Is UPS running on New Year's Eve?
UPS · New Year's Eve
Varies
It depends on the service — Air deliveries run on New Year's Eve, but Ground doesn't move in either direction.
New Year's Eve is the tighter of the two split days. Air deliveries run, so an express package can still arrive on December 31. Ground is stopped completely — no Ground pickup and no Ground delivery — which is the half that matters for most shoppers, since most retail parcels travel Ground.
If something has to leave that day, Ground pickup isn't an option and an Air pickup is worth arranging with UPS ahead of time. The next day is a full UPS holiday, so a Ground package sitting at a facility on New Year's Eve doesn't move again until the first business day of the new year.
| Holiday | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Eve | Thursday, December 31, 2026 | Modified Air deliveries run; no Ground pickup or delivery on New Year's Eve. |
| New Year's Day | Friday, January 1, 2027 | Closed UPS holiday — no pickup or delivery. |
What else on New Year's Eve?
| Who | Status |
|---|---|
| Banks | Open Yes — banks are open on New Year's Eve. |
| Mail & the Post Office | Open Yes — mail is delivered on New Year's Eve and post offices are open. |
| The Stock Market | Open Yes — the stock market is open a full day on New Year's Eve. |
| FedEx | Varies Yes — FedEx delivers on New Year's Eve, with Ground pickups modified. |
| Federal Offices | Varies It depends — December 31 is normally a regular workday for federal offices, but in some years it's the observed holiday. |
| Schools | Closed No — December 31 falls inside winter break in nearly every district. |
Questions people ask
Is UPS delivering on New Year's Eve?
Air services yes, Ground no. An express package can arrive on December 31; a Ground package doesn't move that day in either direction.
When will my Ground package arrive if it was due December 31?
The first business day after New Year's Day. December 31 stops Ground, January 1 is a full UPS holiday, and two closed days back to back are why late-December Ground estimates slide.
Checked against the UPS holiday schedule, verified August 2026. When a schedule for a new year has not been published yet, this page says so — it never guesses.