The U.S. Postal Service released its 2026 Love stamps on January 13, 2026, featuring four Forever stamp designs that depict stylized pairs of birds in a colorful world where hearts appear in sweet and surprising ways. Illustrator James Yang created the artwork, drawing inspiration from midcentury American design and Japanese children’s book illustrations. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamps using Yang’s images.
The stamps are available in sheets of 20 and serve as Forever stamps, maintaining value equal to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce rate regardless of future increases. Customers can purchase them at Post Office locations nationwide, online at the USPS Postal Store, by phone or through licensed products on Amazon. The release coincides with preparations for Valentine’s Day mailings, weddings, anniversaries and other expressions of affection, continuing the Love series that began in 1973.
Yang described birds as a versatile metaphor for couples. “I am a big fan of midcentury design and love the rendering of birds by Charles and Ray Eames and by children’s book artists of the era,” Yang said. “At the time the stamp art was created, I was also working on the children’s book ‘Bus! Stop!,’ which features two birds throughout the storyline.” He noted that birds allowed playful exploration of affection themes.
The four scenes include a bird duo inspecting leafy branches adorned with small white hearts; a blue bird presenting a heart-shaped flower to a red bird; two white birds resting in a nest beneath a heart-shaped moon; and a pair of birds exploring a flurry of orange and yellow hearts falling like petals.
The announcement originated from Sarasota, Fla., with the first-day issuance in Kansas City, Mo. News of the stamps spreads under the hashtag #LoveStamps. This release follows a sneak peek of 2026 stamps provided by USPS in October 2025, which previewed the Love designs alongside other subjects.
While the stamps hold national appeal for collectors and everyday mail use, they connect to Southern Maryland through the region’s active philatelic community and local Post Offices in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties, where residents can acquire the new issues. The colorful, nature-inspired designs align with Southern Maryland’s waterfront and avian-rich environment along the Chesapeake Bay and Patuxent River, where birdwatching remains popular. Previous Love stamps have been featured in local coverage, reflecting community interest in postal artistry. The 2026 edition adds to a tradition of stamps that celebrate universal themes accessible to all Americans, including those in Southern Maryland.
The USPS emphasizes the stamps’ role in personal correspondence and as collectibles. Additional 2026 stamps will be announced throughout the year.
