An Post issues Christmas dates for 2026 – here’s when to send your cards and parcels

They’ve covered everything from standard letters and parcels to international deliveries.

With millions of people relying on the postal service to send gifts and festive greetings to family and friends around the world, An Post is encouraging customers to post early to avoid disappointment.

The dates vary depending on where you're sending your post and which service you're using, so it's worth checking the deadlines before heading to your local post office.

Last Christmas posting dates for 2026

For anyone sending post within Ireland, the deadlines are slightly later than those for international destinations.

The recommended last posting dates are:

Republic of Ireland

• Standard post letters and large envelopes: December 21st
• Standard post parcels: December 18th
• Registered post letters and large envelopes: December 21st
• Express post letters and large envelopes: December 21st

Northern Ireland

• Standard post letters and large envelopes: December 18th
• Standard post parcels: December 18th
• Registered post letters and large envelopes: December 18th
• Express post letters and large envelopes: December 18th

Great Britain

• Standard post letters and large envelopes: December 17th
• Standard post parcels: December 17th
• Registered post letters and large envelopes: December 18th
• Express post letters and large envelopes: December 18th

Rest of Europe

• Standard post letters and large envelopes: December 17th
• Standard post parcels: December 17th
• Registered post letters and large envelopes: December 17th
• Express post letters and large envelopes: December 17th

USA

• Standard post letters and large envelopes: December 11th
• Standard post parcels: December 8th
• Registered post letters and large envelopes: December 8th
• Express post letters and large envelopes: December 10th

Rest of the world

• Standard post letters and large envelopes: December 7th
• Standard post parcels: December 8th
• Registered post letters and large envelopes: December 8th
• Express post letters and large envelopes: December 8th

For those sending gifts further afield, An Post also offers an International Courier Service at selected post offices, with recommended last posting dates ranging from December 18th to December 22nd depending on the destination.

An Post has also advised that international delivery times are estimates and can be affected by delays with local postal operators.

You can find the full Christmas posting schedule and further delivery information on the An Post website.