Public services across the United States adjust their schedules during federal holidays, and postal services are among those affected. Customers planning to send or receive mail in October will need to account for a temporary pause in regular operations.
USPS Offices Close Nationwide On October 12
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has confirmed that post offices nationwide will close for one day in recognition of a federal holiday, with regular services returning the following day.
All USPS post office locations will be closed on Monday, October 12, for the observance of Columbus Day. Regular mail services will be suspended across the country on that day and are expected to resume on Tuesday, October 13.
The closure may affect customers who need to send packages, purchase postal services or collect items directly from post office locations. The United States also observes Indigenous Peoples’ Day on the same date, a holiday that recognises the history and culture of Native American communities and other Indigenous peoples.
Customers Can Still Use Some USPS Services
Although post office buildings will be closed, some postal services will remain available through digital and automated options. Customers will still be able to use the USPS website and self-service kiosks located in selected post office lobbies.
These kiosks allow customers to complete several tasks, including printing postage for Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express and international shipments, purchasing stamps, weighing packages and checking tracking information.
The USPS has expanded these self-service options as part of changes to its retail network, with some kiosks available around the clock.
More Automated Options Available For Postal Customers
The USPS has continued developing additional services designed to make postal transactions easier outside traditional counter hours. Some locations now include options such as Rapid Dropoff Stations, where customers can leave packages after creating and printing labels online.
Other services include printing shipping labels through merchant-provided QR codes and using USPS Smart Lockers for package drop-offs and collections. These alternatives allow customers to complete some postal tasks even when physical counters are unavailable.
Some Priority Mail Express Deliveries May Continue
While regular mail operations will pause on October 12, certain Priority Mail Express deliveries may still take place. The USPS delivered Priority Mail Express packages during Columbus Day in 2025, although the agency has not yet confirmed whether the same arrangement will apply in 2026.
Customers with urgent shipments are advised to check delivery details before the holiday closure.
Federal Holiday Continues To Affect Postal Schedules
Columbus Day has been observed in the United States since 1792 and became an official federal holiday in 1971. The holiday marks the anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas in 1492. In recent years, many communities and institutions have also recognised Indigenous Peoples’ Day on the same date.
For postal customers, the main effect will be a one-day pause in regular USPS operations before services return on October 13.
