The U.S. Postal Service will unveil a set of eight stamps commemorating the centennial of Route 66 during a first-day-of-issue ceremony at the National Postal Forum in Phoenix on May 5, 2026. The event, open to the public at no cost, highlights the historic highway’s enduring legacy as a symbol of American adventure and mobility.
Jeffery A. Adams, USPS corporate communications vice president, will lead the dedication alongside Rod Reid, chairman of the United States Route 66 Centennial Commission, and David J. Schwartz, the photographer whose images grace the stamps. Scheduled for 9:15 a.m. Mountain time in the Phoenix Convention Center lobby at 100 N. 3rd Street, the ceremony requires no forum tickets. Attendees can RSVP at usps.com/route66stamps to help organizers plan.
The stamps capture Route 66’s spirit through Schwartz’s photographs, each depicting a site from one of the eight states the highway traverses: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Issued in a pane of 16, the designs repeat twice, with the selvage showing a stretch of the road rolling through hills in Crookton, Arizona, evoking the promise of open horizons. Greg Breeding, a USPS art director, designed the pane using Schwartz’s existing work.
Established Nov. 11, 1926, Route 66 originally spanned about 2,400 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica, California, linking rural areas and fostering economic growth. Nicknamed “The Mother Road” by John Steinbeck in “The Grapes of Wrath,” it served as a lifeline during the Great Depression for migrants heading west and embodied postwar optimism. Travelers encountered mom-and-pop cafes, drive-in restaurants, souvenir shops, roadside curiosities, neon-lit motels and gas stations that defined the journey’s charm.
The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 funded the interstate system, leading to Route 66’s decommissioning in 1985 as segments were bypassed. Yet portions remain drivable, drawing tourists seeking nostalgia and freedom. The centennial celebrates this cultural icon, with the stamps joining other initiatives to preserve its history.
Congress created the Route 66 Centennial Commission through Public Law 116-256, signed Dec. 23, 2020, to recommend fitting commemorations. The 15-member body, appointed by the president based on input from the transportation secretary, eight state governors and congressional leaders, focuses on preservation, tourism, education and economic development. Under Reid’s leadership, the commission has advanced projects like a national historic trail designation and a grant program supporting businesses along the route. It also backed the USPS stamp effort, viewing it as a way to spotlight the highway’s role in American identity.
Schwartz, a Lakewood, Ohio-based photographer, first drove Route 66 in 2004 and developed a passion for capturing its Americana essence. His work, featured in media like PBS, documents the road’s landmarks and stories. “It’s given me a real appreciation for history and a real appreciation for America,” Schwartz said in a 2026 interview with WYSO. His images for the stamps include varied scenes that reflect each state’s unique contribution to the Route 66 narrative.
The National Postal Forum, hosting the unveiling, serves as the mailing and shipping industry’s key gathering for education, exhibits and networking. By choosing this venue, USPS ties the stamps to broader themes of connectivity and innovation in delivery services.
Public interest in the stamps builds on Route 66’s pop culture status, seen in songs like Nat King Cole’s “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66” and films such as “Cars.” Preservation groups maintain attractions like the Blue Whale of Catoosa in Oklahoma and the Wigwam Motel in Arizona, ensuring the road’s allure for new generations.
USPS announced the 2026 stamp lineup in October 2025, positioning the Route 66 set among honors for figures like Muhammad Ali and events like the Declaration of Independence bicentennial. Dedication details underscore the agency’s commitment to cultural storytelling through philately.
As the centennial approaches, the stamps invite collectors and travelers to revisit Route 66’s path. News spreads via #Route66Stamps, encouraging shares of personal road trip tales. The event in Phoenix offers a chance to witness history, much like the highway itself once opened doors to discovery.