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Sending a parcel before Christmas: how not to miss it

Carriers publish their dates as the season goes on. Here is where to check them, how to count back and what to plan for at a pickup point.

Updated on · Official sources at the bottom of the page

Short answer

As of 30 October 2026, we have found no official deadline for Christmas 2026. Check your carrier's page when you send the parcel, start from the delivery time shown when you buy the label and leave a margin: Christmas falls on a Friday, and Thursday 24 December will be the last day before the public holiday.

Christmas 2026 deadlines: what is published

End-of-year calendar 2026
DateWhat to knowSource
Saturday 19 DecemberLast Saturday before Christmas-
Sunday 20 DecemberSunday: check your point's opening hours-
Thursday 24 DecemberChristmas Eve: check the point's opening hours-
Friday 25 DecemberChristmas Day, public holidayService-public.gouv.fr: public holidayschecked on 30 October 2026
Saturday 26 DecemberPublic holiday in Alsace-MoselleService-public.gouv.fr: public holidayschecked on 30 October 2026
Friday 1 January 2027New Year's Day, public holidayService-public.gouv.fr: public holidayschecked on 30 October 2026

Where to check, carrier by carrier

Official pages to consult for end-of-year delivery times
CarrierWhere to lookSource
Colissimo, La PosteLa Poste helpLa Poste: online helpchecked on 30 October 2026
ChronopostChronopost helpChronopost: helpchecked on 30 October 2026
Mondial RelayMondial Relay FAQMondial Relay: frequently asked questionschecked on 30 October 2026
Relais ColisRelais Colis FAQRelais Colis: frequently asked questionschecked on 30 October 2026
DPDDPD helpDPD France: recipients' questionschecked on 30 October 2026
UPSUPS helpUPS France: tracking supportchecked on 30 October 2026
VintedVinted help centreVinted: help centrechecked on 30 October 2026

A date shown on a blog or comparison site does not bind the carrier. For an online purchase, only the date given by the seller when you order counts.

Counting back

  1. Set the last day the recipient can still collect the parcel, not just 24 December.
  2. Note the delivery time shown when you buy the label: it depends on the service and the destination.
  3. Count in working days. For La Poste, they run from Monday to Saturday, excluding national and local public holidays (La Poste).
  4. Leave a margin: an announced delivery time is not always a guarantee, and pickup points can be very busy. The shipping price also depends on the service.
  5. Drop the parcel off before the point's last collection, then keep your proof of drop-off and track the parcel.

Pickup points and lockers over the holidays

  • Opening hours: a shop may close for a few days at the end of December. Check its page before dropping off or choosing this point.
  • 25 December and 1 January: in the La Poste calendar read on 30/10/2026, only 12 sites out of 19,068 are not marked closed on 25 December, and 2 on 1 January (La Poste data). See public holidays.
  • Holding period: if you are going away for the holidays, make sure the recipient can collect the parcel in time. See the holding period.
  • Someone else can collect the parcel: see having someone else collect a parcel.
  • Size: a locker takes smaller parcels than a shop. See size and weight limits.

Two seasonal traps

Fake texts: a message demanding a fee for a Christmas parcel is suspicious. See fake parcel texts.

A change of pickup point: a full or closed point can lead to the parcel being redirected. See pickup point closed or full.

Frequently asked questions

What is the last date to send a parcel before Christmas 2026?

As of 30 October 2026, we have found no official date. Check your carrier's page and the delivery time shown when you buy the label.

Are parcels delivered on 25 December?

25 December is a public holiday. Do not count on delivery that day without confirmation from the carrier.

Can I collect a parcel on 24 December?

It depends on the point's opening hours. Check its page and, if in doubt, contact it before you travel.

Will this page show the deadlines?

Yes, if a carrier publishes its own on an official page. We will add the date, the source and the day we read it.

Sources

Official pages checked for this guide (in French). Carriers' terms can change: the notice saying your parcel is ready (text message, email, app) always prevails.

Written by the Relais autour de moi team, an independent site not affiliated with any carrier. All our guides: the parcel pickup point guide.

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