Christmas and New Year 2026: crossing the Windsor–Detroit border
Holiday visits, Boxing Day shopping and New Year’s trips keep the bridges and the Tunnel busy from mid-December to early January. Here’s when to expect lines, what to do with gifts and how much you can bring home.
Wait times right now
Official figures as of 10:29 PM ET. They refresh every few minutes on the live page, which also has driver reports.
The short version
- Busy days: the days before Christmas, Boxing Day weekend, and Sunday, January 3, heading home.
- Gifts: wrap them after you cross, and declare everything you bring back.
- Same-day trip: no duty-free amount. 24+ hours: CAN$200. 48+ hours: CAN$800.
- Check all three crossings before you leave; the shortest line changes through the day.
Holiday dates on both sides
| Date | Holiday | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, Dec 24 | Christmas Eve | Not a statutory holiday; many leave early |
| Fri, Dec 25 | Christmas Day | Canada and U.S. |
| Sat, Dec 26 | Boxing Day | Canada (Ontario stat holiday) |
| Thu, Dec 31 | New Year’s Eve | Not a statutory holiday |
| Fri, Jan 1 | New Year’s Day | Canada and U.S. |
Ontario workers whose holiday falls on a weekend get a substitute day off. See Ontario stat holidays on HolidayCalendar.ca for observed days.
Gifts and shopping
- Leave gifts unwrapped until you cross. Officers may need to inspect them.
- Gifts count toward your personal exemption when you come back to Canada. Keep receipts together.
- U.S.-made goods beyond your exemption can carry Canada’s 2026 surtax on top of duty and taxes.
- Food and alcohol for holiday meals have their own rules. See the duty-free limits guide.
Spend less time at the border
- Cross early in the day. Afternoons and evenings are usually busier in both directions.
- Check the 7-day forecast and the best times to cross before planning a holiday visit.
- Red Wings and Pistons home games add evening traffic. See Detroit game days.
- Winter weather slows the bridges. Leave extra time and check the live times before you head home.
- Have passports, NEXUS cards or enhanced licences ready for everyone in the car, including children.
Common questions
When are the Christmas and New Year holidays in 2026?
Christmas Day is Friday, December 25, 2026, a holiday in both Canada and the U.S. Boxing Day, Saturday, December 26, is a Canadian holiday only. New Year’s Day is Friday, January 1, 2027, a holiday in both countries, so both holidays create three-day weekends.
When is the border busiest over Christmas?
Expect more traffic on the days before Christmas as families travel, on Boxing Day weekend as shoppers cross, and on Sunday, January 3, 2027, as people head home after New Year’s. Check the live times and the 7-day forecast before you leave.
Can I bring wrapped gifts across the border?
You can, but border officers may need to open them, so it is easier to wrap gifts after you cross. Declare every gift you bring back to Canada.
Do gifts count toward my duty-free exemption?
Yes. Gifts you bring back count toward your personal exemption like anything else you buy: none on a same-day trip, up to CAN$200 after 24 hours away and up to CAN$800 after 48 hours.
Are the Windsor-Detroit crossings open on Christmas Day?
The Ambassador Bridge, the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel and the Gordie Howe Bridge normally stay open on holidays. Check the live times on the day, and our closure banners if anything is scheduled.
Official sources
This page is independent and not affiliated with CBSA, CBP or any bridge operator. Not legal or tax advice.