Courier parcel delivery during Christmas & New Year 2025/2026
Send your Christmas gifts and cards on time this year! Use the pricing tool above to book your Christmas parcel delivery service right away. To help you get your presents to your loved ones in time for the festivities, we’ve compiled a list of various courier delivery schedules for Christmas and New Year 2025/26.
SHIPPING SOLUTIONS
Courier services for sending Christmas gifts and cards
COURIER SCHEDULE
Courier delivery schedules for Christmas and New Year 2025/2026
Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are not considered public holidays in most countries. On these dates, most couriers and postal services work around the clock to deliver gifts and Christmas parcels. However, since this is a time of the year when logistics services are in extremely high demand, most shipping companies will prioritise delivering the parcels they already have instead of performing collections.
Deliveries on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve will also depend on couriers’ availability at your destination. Most courier deliveries and collections will resume normally on the first working day of the year January 5th 2026.
See more about the last posting dates of some of the most known courier companies:
Freight transport – Last shipping dates before Christmas
Freight transport is a bit more delicate than courier parcel delivery during the Christmas period because most roads are closed for trucks between Christmas and the New Year. As a result, logistics companies may perform collections until the last working days before Christmas, but, from 12 December onwards, shipments will be stored at their warehouses until their normal activities resume in January.
For DHL Freight deliveries specifically, booked through Eurosender, pickups will be possible until 16 December 2025. Pallets will not be collected after this date and, if collected by exception, will only be delivered after the second week of January 2026. For shipments to and from the Netherlands, the last departure is on 12 December 2025. Overall DHL Freight lines restart operations after 6 January 2026.
For European freight deliveries done by Kuehne+Nagel and booked through Eurosender, collections for dangerous goods will be possible until 17 December 2025, while standard shipments can be collected until 19 December 2025.
Their network will be closed from 22 December 2025 to 3 January 2026, with operations resuming during the night of 5 to 6 January 2026.
If you need any assistance while arranging freight transport during the Christmas season of 2025, do not hesitate to contact us via chat!
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HOW TO AVOID DELAYS
Tips for sending parcels in time for Christmas
One of the main reasons for shipping delays is the high occurrence of failed delivery attempts. Here are a few tips to make sure your parcel will be successfully delivered on the 1st attempt:
Provide the correct pick-up and delivery addresses
Avoid shipping prohibited and restricted items
Schedule the collection 5-7 working days ahead
Have someone present at the delivery address
What to do if the courier does not deliver your parcel before Christmas?
Shipping companies do their best to deliver as many parcels as possible before the holidays. However, if the courier or postal service does not deliver your parcel before Christmas, the delivery will be automatically rescheduled for the following working days.
WHAT CAN YOU SHIP?
Sending Christmas gifts by courier
At Eurosender, we are proud to help our customers surprising their loved ones by offering efficient solutions for sending Christmas gifts and cards abroad. It does not matter how big or small your package is; we can always find the best and most affordable solution for you! Here are a few ideas of Christmas gifts to send to long-distance friends and family:
Holiday season 2025/26
Check the list of holidays between December and January in Europe and other countries.
| Date | Country |
|---|---|
| 24 December | Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Slovakia, Sweden |
| 25 December | Most worldwide countries |
| 26 December | Most worldwide countries |
| 31 December | Latvia, Russia, Sweden |
| 1 January | All countries |
| 6 January | Austria, Croatia, Finland, Germany (some regions), Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland |
| 7 January | Orthodox countries |
NEED MORE INFORMATION?
FAQ on courier parcel delivery services during Christmas 2025
Can you send a wrapped Christmas present in the mail?
Yes, as long as you make sure to pack it in a sturdy cardboard box. Most shipping companies will not allow customers to send parcels wrapped in Christmas paper because gift wrap is unlikely to survive the journey.
What is the cheapest way to mail or ship Christmas gifts?
The most affordable service for mailing or shipping Christmas gifts is the Standard Service.
What is the best way to send a Christmas package in time for Christmas?
When booking a Christmas courier service with us, we recommend choosing Express Delivery as an expedited solution. With this service, your parcel will be transported via aircraft, arriving at the destination country in the shortest time possible.
How early should I send my gift parcels, so that they arrive in time for Christmas?
To avoid any complications, you should send your Christmas gift parcels as early as possible.
What is the last day to send parcels for Christmas with the Standard or Priority Express Services?
When organising your shipment with Eurosender, we recommend considering December 12th as the last shipping date for Christmas.
How can I check if DPD, DHL, GLS, FedEx Royal Mail and Evri (Hermes) perform Christmas deliveries in my country?
The Christmas courier delivery schedule presented above is based on the UK schedule for 2025, but it applies to most European countries since they have similar public holidays.
What time do couriers stop delivering parcels on Christmas Eve?
Most courier companies consider Christmas Eve a regular working day and will deliver parcels during their usual working hours, typically from 9 am to 6 pm.