Is UPS open on New Years Eve? Only in part: on Thursday, December 31, 2026, UPS runs limited operations, with delivery restricted to UPS Air and international Air packages. Ground delivery is halted and Ground pickup is suspended.
The next day, Friday, January 1, 2027, UPS is closed for ground, air and international service.
So the answer depends on what you are shipping and how. Ground parcels stop moving on December 31, while Air shipments can still go out if you plan ahead. The sections below cover pickups, drop offs, what works online, and the 2027 date.
Is UPS open on New Years Eve 2026?
The UPS holiday shipping schedule lists December 31, 2026 as a day of limited operations. It is not a full closure, and it is not a normal business day either.
Think of it as an Air only day, since packages already moving on UPS Air or international Air can still be delivered. Ground packages are not delivered that day. A Ground parcel due on December 31 should be expected on the next delivery day instead.
What is open and closed on December 31 and January 1
| Service | Thursday, Dec 31, 2026 | Friday, Jan 1, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| UPS Air and international Air delivery | Limited operations, delivery available | Closed |
| UPS Ground delivery | Halted | Closed |
| UPS Ground pickup | Suspended | Closed |
| UPS Air pickup | Only if prearranged by Dec 28, or through On-Call Pickup | Closed |
| The UPS Store | Franchise set hours | Listed as Limited Locations |
The table follows the 2026 holiday operations schedule. The January 1 column lists domestic ground, air and international as closed.
Can you schedule a UPS pickup on New Year’s Eve?
Only for Air. Ground pickup is suspended on December 31. You cannot book one for that day.
For Air or international Air, prearrange the pickup by Monday, December 28. The other route is On-Call Pickup. If you miss that window, plan to hand the package over in person before the holiday or after it.
The normal booking steps, fees and cutoffs are in our guide on how to schedule a UPS pickup. Read it before you rely on a same day request. Holiday limits sit on top of the usual rules.
Where can you drop off a package that day?
UPS lists Customer Centers with self service kiosks that take prelabeled drop offs, though supplies are limited. UPS Access Points also take prelabeled drop offs, and Access Point Lockers offer extended hours.
The holiday schedule gives no drop off cutoff for December 31, and it does not say whether counters accept Ground drop offs that day. Check the specific location page before you drive. Expect a Ground parcel dropped that day to wait for the next operating day.
The UPS Store is a separate case, because each franchise owner sets its hours. A store being open does not mean UPS is moving Ground freight that day. The same goes for the January 1 listing of Limited Locations, which we cover in is the UPS Store open on New Year’s Day.
What still works online and by phone
Your tracking page stays available, and it is the best way to see whether a package is on an Air or Ground service. A Ground package showing a December 31 delivery estimate is the one to watch.
UPS posts disruptions on its service alerts page. For urgent time critical freight, the holiday page lists Express Critical through Marken at 1-800-714-8779 for the January 1 closure.
UPS does not post customer service hours for December 31 in its holiday schedule. If you need a person, expect holiday hours to differ from the usual weekday pattern and use online tools first.
How the days around New Year’s Eve look
The published changes are on December 31 and January 1. The schedule does not list a modification for the days before December 31, so ordinary operations should apply until then, subject to peak season volume.
After the holiday, Saturday, January 2, 2027 is an ordinary Saturday, which means Saturday delivery only exists for services that offer it, such as 2nd Day Air, 3 Day Select and Next Day Air when the shipper pays for it. Ground does not deliver on Saturday in the standard schedule, so a Ground package held over January 1 would more likely move on Monday, January 4. UPS has not published a statement on that exact case, so use tracking rather than assuming.
UPS also runs demand surcharges in the peak window. The 2026 periods are October 25 to November 21, November 22 to December 26, and December 27 to January 16, with Air at $1.35, $2.50 and $1.35. Shipments tendered in the last period fall under the third rate.
Does UPS deliver on New Year’s Eve?
Delivery is the narrow part. On December 31, 2026, only UPS Air and international Air packages are delivered, and Ground delivery is halted.
Our article on whether UPS delivers on New Year’s Day covers the closure on January 1.
For the weekly pattern, see does UPS deliver on weekends.
New Year’s Eve 2027
December 31, 2027 is a Friday. New Year’s Day 2028 falls on Saturday, so federal employees observe the holiday on Friday, December 31, 2027, under the weekend rule in federal law. That observance is inferred from the rule rather than listed on the OPM page, so confirm it there.
If you are asking is UPS open on New Years Eve 2027, UPS has not published its 2027 holiday status, so nothing about December 31, 2027 is confirmed. Do not assume it will match 2026. Look at the schedule in the fall of 2027, and compare other carriers with the USPS New Year’s Eve hours.
Ground or Air: which packages move on December 31
A Ground parcel due that day
Tracking says it arrives Thursday, December 31. Expect it to slip, because Ground delivery is halted that day. Watch tracking for a new date after the January 1 closure.
An Air package already in the network
It is eligible for the limited delivery that day. A package that is not yet picked up is different, since Air pickup needs the December 28 arrangement or On-Call Pickup.
A return with a prepaid label
A Customer Center or Access Point can take it, but a Ground return will not move until UPS resumes. If the return deadline is December 31, ask the retailer for an extension in writing.
Business shippers and the last week of December
Small businesses often have a year end cutoff for orders or invoices. If you rely on UPS Ground for those, treat December 30 as your practical last Ground handoff. UPS has not set that cutoff, so this is a planning habit and not a UPS rule.
Check your account for pickup arrangements before Monday, December 28. Air customers can keep a standing arrangement only if UPS confirms it covers the holiday.
Plan around the holiday
- Ship Ground parcels so they arrive before Thursday, December 31, 2026, or accept a delay past January 1.
- For Air, prearrange pickup by Monday, December 28, or use On-Call Pickup.
- Prelabel packages before you go to a Customer Center or Access Point.
- Track the package and check service alerts on the morning of the holiday.
You can check any carrier’s dates with our postal holiday checker.
The full list is in what holidays UPS is closed.
Bottom line on New Years Eve at UPS
So, is UPS open on New Years Eve? Only in part, because December 31, 2026 is a limited day: Air delivery runs, Ground stops, and Air pickup needs advance arrangement. January 1, 2027 is a full closure, and UPS has yet to publish 2027.
