Purpose: Learn how Bank Holidays and major events will impact carrier pick-ups and deliveries across different markets, so you can plan your shipments efficiently and avoid potential delays.
Important reminders for all markets
Public holidays can cause delays in pick-ups, deliveries, and customer communication.
Inform your customers in advance about possible delays.
Plan your logistics early to minimise disruptions during bank holidays.
Important: Due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East, carriers may experience operational disruptions that could affect international shipping. This may result in delivery delays, temporary service suspensions, or shipments being placed on hold for certain destinations in the region.
Additional surcharges may apply to shipments destined for specific areas. For more information about possible additional costs, please consult the carrier-specific surcharge articles in our Help Center.
We recommend checking the latest updates directly on the carrier’s website before creating shipments to the Middle East. Carriers regularly publish service alerts and operational updates that may impact shipping routes, transit times, or service availability.
Please note that Shipment Protection coverage is currently not available for parcels shipped to Middle East destinations. Learn more.
We have gathered some of the carrier links below:
- Bpost - Homepage banner
- Chronopost - Flash infos
- Colissimo (La Poste) - Local and international information
- DHL – Middle East crisis situation updates
- DPD DE - Emergency Fuel Surcharge
- Evri UK - Service status
- FedEx – Service alerts
- Parcelforce - Service alerts
- PostAT - Country-specific information
- PostNL - International Service alerts
- Poste Delivery - Operational updates
- Royal Mail – International incident bulletin
- SEUR - Information of interest
- UPS – Service alerts
Market-specific Carrier Updates
Spain
All carriers
📍04-02-2026 — Severe weather conditions Malaga and Cadiz
Impact: Pick-ups and deliveries may be delayed due to severe weather conditions and safety measures announced by regional authorities.
The Government of Andalusia has issued additional safety measures following orange and red weather warnings from AEMET for parts of Malaga and Cadiz.
- High-risk populations are being notified via the ES-Alert system
- Residents are advised to avoid unnecessary travel
- Classes have been suspended in educational centers in the affected areas
Carrier operations
Correos Express has confirmed that, as their facilities are currently located outside the highest-risk zones, they will attempt to operate as normally as possible whenever weather conditions allow. The safety of staff and partners remains the top priority, and operations may be adjusted to avoid unnecessary risks. Other carriers will likely follow similar protocols.
A further status update on unloading, sorting, and distribution is expected.
Official sources
- AEMET weather warnings: View warnings
- Andalusian Regional Government announcement: Read more
Correos Express:
- May 1st: National holiday (Labour Day) – No pick-ups or deliveries across Spain.
- May 2nd: Community of Madrid holiday – No pick-ups or deliveries in the Madrid region; regular service elsewhere.
- May 15th: San Isidro Festival – Public holiday in Madrid city and parts of the Community of Madrid. No pick-ups or deliveries in Madrid city; service disruptions possible in surrounding areas.
Correos:
You can find the detailed schedule for Correos during the May holidays in the following document: HORARIOS PUENTE DE MAYO 2025_inglés.xlsx.
Italy
All carriers
📍February 2026 – Winter Olympics 2026
Due to the Winter Olympic Games 2026, temporary traffic restrictions will be in place in several areas in Italy. These restrictions may cause delivery and pick-up delays with local and national carriers.
Please note that disruptions may occur throughout the duration of the Winter Olympics.
What’s impacted?
-
Milan February 2nd - 5th, 2026
- ZIP codes: 20121, 20122, 20123
- Total circulation ban in the city center for vehicles and pedestrians during special events
-
Other affected areas include:
- Assago (20057)
- Rho (20017)
- Sesto San Giovanni (20099)
- Villa di Tirano (23030)
- Tirano (23037)
- Sernio (23030)
- Lovero (23030)
- Vervio (23030)
- Tovo di Sant’Agata (23030)
- Mazzo di Valtellina (23030)
- Grosotto (23034)
- Grosio (23033)
- Sondalo (23035)
- Valdisotto (23030)
- Valfurva (23030)
- Valdidentro (23038)
- Bormio (23032)
- Livigno (23041)
GLS
📍22–26 January 2026 – Severe weather disruptions (Red Alert)
Due to extreme weather conditions (red alert) affecting parts of southern Italy, severe delays in both pick-ups and deliveries are expected.
The following regions are impacted:
Calabria
Sicily
Sardinia
According to communication from GLS Italy, several depots are currently affected:
| Depot code | Location | Status |
|---|---|---|
| CT01 | Siracusa | Hold at depot – pick-up working |
| CX | Belpasso | Hold at depot – closed |
| OW01 | Nuoro | Hold at depot – pick-up working |
| RG | Ragusa | Hold at depot – pick-up working |
While carriers are taking measures to maintain service continuity, further delays cannot be excluded during this period.
🔗 For more context on the situation, see the related news coverage:
Three Italian regions under red alert as Storm Harry hits southern Italy.
France
DPD France:
During May 2025, several public holidays will impact DPD France's operations:
- May 1st (Thursday): Labour Day – No pick-ups or deliveries.
- May 8th (Thursday): Victory Day – No pick-ups or deliveries.
- May 29th (Thursday): Ascension Day – No pick-ups or deliveries.
- June 09th (Monday): Ascension Day – No pick-ups or deliveries.
Regular service (pick-ups and deliveries) will be available on:
- April 30th (Wednesday)
- May 2nd (Friday)
- May 7th (Wednesday)
- May 9th (Friday)
- May 28th (Wednesday)
- May 30th (Friday)
Chronopost
Tour de France 2025 (5–27 July)
Chronopost has implemented a business continuity plan to mitigate the impact of the Tour de France 2025, which takes place from 5 to 27 July.
However, delivery and pick-up operations, particularly on-demand collections, may still be affected during this period.
Expect possible delays in both deliveries and collections.
For the full route of the Tour, visit: https://www.letour.fr/fr/parcours-general
United Kingdom
DPD
Due to the ongoing geopolitical situation in the Middle East, global oil markets have been significantly impacted. This has led to a sharp increase in fuel prices, particularly diesel, over a short period of time.
As a result, DPD UK has introduced a conflict surcharge of £0.15 per parcel. This surcharge is intended to offset the rising operational costs caused by these fuel price increases.
DPD UK has indicated that this measure is necessary despite efforts to minimise the impact. These efforts include the use of existing fuel reserves and an increased deployment of electric vehicles within their network.
Royal Mail
Update from 15-12-2025: Latest Recommended Posting Dates
| Dates | Services |
| Wednesday 17 December |
Royal Mail 2nd Class Royal Mail 2nd Class Signed For |
| Friday 19 December |
Royal Mail Tracked 48® Parcelforce express48 |
| Saturday 20 December |
Royal Mail 1st Class Royal Mail 1st Class Signed For |
| Sunday 21 December | Royal Mail Tracked 24® |
| Monday 22 December |
Parcelforce express10 Parcelforce expressPM Parcelforce express24 |
| Tuesday 23 December | Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed® |
Evri
During May 2025, there are two Bank Holidays that will impact Evri collections:
- May 5th (Monday): Early May Bank Holiday – No collections.
- May 26th (Monday): Spring Bank Holiday – No collections.
Regular collections will resume the next working day. For clients who usually have Monday pick-ups, collections will be automatically rescheduled to Tuesday 6th and Tuesday 27th May.
Netherlands
DPD
📍 21-04-2026 - DPD Spring Holidays & Pentecost Pick-up Schedule Update
DPD has announced adjusted services during the upcoming spring public holidays. On certain days, standard pick-up services will be limited, and for central planning customers (truck collections), pick-ups will only be available on request.
You can review the full spring schedule here: Download schedule.
DPD confirms that regular service applies on Saturdays that are not public holidays.
To manage increased volumes around Pentecost, DPD will offer additional pick-up options on Saturday, May 23 and Monday, May 25, 2026. Shipments collected on these days will be processed on Monday and delivered in the Netherlands on Tuesday. This aims to spread volume and reduce delays in the following days.
Customers can request a pick-up for these dates via the following form before May 8, 2026: Request form.
Important:
- Submitting a request does not guarantee a pick-up.
- DPD will confirm in week 21 whether the request is approved, including the scheduled date and time window.
- Submit a separate form per pick-up address.
What information is required in the request form?
- Company name and address details
- Number of euro pallet spaces to reserve
- Preferred time window (10:00–13:00 or 13:00–16:00)
- Contact email and account manager name
- Note: It is not possible to request alternative time windows via the comments field
For questions or coordination, DPD advises contacting your account manager.
📍08-01-2026 - Disruptions due to weather conditions (snow)
DPD has informed us that no pickups will take place on Thursday 08-01-2026.
📍April 2025 - Expectations around spring holidays
DPD expects an increase in parcel volumes during spring holidays such as King's Day, Ascension Day, and Pentecost, and possibly a delay of one business day. It is important to register and ship shipments and any additional volumes on time.
View the latest updates and the overview of holidays at DPD.
Belgium
📍12-03-2026 — Nationwide strike
There will be a nationwide strike in Belgium on March 12th. It's not certain that the backlog will be fully cleared on Friday, March 13th. Please be aware of delays during this time. The effects might be felt until Monday (March 16th) or even Tuesday (March 17th).