Peak season 2026

• Beginning of October: Inventory stocking by webshops starts, leading to initial volume increases.
• Halloween (October 31): Marks the start of high sales activity.
• Singles’ Day (November 11): Significant sales and shipping activity.
• Black Friday (November 27): Massive orders create a spike in shipments, with label creation peaking on Cyber Monday.
• Cyber Monday (November 30): The busiest day for label creation.
• Sinterklaas (December 5): Higher volumes in the Benelux region.
• Week before Christmas: Last-minute shopping causes another volume surge.

• Pick-ups
  • Request pick-ups early (1 business day ahead).
  • Switch to fixed pick-ups if volumes rise.
  • Keep a signed manifest as proof of handover.
    👉 Why: Prevents missed collections and gives proof for claims.
• Outgoing shipments: delays
  • Set realistic expectations; avoid next-day promises.
  • Offer multiple carriers and delivery options (e.g., service points).
    👉 Why: Reduces customer frustration and failed deliveries.
• Tracking & scans
  • Expect scan delays of 24 h +.
  • Contact support only if tracking hasn’t updated after that period.
    👉 Why: Prevents unnecessary tickets and reassures merchants.
• Returns
  • Encourage drop-off returns rather than home collection.
  • Remind that carriers usually make one pickup attempt.
    👉 Why: Cuts failed return collections and customer confusion.
• Customer communication
  • Be transparent about possible delays and cut-off times.
    👉 Why: Manages customer expectations and avoids negative feedback.

From 20 September onwards, UPS applies demand surcharges to packages exceeding maximum limits, large packages, and shipments requiring additional handling. This will apply to all packages meeting these specifications originating from 19 European countries and to all destinations.

See below the demand surcharges that apply:

International shipping

In addition to the peak surcharge and applicable Demand Surcharges mentioned above, UPS may apply Surge Emergency Fees to international shipments during high-demand periods.

When they apply

• International Air Shipments (Express, Express Saver, Express Plus, Expedited, Worldwide Express Freight)
• Domestic shipments to residential addresses (Standard, Express, Express Saver, Express Plus)
• International ground shipments (Transborder Standard, Worldwide Standard)

Click here for more information.

Detailed explanation of the conditions

Additional Handling

• Any article that is encased in an outside shipping container made of metal or wood
• Any cylindrical item, such as a barrel, drum, pail, or tire, that is not fully encased in a corrugated cardboard shipping container
• Any package with the longest side exceeding 100 cm (39.5") or a second-longest side exceeding 76 cm (30'')
• Any package with an actual weight greater than 25 kg (55 pounds)
• Each package in a shipment where the average weight per package is greater than 25 kg (55 pounds) and the weight for each package is not specified on the source document or the UPS automated shipping system used.

Large Package
A package is considered a large package when its length plus girth (girth = 2x width) + (2 x height) combined exceeds 300 cm but does not exceed the maximum UPS size of 400 cm. Large packages are subject to a minimum billable weight of 40 kg in addition to the large package surcharge.

Over maximum limits

Packages with an actual weight of more than 70 kg, or that exceed 274 cm in length or exceed a total of 400 cm in length and girth combined (girth = (2 x width) + (2 x height), are not accepted for transportation. If found in the UPS small package system, they are subject to an additional charge.

Additional resources

For more information about shipping with UPS over the peak season, you can consult the following resources on UPS.com:

• The days of operation page displays adjustments to our service due to national holidays
• The service alerts page notifies you of disruptions, such as adverse weather conditions, that may impact your shipments.

Peak surcharges

FedEx applies a peak surcharge of €1.80 per international parcel (£1.80 for shipments from the UK). For domestic shipments within the UK, a peak surcharge of £0.75 per parcel applies. 
For domestic shipments within France, a peak surcharge of €0.90 per parcel applies.

Additional Demand Surcharges

From 21 September 2026, FedEx applies additional Demand Surcharges to non-standard parcels. These charges apply on top of the existing FedEx surcharges.

For the general surcharge conditions, see our FedEx surcharges article.

The additional Demand Surcharges apply to:

• Additional Handling Surcharge (Dimension, Weight and Packaging)
• Oversize Charge
• Unauthorized Package Charge

See below the additional Demand Surcharges that apply:

Bpost

Bpost provides information about adjusted services during public holidays. See the Bpost service updates for the latest information.

DPD

DPD provides information about possible delays, adjusted opening times, and other updates during the holiday season. See the DPD Parcel Update page for more information.

PostNL

PostNL provides information about deliveries and adjusted services around public holidays. See the PostNL holiday delivery information for more information.

DHL

DHL provides an overview of adjusted collection and delivery schedules during public holidays. See the DHL holiday schedule for more information.

FedEx

FedEx provides an overview of its service availability during public holidays. See the FedEx holiday schedule for more information.

UPS

UPS provides information about its operating hours and service adjustments during the holiday season. See the UPS holiday shipping schedule for more information.

GLS

GLS provides information about adjusted services and distribution schedules during public holidays. See the GLS holiday schedule and the GLS distribution plan for more information.

PostNL

PostNL provides an overview of adjusted collection and delivery schedules during public holidays. See the PostNL holiday schedule for the latest information.

DPD

DPD Netherlands has announced adjusted collection, delivery, and customer service schedules for the Christmas and New Year period (23 December 2026 - 5 January 2027).

Christmas Eve (24 December) and New Year's Eve (31 December):

• Deliveries: Available until 18:00.
• CP collections (truck): Available on request between 09:00 and 14:00.
• Transport collections (van): Between 09:00 and 14:00. Contact your local planner for questions about collection times.
• International connections: Not available. This applies to connections outside the Benelux.
• Customer service: Available until 16:00.

Other holiday adjustments:

• Deliveries: No deliveries on 25-27 December or 1-3 January.
• International connections: No connections on 24-27 December or 31 December-3 January.
• Collections: Collection availability varies depending on whether parcels are collected by truck or van.

For the full day-by-day schedule, including collection availability, Benelux delivery dates, and customer service opening hours, see the DPD Parcel Update page.

DHL

DHL provides an overview of adjusted collection and delivery schedules during public holidays. See the DHL holiday schedule for more information.

DHL Express

DHL Express provides an overview of adjusted services and schedules during the holiday season. See the DHL Express holiday schedule for more information.

UPS

During the busiest seasons, UPS is committed to helping you take full advantage of every available shipping day. Click here to see the operating hours during the holiday season.

FedEx

FedEx provides an overview of its service availability during public holidays. See the FedEx holiday schedule for more information.

Evri

During the Christmas and New Year period, please take the following changes to Evri collections into account:

• Public holidays: There will be no collections on public holidays.
• Christmas Eve (24 December): Collections are not part of the standard collection schedule and will not be booked automatically. If a collection has been arranged, it will take place between 09:00 and 13:00.
• New Year's Eve (31 December): Collections are not part of the standard collection schedule and will not be booked automatically. If a collection has been arranged, it will take place between 09:00 and 13:00.

For collections on 24 or 31 December, make sure all parcels are ready from 09:00, as the collection can take place at any time during the operating window.

During the peak period, requests for additional collection capacity are subject to operational review and available network capacity and therefore cannot be guaranteed.

International Christmas and New Year deadlines: For an overview of Evri's international shipping deadlines, see the Evri Christmas and New Year 2026 deadlines (PDF) .

DHL

DHL provides information about service availability and adjusted schedules around UK bank holidays. See the DHL bank holiday schedule for more information.

DPD

During peak season, DPD UK is making temporary operational adjustments to support increased parcel volumes.

• Collection times (23 November - 24 December): Depot collections will take place 30 minutes earlier than usual. DPD also encourages early-volume collections where possible.
• Peak volumes: DPD expects very high parcel volumes during this period. Early-volume, Saturday, and Sunday collections are encouraged to help support the network.
• Delivery upgrades (23 November 2026 - 1 January 2027): Customer and consumer delivery upgrades, such as selecting specific delivery slots or weekend deliveries, will be unavailable.
• Redelivery and in-flight options (November - December 2026): Options to arrange redelivery or make changes to parcels while in transit may be unavailable.

Please note: During these restrictions, DPD's Customer Service teams will not be able to arrange delivery upgrades on behalf of customers or consumers.

Christmas delivery and hub sort schedule:

For the latest information about possible delays, adjusted opening times, and other service updates, see the DPD Parcel Update page.

FedEx

FedEx provides an overview of its service availability during public holidays. See the FedEx holiday schedule for more information.

UPS

UPS provides information about its operating hours and service adjustments during the holiday season. See the UPS holiday shipping schedule for more information.

Royal Mail and Parcelforce

Royal Mail and Parcelforce have announced their last recommended posting dates and adjusted collection schedules for Christmas and New Year 2026.

UK last posting dates

The following are the last recommended posting dates for UK shipments to arrive in time for Christmas 2026:

International recommended last posting dates

Royal Mail has also announced the recommended last posting dates for international shipments during Christmas 2026. These dates vary depending on the destination.

Europe

Rest of the world

These are recommended posting dates and may change. We recommend shipping international parcels as early as possible during the Christmas period.

Christmas and New Year collections

Royal Mail and Parcelforce will operate adjusted collection schedules during the Christmas and New Year period.

• 19 December 2026: Royal Mail will operate normal Saturday business collections.
• 20 December 2026: No Royal Mail collections.
• 22 December 2026: Last Parcelforce collection for Christmas delivery.
• 23 and 24 December 2026: No Parcelforce collections.
• 24 December 2026 (Christmas Eve): Royal Mail collections will take place between 11:00 and 14:00.
• 25-28 December 2026: No collections.
• 29 and 30 December 2026: Parcelforce collections will resume. Express48 items collected during this period will not be delivered until 2 January 2027.
• 31 December 2026 (New Year's Eve): Royal Mail collections will take place between 11:00 and 14:00. Parcelforce will not operate collections.
• 1 January 2027: No collections.
• 2 January 2027: No deliveries in Scotland. Deliveries will resume on 4 January 2027.

Royal Mail Tracked Returns 48

Royal Mail has also adjusted its Tracked Returns 48 schedule over the Christmas and New Year period:

• There will be no collections from Post Offices on 20, 25, 26, 27 and 28 December 2026, or on 1 January 2027.
• On 24 and 31 December 2026, returns collections will arrive back at the Royal Mail plant by 14:00.
• There will be no deliveries in Scotland on 2 January 2027. Deliveries will resume on 4 January 2027.

For the latest operational information, check the Royal Mail service updates and Parcelforce service updates . For international disruptions, see the Royal Mail International Incident Bulletin .

FedEx

FedEx provides an overview of its service availability during public holidays. See the FedEx holiday schedule for more information.

UPS

UPS provides information about its operating hours and service adjustments during the holiday season. See the UPS holiday shipping schedule for more information.

GLS

GLS provides information about adjusted distribution schedules during public holidays. See the GLS distribution plan for more information.

BRT

BRT provides information about possible delays, adjusted opening times, and other updates during the holiday season. See the DPD Parcel Update page for more information.

DHL Express

DHL Express provides information and guidance for shipping during the holiday season. See the DHL Express holiday shipping guide for more information.

FedEx

FedEx provides an overview of its service availability during public holidays. See the FedEx holiday schedule for more information.

DPD

DPD provides information about possible delays, adjusted opening times, and other updates during the holiday season. See the DPD Parcel Update page for more information.

UPS

UPS provides information about its operating hours and service adjustments during the holiday season. See the UPS holiday shipping schedule for more information.

FedEx

FedEx provides an overview of its service availability during public holidays. See the FedEx holiday schedule for more information.

DHL

DHL Germany has announced its recommended shipping deadlines and adjusted pickup arrangements for Christmas 2026.

Domestic shipments (Germany)

• For parcels collected during a regular pickup on or before Tuesday 22 December 2026, DHL generally expects delivery by Thursday 24 December 2026.
• DHL Kleinpaket and bulky goods (Sperrgut) are excluded from this delivery commitment. DHL recommends handing over these shipments 1 to 3 days earlier.

International shipments

Recommended pickup and drop-off deadlines depend on the destination country and selected shipping service. For country-specific deadlines, see the DHL Christmas 2026 shipping deadlines .

International transit delays and destination-country public holidays may affect delivery times during peak season. Check the DHL international transit time information for the latest updates.

Christmas and New Year pickups

• Thursday 24 December 2026: Pickups will generally not take place.
• Thursday 31 December 2026: Pickups will generally not take place.
• Other days: Regular pickup arrangements remain unchanged.

DHL also recommends including the recipient's email address and/or mobile phone number in the shipment data. This allows DHL and its international delivery partners to offer recipient services and provide delivery updates.

For local or nationwide service disruptions, check the DHL business customer portal.

FedEx

FedEx provides an overview of its service availability during public holidays. See the FedEx holiday schedule for more information.

DPD

DPD provides information about possible delays, adjusted opening times, and other updates during the holiday season. See the DPD Parcel Update page for more information.

UPS

UPS provides information about its operating hours and service adjustments during the holiday season. See the UPS holiday shipping schedule for more information.

FedEx

FedEx provides an overview of its service availability during public holidays. See the FedEx holiday schedule for more information.

DPD

DPD provides information about possible delays, adjusted opening times, and other updates during the holiday season. See the DPD Parcel Update page for more information.

UPS

UPS provides information about its operating hours and service adjustments during the holiday season. See the UPS holiday shipping schedule for more information.