FedEx runs a modified service on Thursday, December 24, 2026, so packages do move on Christmas Eve, just with earlier pickups and some drop box and store changes. If you are asking does FedEx deliver on Christmas Eve because a gift is due that day, the answer is yes, and tracking will show whether yours is on a truck.
FedEx does not treat December 24 as a closed day. It saves the full shutdown for Christmas Day, which is one day later. The details below come from the FedEx 2026 holiday operations schedule.
Does FedEx Deliver on Christmas Eve 2026?
FedEx lists December 24, 2026 as “Modified Service” for parcel and express freight. Its footnote spells that out as early on call pickups and drop box pickups, including drop box closures, in some areas, plus modified Ground pickups on December 24 and December 31.
The schedule does not break the day out by service. It does not say whether Express, Ground, Home Delivery or Ground Economy runs a full route in your area.
Track a package due on December 24 through the morning. The carrier does not publish a promise for each service that day.
FedEx Christmas Eve Service by Service
This table shows what FedEx publishes for the holiday week in 2026. Anything marked as not published is simply not stated in the schedule.
| Service or location | Thu, Dec 24, 2026 | Fri, Dec 25, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| FedEx parcel and express freight | Modified service | Closed |
| FedEx Ground pickups | Modified | Closed |
| FedEx Office | Modified hours | Closed |
| FedEx Custom Critical | Open | Open |
| FedEx Logistics | Open | Closed |
| Per service delivery (Express, Ground, Home Delivery) | Not published | Closed |
FedEx also notes that the schedule is subject to change. Check it again closer to the date if your delivery is time sensitive.
What Modified Service Means for Your Package
Does FedEx run on Christmas Eve at full strength? No. The schedule shows reduced operations in some areas, and results vary by location.
FedEx says modified service can include early pickups in some areas. Some drop boxes may close for the day.
Anything you still need picked up should be ready early. A box you drop late in the afternoon may not leave until the next operating day. Local cutoffs are not listed, so hand packages to a staffed counter in the morning.
Extended delivery times for some services
From November 23 through January 4, FedEx adds 90 minutes to delivery commitment times. This applies to select time definite Expedited services, and the winter schedule names FedEx First Overnight, FedEx Priority Overnight and FedEx 2Day AM among them. It covers domestic and international shipments.
A package on those services can arrive up to 90 minutes later than usual. That applies on Christmas Eve too.
Is FedEx Open on Christmas Eve for Drop Off?
FedEx Office is on modified hours on December 24, and some locations close early. FedEx does not publish exact hours for each store, so call the location before you go.
An open store is not proof that trucks are delivering. Those are separate operations.
Use the Postal Holiday Checker to compare carrier status for the week. A staffed counter beats a drop box on a day when some boxes are closed.
What Happens After Christmas Eve
Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, 2026, is a full closure for FedEx and FedEx Office. Custom Critical stays open, and Logistics is closed. Nothing is delivered that day.
Saturday, December 26 is listed as open across the board on the annual schedule. The separate FedEx winter schedule adds that early on call and drop box pickups, including drop box closures, may apply in some areas that day.
For the Christmas Day details, read whether FedEx will deliver on Christmas Day.
A package that misses the Christmas Eve run will not move on the 25th. Its tracking date can slip to the next operating day, which is Saturday, December 26 for services that run on Saturdays.
What to Do If Your Package Was Due December 24
- Check tracking on the morning of December 24 and look for an out for delivery scan.
- If the status still shows in transit by the evening, expect the update on the next operating day, not on Christmas Day.
- Use the Delivery Time Estimator to see how a delayed scan could move your arrival date.
- If you need it in hand for the holiday, ask the sender about pickup at a FedEx Office location during its modified hours.
For timing on a normal day, our page on how late FedEx delivers explains the usual window. Holiday volume can push stops later than usual.
Weekend and Holiday Patterns to Know
Does FedEx ship on Christmas Eve if you book late? Ground pickups run on a modified basis that day. Timing still varies by area, and the early pickup rules apply.
Christmas Eve 2026 falls on a Thursday. It follows a weekday routine with the holiday changes above. The weekend after is harder to predict.
Our pages on FedEx Saturday delivery show what a regular Saturday looks like.
The same shipping season starts earlier. See what FedEx does on Thanksgiving for the schedule that leads into December.
How to Plan Around the Christmas Eve Schedule
Does FedEx deliver on Christmas Eve? Yes, but the safest plan is to treat December 23 as your real deadline. Anything that needs a guaranteed hand off before the holiday should be shipped and dropped at a staffed counter by then.
If you are the recipient, make sure someone can receive a package on December 24. A delivery that fails on a modified day may roll to the next operating day, and Christmas Day is not one.
Senders can compare options in our guide to how long FedEx takes to deliver.
Regular weekend coverage is explained in our FedEx weekend guide.
The FedEx schedule is the only source that lists the 2026 status, so check it if plans change. FedEx says the schedule reflects current plans and may be updated.
A Note on 2027
The federal government observes Christmas on Friday, December 24 in 2027, because December 25 falls on a Saturday. That is a federal holiday date, not a FedEx service status.
FedEx had not published a 2027 schedule on the pages checked. Do not assume it will copy the 2026 pattern.
The Bottom Line on FedEx Christmas Eve Delivery
So does FedEx deliver on Christmas Eve? Yes, on modified service, with early pickups and shortened store hours. It closes on December 25.
Do your shipping or collecting in the morning, and expect a late package to wait until the next operating day. Is FedEx delivering on Christmas Eve to your address? Tracking is the only reliable answer.
