The U.S. Postal Service announced on February 17, 2026, in Washington, D.C., the return of a dedicated Happy Birthday Forever stamp after a five-year hiatus, alongside a new nonprofit-price Summer Sunset stamp, while revealing first-day-of-issue dates and locations for several spring and early summer 2026 releases.
The Happy Birthday stamp marks the first occasion-specific issuance for birthdays since 2021. It features artwork by illustrator Lisa Congdon, depicting a large white birthday cake with pink trim, art directed by Greg Breeding. Lisa Bobb-Semple, USPS stamp services director, stated: “I am excited that we are issuing new Happy Birthday stamps. Many customers have submitted ideas for occasion-specific stamps such as these and we are pleased to be able to fulfill this request from the public.” The stamp will debut April 18, 2026, in Providence, RI 02904.
The Summer Sunset stamp, a nondenominated nonprofit-price issue for bulk mailings by authorized organizations, showcases an oil painting of a sunset in Menemsha, a fishing village in Chilmark on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, by local artist Rachael Cassiani. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp and commented: “Sunsets are universally appealing. A postage stamp that celebrates looking out over a body of water at the end of a summer day seems to fit well for a nonprofit organization.” It will be available in self-adhesive coils of 3,000 and 10,000, with issuance on June 25, 2026, in Edgartown, MA 02539, without a ceremony.
The announcement also detailed first-day locations for other 2026 stamps:
- Figures of the American Revolution: April 10, Washington, DC 20066
- A Day at the Beach (local ceremony): April 24, Burlingame, CA 94010
- Route 66: May 5, Phoenix, AZ 85026
- Bald Eagle: Hatchling to Adult: May 14, Wabasha, MN 55981
- Declaration of Independence: July 4, Philadelphia, PA 19104
These join earlier 2026 releases such as Love stamps on January 13 in Kansas City, MO, and others previewed in October 2025. Designs remain preliminary and subject to change, with additional subjects expected in coming announcements.
The USPS stamp program highlights cultural, historical, and scenic themes, with Forever stamps valid indefinitely for First-Class Mail one-ounce rates. Nonprofit stamps support bulk mailing efficiencies for qualifying organizations. Customers can purchase stamps via The Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by phone at 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic, or at Post Offices nationwide. More details appear at stampsforever.com.
While the announcement carries national scope, stamp collecting maintains steady interest in Southern Maryland communities, where philatelic clubs and Post Offices in places like Leonardtown and La Plata often host events tied to new issuances. The Happy Birthday stamp’s return addresses public demand for personalized mailing options, potentially appealing to families sending cards in the region.