Get a sneak preview of next year’s USPS stamp designs

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Postal Service has unveiled an early look at its 2026 stamp lineup, featuring designs that celebrate icons such as Muhammad Ali and Bruce Lee, mark milestones like Colorado’s 150th anniversary and Route 66’s centennial, and honor themes from love and peace to America’s founding ideals.

This is a partial list of the stamps that will be issued in 2026, with more to be announced in the coming weeks. All designs are preliminary and subject to change.

4-Cent Angel’s Trumpets

Following the 2024 releases of other low-denomination flower stamps — including the 1-cent Fringed Tulip, 2-cent Daffodils, 3-cent Peonies, 5-cent Red Tulips, and 10-cent Poppies and Coneflowers — the 4-cent Angel’s Trumpets stamp continues the popular floral series. Photographer Harold Davis created the luminous images by backlighting the flowers on a lightbox and blending multiple exposures for a translucent effect. USPS art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamps, which will be available in panes of 20 and coils of 10,000.

Muhammad Ali

Honoring the legendary "Greatest," Muhammad Ali (1942–2016), this stamp celebrates the three-time world heavyweight champion whose courage, charisma, and convictions made him a global icon. The design features a 1974 Associated Press photograph, with "ALI" printed in alternating directions to evoke the energy of his movements, his promotional style, and the chants that greeted him worldwide. Designed by USPS art director Antonio Alcalá, the Muhammad Ali stamps will be issued Jan. 15 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Love (2026)

Artist James Yang brings playful charm to the 2026 Love stamp series, drawing inspiration from mid-century American design and Japanese children’s book illustrations. His art features pairs of stylized birds surrounded by hearts that appear — like love itself — in delightful, unexpected ways. USPS art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamps.

Colorado Statehood

In celebration of Colorado’s 150th anniversary, this stamp highlights the majestic beauty of the Rocky Mountains with a photograph of Jagged Mountain in the Weminuche Wilderness of the San Juan National Forest. Designed by USPS art director Derry Noyes using a photograph by the late Colorado nature photographer John Fielder (1950–2023), the Colorado Statehood stamp will be issued Jan. 24 in Denver.

Black Heritage: Phillis Wheatley

The 49th stamp in the Black Heritage series honors Phillis Wheatley (circa 1753–1784), the first author of African descent in the American Colonies to publish a book. Enslaved and educated in Boston, Wheatley became a literary trailblazer often called the "mother of African American literature." Designed by Antonio Alcalá, the stamp features a portrait by acclaimed artist Kerry James Marshall. It will be issued Jan. 29 in Boston.

Lunar New Year: Year of the Horse

The Postal Service continues its third Lunar New Year series with a stamp celebrating the Year of the Horse. Featuring a paper-cut mask by artist Camille Chew, photographed by Sally Andersen-Bruce, the design honors one of the world’s most celebrated cultural traditions. Antonio Alcalá served as art director. The stamp will be issued Feb. 3 in Houston.

Bruce Lee

This stamp honors Bruce Lee (1940–1973), the trailblazing martial artist, actor, and filmmaker who became the first Asian leading man in American cinema. Artist Kam Mak depicts Lee mid–flying kick against a bold yellow brushstroke background — a nod to his iconic "Game of Death" tracksuit. Designed by Antonio Alcalá, the stamp’s typography appears as though Lee’s kick is breaking it apart.

Harriet Powers

Quiltmaker Harriet Powers (1837–1910) transformed fabric into storytelling art that continues to inspire. Born enslaved near Athens, Georgia, Powers became known for her intricate narrative quilts blending biblical stories and local folklore. Derry Noyes designed the stamps and pane using details from Powers’s 1898 Pictorial Quilt, a masterpiece of American folk art.

Lowriders

Celebrating an enduring symbol of Chicano culture, the Lowriders stamps showcase five custom cars: a 1946 Chevrolet Fleetline (Let the Good Times Roll/Soy Como Soy), a 1958 Chevrolet Impala (Eight Figures), a 1963 Impala (El Rey), a 1964 Impala (The Golden Rose), and a 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme (Pocket Change). The Gothic-style lettering and pinstriping echo the artistry of these cars. Designed by Antonio Alcalá with photographs by Philip Gordon and Humberto "Beto" Mendoza.

Sunflowers

Bright and bold, the Sunflowers stamps celebrate one of nature’s most recognizable blooms. Illustrator Nancy Stahl, who has designed more than 40 USPS stamps, used minimal colors to heighten the flower’s brilliance. Designed by Greg Breeding, the stamps will be issued in booklets of 20.

A Day at the Beach

Evoking the joy of a seaside getaway, this series captures the carefree essence of summer. Inspired by her New England beach trips, USPS art director Derry Noyes collaborated with artist Gregory Manchess, whose oil paintings radiate freshness and spontaneity. "He captures the essence of the subject, even at a very small scale," Noyes said.

Figures of the American Revolution

Marking the nation’s 250th anniversary, this pane honors 25 figures who shaped the Revolution — from political thinkers and soldiers to writers and everyday citizens. Designed by Ethel Kessler, the pane features original artwork by 13 contemporary artists.

Route 66

The centennial of Route 66, "The Mother Road," is celebrated with a pane of 16 stamps featuring photographs by David Schwartz. Each image spotlights the highway’s journey through eight states, from Chicago to Los Angeles. The selvage photo shows the open road winding through Crookton, Arizona — the longest drivable stretch of the historic route.

Bald Eagle: Hatchling to Adult

A fresh take on the national bird, this pane depicts the bald eagle at different life stages, painted by ornithologist and illustrator David Allen Sibley. Designed by Derry Noyes, the stamps reveal the eagle’s transformation from hatchling to soaring adult. "I hope these stamps spark curiosity and a greater appreciation for the lives of eagles," Sibley said.

American Bison

This design honors America’s national mammal with a striking photograph of a bison paired with artwork reminiscent of a 1923 stamp — a tribute to both conservation and philatelic history. Greg Breeding designed the stamp using Tom Murphy’s photograph and the historic artwork, printed in intaglio.

International Peace

Symbolizing hope and healing, this stamp features a photograph of an origami crane folded by artist and Peace Crane Project founder Sue DiCicco, photographed by Sally Andersen-Bruce. Designed by Antonio Alcalá, it celebrates the universal aspiration for peace.

Declaration of Independence

Commemorating the 250th anniversary of America’s founding document, this stamp features a bold typographic design of "1776," with each numeral shaped like a quill pen. Created by Juan Carlos Pagan under the direction of Greg Breeding, the design pays tribute to the Declaration’s enduring ideals.

Sarah Orne Jewett

The 35th installment in the Literary Arts series honors Maine author Sarah Orne Jewett (1849–1909), a pioneer of American literary regionalism known for her portrayals of strong women and coastal life. Designed by Ethel Kessler using a portrait by Mark Summers, the stamp evokes her classic novel The Country of the Pointed Firs (1896).

Squirrels & Chipmunks in Winter

Capturing the lively spirit of small wildlife, this booklet of 20 stamps features eastern chipmunks, an eastern gray squirrel, and an American red squirrel. Designed by Derry Noyes, the playful scenes depict these creatures thriving in snow-covered settings. "I hope they make people smile, especially in the heart of winter," Noyes said.

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