods (e.g., Christmas returns and holiday gifts)
Warehouse dispatch planning
Failing to align with USPS holiday schedules can cause shipments to linger longer than expected, especially during high volume seasons.
2. USPS Official Holiday Schedule 2026
Here’s the comprehensive list of USPS federal holidays in 2026 — days when postal services are not operating:
| Date | Holiday | USPS Operational Status |
| Thursday, January 1 | New Year’s Day | Closed |
| Monday, January 19 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Closed |
| Monday, February 16 | Presidents’ Day (Washington’s Birthday) | Closed |
| Monday, May 25 | Memorial Day | Closed |
| Friday, June 19 | Juneteenth National Independence Day | Closed |
| Friday, July 3 (Observed) | Independence Day (Observed) | Closed |
| Monday, September 7 | Labor Day | Closed |
| Monday, October 12 | Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples’ Day | Closed |
| Wednesday, November 11 | Veterans Day | Closed |
| Thursday, November 26 | Thanksgiving Day | Closed |
| Friday, December 25 | Christmas Day | Closed |
Note: When a holiday falls on a Saturday (like July 4 in 2026), USPS often observes it on the closest weekday — in this case, Friday, July 3 — meaning the closure impacts Friday operations as well.
3. How USPS Holiday Closures Affect Delivery and Pickup
Mail Delivery
On USPS holidays:
No regular mail delivery occurs, including First-Class Mail, Marketing Mail, and Priority Mail.
Priority Mail Express may still be delivered in some locations, but this varies and often requires premium payment and specific service requests.
For logistics partners, missing an awareness of these closures can throw off delivery timelines by a full business day or more.
Post Office Pickup and Drop-Off
All USPS retail counters and service windows are closed on holidays. Drop-off boxes and collection points may not be emptied until the next business day — a key factor for shipments that rely on evening cut-offs.
International Shipping
For international logistics operations like those coordinated by SendFromChina:
USPS closures can impact hand-offs for mail entering the U.S. network.
Shipments arriving on or just before a holiday may see delayed processing.
Integrating USPS holiday planning into your logistics workflows reduces bottlenecks and enhances reliability.
4. Peak Shipping and Holiday Planning Tips
For businesses preparing for high volume seasons like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or back-to-school:
Plan Ahead
USPS suggests planning outbound shipments early to avoid delays. For instance, last-minute shipping windows typically close days before major holidays — particularly Christmas — because carriers become saturated with holiday traffic.
Use Priority Services When Necessary
If delivery timelines are tight, opting for Priority Mail Express can provide faster transit — especially for time-sensitive shipments — even around holiday blocks, though availability still depends on serving post offices and specific service terms.
Coordinate with Multiple Carriers
During USPS holidays:
UPS and FedEx often operate on modified schedules.
Having multi-carrier options ensures continuity for critical shipments.
International logistics partners should coordinate with both USPS and alternative carriers to support client expectations.
Monitor Collection Boxes
On some holidays, USPS may not service collection boxes, meaning dropped mail sits until the next working day — a detail that can shift delivery expectations by 24–48 hours.
5. USPS Holiday Exceptions & Nuances
Observed Dates vs. Actual Dates
Some holidays fall on weekends. USPS recognizes observed days:
Independence Day in 2026 falls on Saturday, July 4, so closure operations extend to Friday, July 3.
This is crucial for planning shipments and customer notifications.
Partial Operations
Though most USPS services are suspended on holidays, some contract postal units or self-service kiosks (e.g., in retail partners) may remain open at reduced capacity, but core postal functions including pickups and mail processing remain paused.
6. Summary of USPS 2026 Holiday Closures
For logistics professionals and e-commerce merchants, here’s the bottom line:
USPS observes 11 federal holidays in 2026.
On these days, no standard mail delivery or pickup occurs.
Retail post offices are closed, affecting customer service and logistical operations.
Holidays falling on weekends are generally observed on adjacent weekdays.
To maintain smooth supply chain operations and positive customer experiences, integrate these dates into your shipping calendars, customer notifications, and warehouse dispatch planning.
7. Conclusion
Understanding the USPS holiday schedule for 2026 isn’t just a convenience — it’s a fundamental component of dependable logistics planning. Whether you’re shipping domestically, coordinating international freight, or managing consumer expectations, aligning operations with USPS closures helps reduce surprises, maintain delivery accuracy, and strengthen supply chain reliability.
For global logistics brands like SendFromChina, anticipating USPS holiday impacts allows you to offer proactive service to clients — ultimately driving satisfaction and competitive advantage.
8. FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q1: How many holidays is USPS closed in 2026?
A1: USPS observes 11 federal holidays in 2026 when mail delivery and post office services are suspended.
Q2: Does USPS deliver on holiday dates?
A2: No — standard mail and package delivery typically does not occur on USPS federal holidays.
Q3: If a holiday falls on a weekend, is USPS still closed?
A3: Yes — USPS often observes weekends on the closest weekday, such as Friday for July 3 in 2026.
Q4: Will Priority Mail Express still be delivered on holidays?
A4: Some premium services like Priority Mail Express may be available in specific locations, but it varies and should not be assumed guaranteed.
Q5: How should businesses plan around USPS holiday closures?
A5: Plan shipments early, coordinate with multiple carriers, and update customers on expected delivery dates around holiday periods.
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