Apple's first holiday cutoff is Monday 9 November. If you have an ebook coming out between now and the new year, each store counts your file deadline a different way. This post puts them on one page, so you can print it and pin it up.

The lesson this week: for one release date, work out every store's deadline, then plan to the earliest one.

The rules, side by side

  • Apple Books. Apple has a special holiday table with a fixed delivery date for each release date, about two to three weeks ahead. Source: Apple Books Partner Support, 14 October 2026.
  • Kindle (KDP ebook pre-order). Upload the final manuscript and submit at least 72 hours before release. KDP counts release dates in GMT. Source: KDP Help: Setting up pre-orders.
  • Kobo Writing Life (direct). Upload the final file at least 3 business days before release. Source: KWL Guide to Pre-Orders, updated 18 September 2026.
  • Draft2Digital (to Smashwords, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble and Kobo). Upload files at least 10 business days before release. Source: Draft2Digital press release, 29 September 2026.

All four pages were checked again on 2 November 2026. Only Apple has posted a special holiday table. The other three lines are each store's normal pre-order rule, which still applies in December.

What happens if you miss it also differs. Apple says a late book "may not be available on the desired release date". KDP says a pre-order not submitted in time is cancelled. Kobo delists a pre-order still missing its file 14 days after release.

Each rule has its own post: Apple's full holiday table, Kindle pre-orders, Kobo direct and Draft2Digital and Smashwords.

One release date, worked through

Say your ebook comes out on Monday 21 December.

  • Apple Books: Apple's table gives a delivery date of Monday 7 December.
  • Draft2Digital: 10 business days back is also Monday 7 December.
  • Kobo direct: 3 business days back is Wednesday 16 December.
  • Kindle: 72 hours before release is Friday 18 December, in GMT.

The earliest date is 7 December, so that is your real deadline for every store. Put your own reminder a week before it.

Three steps for this week

  1. Write your release date at the top of a sheet of paper. One book per sheet.
  2. Fill in one line per store you use. Use the list above. Circle the earliest date.
  3. Leave the week of 21 to 28 December alone if you can. Apple says it does "not recommend making changes between December 21 and December 28, 2026". Planned price or cover changes can go in earlier. If you do change files on KDP, our post on downloading your files first is worth a look.

A small example

This one is made up. Joan has a Christmas short story collection, wide on Apple through Draft2Digital and direct on Kobo, with the Kindle edition on KDP. She picks Monday 21 December. Her sheet shows 7 December at the top, circled twice. She sets a reminder for 30 November and has her files uploaded everywhere by 4 December, well before Apple's quiet week.

One sheet, one circled date. That is the whole plan.