---
title: "Twilio’s 2026 Heightened Awareness Period: Ensuring Reliable Messaging for Peak Season"
description: "Twilio has scheduled two 2026 Heightened Awareness Periods (HAPs) to manage messaging throughput during U.S. midterm election traffic and the Black Friday/Cyber Monday and holiday shopping surge. During these windows, high-volume short code and toll-free traffic shifts temporarily to Market Throughput, while 10DLC remains on Account-Based Throughput and RCS uses standard per-sender limits; contracted limits are honored. Most users need no action, but election senders should contact their account team by October 1, 2026, and holiday senders face deadlines for RCS approval, throughput review, A2P 10DLC requests, and supplementary orders. The election HAP runs November 2–4, 2026, while the holiday HAP runs November 19, 2026, through January 4, 2027; capacity is limited and allocated first come, first served."
---

# Twilio’s 2026 Heightened Awareness Period: Ensuring Reliable Messaging for Peak Season

[Twilio](https://yomu.fyi/company/twilio) · Sep 17, 2026

**Type:** Announcement

## Summary

Twilio has scheduled two 2026 Heightened Awareness Periods (HAPs) to manage messaging throughput during U.S. midterm election traffic and the Black Friday/Cyber Monday and holiday shopping surge. During these windows, high-volume short code and toll-free traffic shifts temporarily to Market Throughput, while 10DLC remains on Account-Based Throughput and RCS uses standard per-sender limits; contracted limits are honored. Most users need no action, but election senders should contact their account team by October 1, 2026, and holiday senders face deadlines for RCS approval, throughput review, A2P 10DLC requests, and supplementary orders. The election HAP runs November 2–4, 2026, while the holiday HAP runs November 19, 2026, through January 4, 2027; capacity is limited and allocated first come, first served.

## Context

The two HAPs cover U.S. midterm election messaging from November 2 to November 4, 2026, and BFCM and holiday traffic from November 19, 2026, to January 4, 2027. They apply to U.S.-bound traffic using toll-free numbers, short codes, 10DLC numbers, and RCS senders.

## Approach / What changed

Twilio will monitor and manage throughput during each HAP. High-volume short code and toll-free traffic temporarily uses Market Throughput, 10DLC stays on Account-Based Throughput, and RCS follows standard per-sender limits. Accounts can work with their Twilio account team to request capacity, complete supplementary order forms, and lock in contracted throughput.

## Takeaways

- High-volume short code and toll-free traffic temporarily shifts to Market Throughput during both HAPs, while 10DLC remains on Account-Based Throughput and RCS uses standard per-sender limits.
- Election senders should contact their account team by October 1, return the supplementary order form by October 16, and finalize throughput locks by October 26, 2026.
- Holiday preparation includes submitting new RCS senders by October 1, reviewing throughput by October 31, requesting extra A2P 10DLC capacity by November 2, and signing the supplementary order form by November 13, 2026.

## FAQ

### Which throughput model applies to each messaging channel during the HAPs?

High-volume short code and toll-free traffic temporarily uses Market Throughput. 10DLC numbers remain on Account-Based Throughput, while RCS senders use standard per-sender throughput limits; contracted account limits remain honored.

### Do most Twilio users need to change their messaging setup?

Most users do not need to take action. Businesses or campaigns relying on high-volume messaging should contact their Twilio account team early to evaluate needs and secure capacity.

### What happens when a Heightened Awareness Period ends?

Affected accounts return to their standard pre-HAP sending limits after each period. Contracted elevated throughput remains in place for the agreed term if an account signed an order form covering continued capacity.

**Tags:** [RCS](https://yomu.fyi/topic/rcs), [SMS](https://yomu.fyi/topic/sms), [Twilio](https://yomu.fyi/topic/twilio)

- Source: [Twilio](https://www.twilio.com/en-us/blog/products/messaging-hap-2026)
- Source URL: https://www.twilio.com/en-us/blog/products/messaging-hap-2026
- Ingested by Yomu: 2026-09-18T06:00:13.928Z

[Read original post](https://www.twilio.com/en-us/blog/products/messaging-hap-2026)