Shipping deadlines for Christmas 2026

The holiday season is the busiest time of year for online retailers, and ensuring your customers receive their orders before Christmas is crucial. After all, few things spoil a Christmas faster than a gift that doesn’t arrive on time.

To help you navigate the festive shipping rush and deliver when it matters most, we've compiled key shipping deadlines and some handy tips for a smooth delivery experience.

Whether you’re delivering holiday cheer down the road, across the country, or around the world, make sure you can make and keep accurate delivery promises.

Key shipping dates for Australia and New Zealand domestic

The following dates are based on a combination of historical Shippit transit time data from the same time period in 2025, and the carriers' indicative dates for cut off.

Standard services

• For standard orders, book and dispatch by Wednesday 16th December to arrive before Christmas day

Express services

• For express orders, book and dispatch by Monday 21st December to arrive before Christmas day

Priority and on demand services

• For priority orders, book before 9am on Tuesday 22nd December for delivery same day

• For on demand orders, book before 9am on Wednesday 23rd December for delivery same day

Key shipping dates for international shipping

The following dates are important for retailers with international shoppers. The dates are based on a combination of historical Shippit transit time data from the same time period in 2025, and the carriers' indicative dates for cut off.

Carrier shipping dates

Individual carriers also publish their own individual cut-off dates for the holiday season. You can see the dates for individual carriers for 2026 below:

Australian carriers:

• Allied Express

• Aramex

• Australia Post

• Couriers Please

• Dragonfly

Last Shipment Dates Before Christmas

• Metro-to-Metro: 21 December 2026

• Middle-Mile: 18 December 2026

Final Linehaul Operating Date Before Christmas 22 or 23rd December 2026 (confirmation to follow)

Operating Days Over the Christmas and New Year Period

Operations are currently planned to run on all weekdays, with the following public holidays excluded: 25 December 2026 (Christmas Day) closed; 28 December 2026 (Additional Christmas public holiday) closed; 1 January 2027 (New Year's Day) closed. These arrangements will remain subject to review as Dragonfly approaches peak, and any changes to operating schedules or delivery cut-off dates will be communicated as further details are confirmed.

• Hunter Express

• Seko Logistics

• Team Global Express (TGE)

New Zealand carriers:

• NZ Post

• Aramex New Zealand

Note: We’ll continue to add specific carriers to this list, when they announce their individual cut-offs. 

Public holidays and closure dates

Shippit is closed on all local public holidays between December 2026 and January 2027, but support for critical incidents is available during those days at 1800 931 562.

Carrier pickups and Shippit support is limited between Christmas and New Year (27-31 December), and you might experience delays during this period.

For all key retail dates, transit times, and aggregate cut-offs, click here.

Best practices for peak period shipping

To ensure your operation is ready for peak, see the get ready for peak season article.