FedEx Holiday Schedule 2026: Closures, Modified Service & Shipping Dates

FedEx Holiday Schedule 2026: Quick Summary

Holiday shipping issues rarely come from the holiday itself. They come from the day before, the day after, and the assumptions in between. This guide breaks down the FedEx Holiday Schedule for 2026 so you can see when FedEx is fully closed, when it runs on modified service, and when specific business units like FedEx Freight, FedEx Office, and FedEx Custom Critical follow a different pattern.

Key Points: FedEx 2026 Closures, Modified Days & What Stays Open

• FedEx is fully closed on Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day in the U.S. holiday schedule for 2026.
• FedEx runs on modified service on several other holidays, including Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Good Friday, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Eve.
• FedEx Office, FedEx Freight, FedEx Custom Critical, and FedEx Logistics do not always follow the same operating status as standard FedEx parcel services.
• Christmas-week and Thanksgiving-week planning matters more than the holiday itself because modified operations start before the closure day.
• If your shipment is urgent on a closure date, FedEx Custom Critical remains the always-on option.

Why the FedEx Holiday Schedule Matters More Than a Simple Closure List

A closed shipping day is easy to understand. A half-open one is where things get messy. That is why the FedEx Holiday Schedule matters far beyond a simple list of holidays. A package can miss a promised date not because the holiday fell on a bad day, but because pickup was moved the day before, linehaul shifted, or a location closed early while the main network remained partially active.

FedEx’s 2026 calendar is full of those nuances. Some holidays look open until you notice Modified Service. Some look closed until you realize FedEx Custom Critical is still running. And some, like Christmas Eve and the day before Thanksgiving, are technically operational but should never be treated like ordinary shipping days.

2026 FedEx Holiday Calendar: Full Operating Status by Date

The 2026 FedEx holiday calendar is not a one-column story. Standard FedEx parcel services, FedEx Freight, FedEx Office, FedEx Custom Critical, and FedEx Logistics each follow their own operating pattern. That is the key difference between a useful holiday schedule and a misleading one.

Here is the 2026 U.S. FedEx holiday schedule at the main-service level:

Source: FedEx 2026 Holiday Operations Schedule.

That table covers the core parcel network. The details get more interesting when you look across business units. On Easter Sunday, for example, standard FedEx parcel service and FedEx Freight are closed, FedEx Office operates on modified hours, and FedEx Custom Critical remains open. Memorial Day and Christmas Day follow a similar split.

For a side-by-side look at how FedEx compares to UPS and USPS on holiday coverage, see our FedEx vs USPS vs UPS comparison.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Monday, January 19, 2026

FedEx parcel operations run on modified service on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, not on a full closure. FedEx Freight also remains open, though it follows a modified linehaul schedule rather than a normal one. FedEx Office, FedEx Custom Critical, and FedEx Logistics all remain open.

That makes MLK Day one of those holidays where businesses can still move shipments, but should not assume every pickup, linehaul handoff, or delivery path will behave like a standard Monday. If you use freight, that distinction matters even more because a shipment picked up that day may not move linehaul until the next normal operating day.

Valentine’s Day: Saturday, February 14, 2026

Valentine’s Day is not a closure day for the core FedEx parcel network. Standard FedEx services stay open, FedEx Office stays open, and both FedEx Custom Critical and FedEx Logistics remain available. FedEx Freight is the exception here, as it is listed closed on that Saturday.

For most parcel shippers, Valentine’s Day behaves like a live shipping day. Still, it sits in a high-pressure seasonal window, especially for florals, gifts, and time-sensitive direct-to-consumer orders. That means operationally open does not always mean relaxed capacity.

Presidents Day: Monday, February 16, 2026

Presidents' Day is another modified-service day, not a full-stop holiday, for standard FedEx parcel operations. FedEx Freight, FedEx Office, FedEx Custom Critical, and FedEx Logistics all remain open.

It is one of the clearest places where FedEx differs from USPS. USPS follows the federal holiday calendar more strictly, while FedEx continues to run, even if not at its normal full pace. For shippers comparing carriers around federal holidays, that difference can materially affect promised delivery dates and helps explain why a multi-carrier shipping setup gives businesses more flexibility during holiday windows.

Good Friday to Easter: April 3 to April 5, 2026

Good Friday comes with modified parcel service and modified FedEx Freight service, while FedEx Office, FedEx Custom Critical, and FedEx Logistics remain open. The Saturday before Easter is open for standard FedEx parcel operations, though FedEx Freight is closed.

Easter Sunday is one of the full closure dates in the 2026 schedule. Standard FedEx parcel operations are shut down, FedEx Freight is closed, and FedEx Office is operating on modified hours. FedEx Custom Critical and FedEx Logistics remain open.

This Easter stretch is a good example of why looking at a single holiday date is not enough. Friday is modified, Saturday is partly live, and Sunday is fully closed for the parcel network. A retailer promising weekend delivery without mapping that pattern is inviting avoidable shipping delays.

Mother’s Day: Sunday, May 10, 2026

Mother’s Day is operational for standard FedEx parcel service, FedEx Office, FedEx Custom Critical, and FedEx Logistics. FedEx Freight is closed, which is consistent with its Sunday pattern on several dates in the holiday chart.

It matters because Mother’s Day is a heavy consumer-delivery event, not a federal closure day. For ecommerce brands selling gifts, flowers, personal care, or specialty food, FedEx remains a viable residential-delivery network on that Sunday.

Memorial Day: Monday, May 25, 2026

Memorial Day is a full closure day for standard FedEx parcel operations. FedEx Freight is also closed. FedEx Office shifts to modified hours; FedEx Custom Critical remains open; FedEx Logistics is closed.

From a planning standpoint, Memorial Day works more like a true shipping interruption than a softer holiday. Brands depending on weekend-to-Monday movement need to build a buffer before the holiday, because the day itself does not function as a normal recovery day.

Juneteenth and Father’s Day: June 19 and June 21, 2026

Juneteenth remains an open day for standard FedEx parcel operations, though FedEx Freight runs on modified service. FedEx Office, FedEx Custom Critical, and FedEx Logistics remain open.

Father’s Day, which falls on Sunday in 2026, is also open for standard FedEx parcel operations, while FedEx Freight is closed and the other business units remain open. The practical takeaway is simple: neither day behaves like a full parcel shutdown.

Independence Day: July 3 to July 4, 2026

The holiday effect starts before July 4. On Friday, July 3, standard FedEx parcel operations move to modified service, FedEx Freight is closed, and FedEx Office follows modified hours. FedEx Custom Critical and FedEx Logistics stay open.

On Saturday, July 4, standard FedEx parcel operations are closed. FedEx Freight is closed; FedEx Office is open on modified hours; FedEx Custom Critical is open; and FedEx Logistics is closed.

It is one of those holidays where the eve matters nearly as much as the holiday itself. If you treat July 3 as a normal full-capacity shipping day, you risk missing the actual operating pattern.

Labor Day: Monday, September 7, 2026

Labor Day is a full closure day for the standard FedEx parcel network. FedEx Freight is closed; FedEx Office is open with modified hours; FedEx Custom Critical remains open; and FedEx Logistics is closed.

Operationally, Labor Day behaves like Memorial Day. It is not a day to squeeze in routine pickup or last-minute standard parcel movement. For businesses with customer promises landing right after the holiday weekend, this date belongs in every shipping calendar.

Columbus Day and Veterans Day: October 12 and November 11, 2026

Both Columbus Day and Veterans Day are observed with modified service for standard FedEx parcel operations. FedEx Freight, FedEx Office, FedEx Custom Critical, and FedEx Logistics stay open on both dates.

These are classic examples of why one should not read FedEx through a USPS lens. They are federal holidays, but they are not full parcel-network shutdowns for FedEx. That distinction gives shippers more flexibility, especially for B2B operations that still need weekday movement.

Thanksgiving Week: November 25 to November 27, 2026

The FedEx Thanksgiving window has three different operating profiles in a row. On Wednesday, November 25, standard FedEx parcel operations run on modified service; FedEx Freight stays open; FedEx Office follows modified hours; and both FedEx Custom Critical and FedEx Logistics remain open.

Thanksgiving Day itself is a full closure day for standard FedEx parcel operations. FedEx Freight and FedEx Office are closed; FedEx Custom Critical remains open; FedEx Logistics is closed.

Then comes Friday, November 27. Standard FedEx parcel operations return to modified service; FedEx Office reopens; FedEx Custom Critical remains open; FedEx Logistics is open, but FedEx Freight stays closed. That makes the Thanksgiving period one of the trickiest of the year to interpret if you are only scanning one date.

Christmas Week: December 23 to December 26, 2026

Wednesday, December 23, is open for standard FedEx parcel operations. FedEx Freight runs on modified service, while FedEx Office, FedEx Custom Critical, and FedEx Logistics remain open.

Christmas Eve, December 24, shifts to modified parcel service. FedEx Freight is closed; FedEx Office is open with modified hours; and both FedEx Custom Critical and FedEx Logistics remain open. It is an operating day, but not one that should be treated like a regular full-capacity shipping day.

Christmas Day, December 25, is a full closure day for standard FedEx parcel operations. FedEx Freight is closed; FedEx Office is closed; FedEx Custom Critical remains open; and FedEx Logistics is closed. The day after Christmas, December 26, reopens for standard parcel operations, though FedEx Freight remains closed.

What are the FedEx shipping deadlines for Christmas 2026?

FedEx has not yet published the official 2026 Christmas last-day-to-ship calendar. Until that is released, the official 2025 holiday shipping deadline sheet is the most reliable benchmark for planning. It laid out a clear service ladder for packages scheduled to arrive by December 24, 2025.

For U.S. domestic parcel services, the 2025 benchmark looked like this:

Source: FedEx.

That gives merchants a sensible planning frame for 2026, but not a final 2026 commitment. You must check the official 2026 deadline calendar once FedEx publishes it. For businesses managing ecommerce logistics at scale, building draft peak-season SOPs around these benchmarks now — and updating when the 2026 calendar drops — is the practical approach.

New Year’s Week: December 28, 2026, to January 2, 2027

Monday, December 28, is a full day of open availability across the main FedEx business lines. That makes it one of the key recovery days between Christmas and New Year’s.

New Year’s Eve, December 31, moves to modified parcel service. FedEx Freight also runs on modified service, FedEx Office follows modified hours, and both FedEx Custom Critical and FedEx Logistics stay open.

New Year’s Day, January 1, 2027, is a full closure day for standard FedEx parcel operations; FedEx Freight and FedEx Office are also closed. FedEx Custom Critical remains open, while FedEx Logistics is closed. On January 2, standard parcel operations reopen, though FedEx Freight remains closed.

2025 International Holiday Shipping Benchmarks for 2026 Planning

FedEx's 2025 holiday shipping deadline sheet also provides useful international shipping reference points until the 2026 version is published. For delivery before December 24, 2025, the official last-ship dates looked like this for key export routes:

These are planning benchmarks, not 2026 promises. For other countries, FedEx directs shippers to its international holiday schedule tool because the answer depends on the country, customs conditions, and local holiday calendars. Understanding international logistics factors like customs processing and destination-country holidays helps set realistic expectations for cross-border peak-season shipments.

How FedEx Service Alerts Affect Holiday Shipping

A holiday calendar answers when the network is supposed to operate. It does not answer what is happening in your area on a given day. Weather, regional disruptions, local closures, and special handling events can still affect shipments even when the national holiday chart shows the network as open or modified. FedEx’s service alerts page is the right place to check that real-time layer before making a hard delivery promise.

For businesses using package tracking platforms alongside carrier tools, combining holiday calendar data with real-time tracking alerts gives the most complete picture of where a shipment actually stands during holiday windows.

Editorial Methodology

We built this article from current FedEx primary-source material first. The 2026 operating calendar came from the official FedEx Holiday Operations Schedule and holiday landing page. Where 2026 last-days-to-ship dates have not yet been published, 2025 FedEx deadline sheets were used as clearly labeled benchmarks rather than passed off as current-year commitments. We also checked the service-alert guidance and money-back-guarantee language against FedEx’s official service pages, so the article reflects both the scheduled calendar and the practical exceptions that affect real shipments.

FedEx Holiday Schedule: What to Remember

The biggest FedEx holiday mistakes usually happen on days that look open enough. Christmas Eve. The day before Thanksgiving. July 3. New Year’s Eve. Those are the dates when teams assume “open” means normal, and that is exactly where delivery promises start slipping.

That is why the best use of the FedEx Holiday Schedule is not checking whether a holiday is red or green on a calendar. It is understanding the shape of the week around it. Once you do that, pickup planning gets sharper, storefront promises get safer, and support teams spend a lot less time explaining why an order did not move when everyone thought it would.

For ecommerce shipping teams managing peak-season operations, pairing holiday awareness with centralized delivery management ensures that promised dates stay accurate — even when carrier schedules shift beneath them.

FedEx Holiday Schedule 2026 FAQ

What holidays is FedEx closed on in 2026?

FedEx’s standard parcel network is fully closed on Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. FedEx Custom Critical remains available on those dates for urgent shipments.

Does FedEx deliver on Thanksgiving 2026?

No. Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2026, is a full closure date for standard FedEx parcel operations. The day before runs on modified service, and the Friday after also runs on modified parcel service, so the entire Thanksgiving window needs a little more planning than it first appears.

Does FedEx deliver on Christmas Day 2026?

No. Christmas Day is a full closure date for standard FedEx parcel operations. If a package was moving toward a December 25 commitment, tracking may still show movement around the holiday window, but routine delivery does not occur on the holiday itself.

Does FedEx deliver on Christmas Eve 2026?

Yes, but not under normal full-capacity conditions. December 24 runs on a modified service, which means it is an operating day, though not one to be treated like a standard business day for pickup or planning.

What are the FedEx shipping deadlines for Christmas 2026?

FedEx has not yet published the official 2026 Christmas shipping deadline sheet. Until that appears, the 2025 ladder is the most useful benchmark: Ground Economy by December 15, Express Saver by December 20, 2Day by December 22, and overnight services by December 23, with Ground and Home Delivery depending on lane-specific transit time.

Does FedEx operate on MLK Day, Presidents Day, and Columbus Day?

Yes. FedEx parcel operations remain active on all three of those holidays, but they run on modified service rather than a completely standard schedule. That means they operate on days, not full closures.

Does FedEx suspend the money-back guarantee during the holiday season?

FedEx's money-back-guarantee rules can change during peak periods, and the current service-guide page already shows active suspensions and service-specific exceptions tied to volume and operational conditions. Anyone relying on refund eligibility for holiday shipping cost recovery should check the current FedEx money-back-guarantee page before making a customer promise.

What is FedEx Custom Critical, and when should I use it?

FedEx Custom Critical is the always-on urgent-shipping option that stays available 24/7/365, including full closure holidays. It is meant for genuinely time-sensitive shipments — similar to expedited shipping options across other carriers — not routine ecommerce parcels.

Related reading: Best Shipping Carriers | Shipping Delays Guide | Same-Day Delivery Explained | Shipping for Small Business