UPS paid holidays number 7 in 2026, and UPS suspends all standard pickup and delivery services on each date. Full-time employees receive 10 total paid holidays annually under the current 2023–2028 Teamsters contract, while part-time workers receive paid holidays with entitlements that vary by supplement and seniority. Whether you’re a shipper planning around service gaps or a UPS worker tracking your compensation, understanding the 7 UPS Holiday Schedule Dates That Affect Your 2026 Shipping is essential for staying ahead of delays and ensuring you’re paid correctly.
What UPS Paid Holidays Apply in 2026?
UPS closes all standard Ground, Air, and International shipping operations on seven federal holidays in 2026. No packages move through the regular UPS network on these dates, regardless of service level selected. The seven observed holidays are New Year’s Day (January 1), Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 19), Memorial Day (May 25), Independence Day (July 4), Labor Day (September 7), Thanksgiving Day (November 26), and Christmas Day (December 25).
UPS does not close on Presidents’ Day (February 16), Columbus Day, or Veterans Day, keeping delivery and pickup services running on those dates. However, UPS Ground Saver and UPS Mail Innovations shipments require one additional business day of transit on Presidents’ Day because those services rely on USPS for last-mile delivery, and USPS observes Presidents’ Day as a federal holiday.
For time-critical shipments on any closure date, UPS Express Critical operates 24/7/365 and is available by calling 1-800-714-8779 or through Marken.com.
| Holiday | 2026 Date | UPS Services Status | Employee Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | January 1 | Closed | Paid holiday |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | January 19 | Closed | Paid holiday |
| Presidents’ Day | February 16 | Open (USPS-dependent services delayed) | Regular work day |
| Memorial Day | May 25 | Closed | Paid holiday |
| Independence Day | July 4 | Closed | Paid holiday |
| Labor Day | September 7 | Closed | Paid holiday |
| Thanksgiving | November 26 | Closed | Paid holiday |
| Christmas Day | December 25 | Closed | Paid holiday |
How Many UPS Paid Holidays Do Employees Receive?
Full-time UPS employees covered under the national Teamsters contract receive 10 paid holidays annually — the 7 company-observed holidays plus 3 additional days that vary by supplement. Part-time employees also receive paid holidays, though the exact number depends on their local supplement, years of service, and classification. Under the 2023–2028 Teamsters agreement, Martin Luther King Jr. Day was formally added as a named paid holiday across supplements for the first time in UPS contract history.
UPS organizes paid time off into three categories: (1) national holidays such as Christmas and Thanksgiving, (2) corporate holidays designated by UPS management, and (3) floating holidays that employees can schedule for personal occasions including birthdays, religious observances, or anniversaries. Floating holidays give workers flexibility that fixed-date holidays cannot provide.
In addition to paid holidays, full-time drivers at UPS receive up to seven weeks of paid vacation, healthcare coverage with $0 in employee premiums, sick leave, personal days, and paid bereavement leave. Part-time employees average at least $21 per hour as of 2025 and receive the same healthcare and pension contributions as full-time workers under the Teamsters contract.
How Does Holiday Pay Work at UPS?
When a UPS employee is required to work on a recognized paid holiday, they receive holiday pay in addition to their regular wages for hours worked. Depending on their local supplement or rider to the national master agreement, some employees may also qualify for an overtime premium on top of holiday pay, effectively earning double or triple their standard rate for hours worked on those dates.
Employees who do not work on a paid holiday still receive their full holiday pay — equivalent to a day’s wages — at no cost to their PTO balance. Floating holidays work differently: employees must schedule them in advance and use them during the calendar year or forfeit them, depending on the terms of their local supplement.
Wage increases negotiated under the 2023–2028 contract add $0.75/hour in 2025 and $1.00/hour in 2026, meaning holiday pay rates also increase as base wages rise throughout the contract period.
How Do UPS Paid Holidays Affect Shipping Timelines?
Every UPS holiday removes one business day from standard transit time calculations. A package shipped via UPS Ground the day before a holiday will sit in the network until the next business day, extending the quoted delivery window by at least one day. During weeks with a midweek holiday — like July 4 on a Saturday in 2026, which is effectively a non-issue, or Thanksgiving on a Thursday — shippers can lose multiple consecutive business days when the holiday falls adjacent to a weekend.
UPS implements peak season surcharges from late November through late December, that vary by service type and package characteristics depending on service type and package characteristics. Shipping volume typically surges 30–40% during peak season, which means capacity constraints compound the impact of holiday closures. Businesses shipping high volumes during the Thanksgiving and Christmas period should plan pickup schedules 2–3 weeks in advance to avoid delays and minimize surcharge exposure.
For a full breakdown of critical shipping deadlines tied to holiday closures, the UPS resource hub on ParcelPath covers service-level cutoffs, surcharge schedules, and planning tools for both small businesses and high-volume shippers.
What Should Shippers Do to Plan Around UPS Holiday Closures?
Effective holiday shipping planning starts with knowing which dates UPS will not move packages and working backward from your customer’s expected delivery date. For standard Ground shipments, add at least one extra business day per holiday in the transit window. For time-sensitive Air shipments, consider shipping one to two days earlier than you normally would.
Key planning steps for businesses include: confirming pickup cutoff times with your local UPS driver or account rep before major holidays, building buffer days into your order fulfillment SLAs during November and December, and communicating realistic delivery estimates to customers before they complete checkout. Customers who receive accurate estimates upfront are far less likely to initiate claims or chargebacks due to holiday delays.
If a shipment absolutely must arrive on or around a closure date, UPS Express Critical is the only option available through the regular UPS network during holiday closures. This service is priced at a significant premium over standard Air services and is best reserved for genuinely time-sensitive or high-value freight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does UPS deliver on Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2026?
No. UPS observes MLK Day as a paid holiday on January 19, 2026, and suspends all standard Ground, Air, and International delivery and pickup services. Transit time calculations should exclude January 19 as a business day. Any shipment scheduled to arrive on that date will be pushed to January 20, 2026, the next business day. UPS Express Critical remains available for emergency shipments.
How many paid holidays do UPS drivers get?
Full-time UPS drivers covered under the national Teamsters master agreement receive 10 paid holidays per year — the 7 company-observed holidays plus 3 additional days determined by their local supplement. Under the 2023–2028 contract, MLK Day was formally added as a named paid holiday for the first time, expanding coverage for all covered employees across supplement regions.
Do UPS part-time employees get paid holidays?
Yes, UPS part-time employees receive paid holidays under the Teamsters contract. The specific number of paid holidays and any floating holiday entitlements depend on the local supplement, the employee’s seniority, and their classification. Part-time workers at UPS also receive the same healthcare coverage with $0 employee premiums and pension contributions as full-time employees.
What happens if UPS is closed on a holiday and I have a time-sensitive shipment?
UPS Express Critical, operated through Marken, provides 24/7/365 door-to-door service even when the standard UPS network is closed. It uses dedicated vehicles and aircraft outside the regular UPS hub-and-spoke system. You can reach UPS Express Critical at 1-800-714-8779 or through Marken.com. Expect significantly higher rates compared to standard overnight or 2-day Air services.
Are UPS peak season surcharges applied on holidays?
Peak season surcharges apply to packages tendered to UPS during the designated peak season window, generally from late November through late December. These surcharges — which vary by service and package dimensions — are based on the tender date and service type, not specifically tied to holiday dates. Shipping earlier in November, before surcharges kick in, can meaningfully reduce costs for high-volume shippers.
Does UPS give employees floating holidays?
Yes. UPS provides floating holidays as part of its paid holiday structure, which employees can schedule for personal occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, or religious observances. Floating holidays must typically be scheduled in advance and used within the calendar year. The specific number of floating holidays available depends on the employee’s local supplement and years of service under the Teamsters contract.
Conclusion
UPS paid holidays affect both employees and shippers in ways that compound quickly if you don’t plan ahead. For workers, the 2023–2028 Teamsters contract guarantees strong holiday pay protections — including the newly formalized MLK Day holiday — plus wage increases that continue through 2026. For businesses, each of the seven annual closures removes a business day from transit windows, and the November–December peak period stacks surcharges on top of reduced operational capacity.
ParcelPath helps small businesses and individual shippers navigate carrier schedules, access discounted rates, and avoid the pitfalls of holiday shipping delays. Understanding when UPS operates — and when it doesn’t — is the first step toward keeping your shipments on time and your customers satisfied year-round.
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Part of our UPS Delivery Schedule guide. Related: UPS Delivery Policy, UPS Business Days, UPS Closing Time.
