The U.S. Postal Service announced a preliminary lineup of stamps for 2026 on Thursday, showcasing pop culture icons, historical figures and natural symbols that reflect American heritage and artistry.
The release includes 19 stamp designs, from low-denomination florals to commemorative panes marking anniversaries and cultural milestones. Officials described the selections as miniature artworks that connect users to broader narratives of people, places and events. Additional stamps will follow in subsequent announcements, with designs subject to potential changes.
“This early preview of our 2026 stamp program underscores the Postal Service’s commitment to celebrating the artistry and storytelling that make stamps so special,” said Lisa Bobb-Semple, the organization’s Stamp Services director. “Each stamp is a small work of art — an entryway into a larger story that connects people, places and moments in history. This year, we continue to honor that legacy with a diverse range of subjects and designs, from beloved series and commemorative anniversaries to bold new releases that will inspire and excite collectors and admirers alike.”
The stamps span categories including flowers, sports legends, civil rights pioneers and wildlife. Issuance dates range from January through later in the year, with first-day ceremonies planned in cities tied to each theme.
Leading the floral series, a 4-cent Angel’s Trumpets stamp continues the low-denomination lineup that began in 2024 with stamps depicting fringed tulips, daffodils, peonies, red tulips and poppies with coneflowers. Photographer Harold Davis captured the images by backlighting flowers on a lightbox and layering multiple exposures for a translucent effect. Art director Ethel Kessler oversaw the design. These stamps will appear in panes of 20 and coils of 10,000.
Sports enthusiasts will recognize the Muhammad Ali stamp, honoring the three-time heavyweight champion and activist known as “The Greatest.” Born in 1942 and passing in 2016, Ali challenged opponents and societal norms alike, emerging as a global icon. The design incorporates a 1974 Associated Press photo, with the name “ALI” stacked vertically to evoke posters, ring movement and crowd chants. Art director Antonio Alcalá handled the layout. The stamp issues Jan. 15 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Romance takes flight in the Love (2026) stamp, featuring stylized birds amid heart-filled scenes. Artist James Yang drew from mid-century American graphics and Japanese children’s book styles for the illustrations. Kessler directed the project.
State pride features in the Colorado Statehood stamp, marking the 38th state’s 150th anniversary in 2026 — a century after U.S. independence. The image highlights Jagged Mountain in the Weminuche Wilderness of San Juan National Forest, photographed by the late John Fielder. Art director Derry Noyes designed it for release Jan. 24 in Denver.
The Black Heritage series advances with Phillis Wheatley, the 49th entry commemorating the enslaved poet born around 1753 and dying in 1784. Credited as the first African-descended author to publish a book in the colonies, she bridged education and elite circles in Boston, earning the title “mother of African American literature.” Alcalá designed the stamp using a portrait by artist Kerry James Marshall. It debuts Jan. 29 in Boston.
Lunar New Year festivities arrive with the Year of the Horse stamp, the seventh in the current zodiac series that started in 2020. This paper-cut mask by Camille Chew joins prior animal designs in a tradition dating back three USPS cycles. Photographer Sally Andersen-Bruce captured the image, with Alcalá as art director. The stamp issues Feb. 3 in Houston.
Martial arts legacy shines in the Bruce Lee stamp, saluting the Chinese American actor and fighter born in 1940 and dying in 1973. As Hollywood’s first Asian leading man, Lee influenced fans worldwide with his athleticism and presence. Artist Kam Mak painted Lee mid-flying kick against a yellow brushstroke nodding to his “Game of Death” tracksuit. Alcalá angled text to suggest motion breaking the frame.
Textile artistry appears in the Harriet Powers stamps, drawn from the quiltmaker’s 1898 “Pictorial Quilt” blending biblical tales and Georgia folklore. Enslaved on a plantation near Athens until 1837, Powers created folk art masterpieces from 1837 to 1910. Noyes incorporated quilt details into the pane design.
Automotive culture rolls out in the Lowriders stamps, tracing customized cars to 1940s Mexican American communities in the Southwest. Five vehicles — a 1946 Chevrolet Fleetline, 1958 and 1963 Chevrolet Impalas, 1964 Impala and 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme — display hydraulic lifts, custom paint and wheels. Photographers Philip Gordon and Humberto “Beto” Mendoza provided images, with Alcalá adding Gothic typography and pinstriping.
Gardeners and ecologists will appreciate the Sunflowers stamp in booklets of 20, illustrating the plant’s role as a nectar source for pollinators and seeds for wildlife. Illustrator Nancy Stahl minimized colors for vibrancy in the compact format; she has contributed over 40 USPS designs. Art director Greg Breeding finalized the digital artwork.
Coastal relaxation defines A Day at the Beach stamps, inspired by New England summers. Painter Gregory Manchess captured scenes with “fresh, bold spontaneity,” per Noyes, who praised his efficiency in small-scale essence. “These little snapshots are reminiscent of those experiences — a break from busy lives and demands throughout the year,” Noyes said. “He captures the essence of the subject, even at a very small scale. Greg has managed to make these scenes instantly recognizable with just the right amount of visual information.”
The semiquincentennial of U.S. independence prompts two panes: Figures of the American Revolution, spotlighting 25 contributors from thinkers to citizens, illustrated by 13 modern artists under Kessler’s direction; and Declaration of Independence, with typographic “1776” formed by quill pens. Designer Juan Carlos Pagan worked with Breeding.
Literary regionalism gets its due in the Sarah Orne Jewett stamp, the 35th in the Literary Arts series. The Maine native (1849-1909) penned stories, novels and essays featuring resilient women, including “The Country of the Pointed Firs.” Artist Mark Summers portrayed her against a sunlit coast. Kessler directed.
Wildlife charm emerges in Squirrels & Chipmunks in Winter, a 20-stamp booklet showing eastern chipmunks, gray squirrels and red squirrels foraging amid snow. Noyes noted the playful emergence of faces: “When you see the booklet as a whole, the animals’ faces popping up from the snow has a playful effect. The stamps are fun and uplifting. I hope they make people smile, especially in the heart of winter.”
Travel history revs up with Route 66 stamps for the highway’s centennial. Spanning 2,400 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles across eight states, the “Mother Road” symbolized post-Depression mobility, as coined by John Steinbeck. Photographer David Schwartz’s images, doubled per state, frame a selvage shot of Arizona’s Crookton hills.
National symbols return in Bald Eagle: Hatchling to Adult, tracing life stages via David Allen Sibley’s paintings. Noyes designed the pane, with Sibley explaining: “While the bald eagle is known to virtually all Americans as our national bird, few people know much about them. Showing the series of life stages in these stamps is a simple and visual way to emphasize that the familiar adult eagle has already lived through a series of transitional plumages, finding food, migrating and surviving all of life’s challenges. I hope these stamps spark curiosity and a greater appreciation for the lives of eagles.”
The American Bison stamp layers a modern Tom Murphy photo with intaglio reprint of a 1923 design, marking rebound from near-extinction. Breeding integrated the elements.
Global harmony folds into the International Peace stamp, featuring Sue DiCicco’s origami crane photographed by Andersen-Bruce. Alcalá designed the hopeful emblem.
The USPS stamp program, active since 1840, issues thousands annually, blending philately with cultural preservation. In 2025 alone, over 200 million stamps entered circulation, sustaining traditions amid digital shifts. Collectors anticipate full 2026 details as ceremonies approach, offering tangible links to shared stories.