The 2026 USPS preview is a release program, not an investment forecast. USPS says preview designs and details can change. A subject becomes a documented issue only when a final issue page or Postal Bulletin confirms its date, location, denomination and format.
2026 subjects by theme
| Theme | Examples |
|---|---|
| People and culture | Muhammad Ali, Phillis Wheatley, Bruce Lee, Mister Rogers, Sarah Orne Jewett, Linda Mc Cartney and Barbie |
| History and place | Colorado Statehood, Route 66, Declaration of Independence, Figures of the American Revolution and Treasures of the Revolutionary Era |
| Nature and science | Galaxy Pair, Crab Nebula, Sunflowers, Bald Eagle, American Bison, Bufflehead and Summer Sunset |
| Everyday and community | Love, Happy Birthday, U. S. Flag, American Icons, Postcrossing, International Peace and North American Soccer |
| Seasonal | Lunar New Year, Winter Wreath, Christmas Cookies, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Christmas Madonna and Child and Diwali |
What collectors can assess responsibly
- Documented subject interest and historical context
- Official issue format and design count
- Condition and completeness of the exact item
- Actual comparable sales for the same issue and condition
- Storage needs and the difference between postage value and collector price
None of those factors guarantees appreciation. “Commemorative,” “limited” or a popular subject is not proof of scarcity, future demand or return. Buy an issue because it fits a collection or mailing need, not because a preview predicts profit.
Release verification workflow
- Keep the preview as preliminary evidence.
- Open the final USPS issue record for date, city, denomination and format.
- Record current USPS availability separately from the historical issue.
- Record this store’s price and stock only on the product page.
- Do not copy retailer pack size into the USPS original issue format.
Related guides
- 2026 new-stamp tracker
- Release archive
- Commemorative stamps in stock
Sources
2026 USPS issue-by-issue release tracker
The table separates issued stamps from scheduled or incomplete records as of September 13, 2026. A preview does not prove final issue details, current inventory, scarcity or investment return. Blank date or location fields remain unconfirmed rather than being inferred.
| Issue | First-day date | First-day location | Current value/class (Sept. 13, 2026) | Format/designs | Status on Sept. 13, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4¢ Angel’s Trumpets | January 9, 2026 | Kenosha, WI | Definitive | Pane: 1 design, 8 positions, plate no. in 4 corners, offset (BCA) Coil: 1 design, plate no. every 27*, offset (BCA) *This number represents the actual plate number intervals. | Issued |
| Love | January 13, 2026 | Kansas City, MO | Forever $0.82 | 4 designs, 8 positions, plate no. in 4 corners, offset (BCA) | Issued |
| Muhammad Ali | January 15, 2026 | Louisville, KY | Forever $0.82 | 2 designs, 4 positions, plate no. in 2 corners, offset (BCA) | Issued |
| Colorado Statehood | January 24, 2026 | Denver, CO | Forever $0.82 | 1 design, 6 positions, plate no. in 4 corners, offset (APU) | Issued |
| Phillis Wheatley | January 29, 2026 | Boston, MA | Forever $0.82 | 1 design, 6 positions, plate no. in 2 corners, offset (APU) | Issued |
| Lunar New Year • Year of the Horse | February 3, 2026 | Houston, TX | Forever $0.82 | 1 design, 4 positions, plate no. in 2 corners, offset/foil (BCA) | Issued |
| Bruce Lee | February 18, 2026 | Seattle, WA | Forever $0.82 | 1 design, 6 positions, plate no. in 2 corners, offset (APU) | Issued |
| Crab Nebula | February 24, 2026 | Kansas City, MO | Priority Mail $11.95 | 1 design, 10 positions, plate no. in 2 corners, offset (BCA) | Issued |
| Galaxy Pair | February 24, 2026 | Kansas City, MO | Priority Mail Express $33.25 | 1 design, 10 positions, plate no. in 2 corners, offset (BCA) | Issued |
| Harriet Powers | February 28, 2026 | Washington, DC | Check issue record | 4 designs, 6 positions, plate no. in 2 corners, offset (APU) | Issued |
| Lowriders | March 13, 2026 | San Diego, CA | Forever $0.82 | 5 designs, 6 positions, plate no. in 2 corners, offset/foil (BCA) | Issued |
| Sunflowers | March 14, 2026 | Strongsville, OH | Check issue record | 1 design, offset (BCA) | Issued |
| Figures of the American Revolution | April 10, 2026 | Washington, DC | Forever $0.82 | 25 designs, 4 positions, plate no. in 2 corners, offset (BCA) | Issued |
| Happy Birthday | April 18, 2026 | Providence, RI | Forever $0.82 | 1 design, 4 positions, plate no. in 4 corners, offset (BCA) | Issued |
| A Day at the Beach | April 24, 2026 | Burlingame, CA | Forever $0.82 | 4 designs, offset (BCA) | Issued |
| Route 66 | May 5, 2026 | Phoenix, AZ | Forever $0.82 | 8 designs, 6 positions, plate no. in 2 corners, offset (APU) | Issued |
| Bald Eagle: Hatchling to Adult | May 14, 2026 | Wabasha, MN | Forever $0.82 | Check issue record | Issued |
| Treasures of the Revolutionary Era | May 23, 2026 | Boston, MA | Check issue record | 10 designs, offset (APU) | Issued |
| Mister Rogers | May 24, 2026 | Boston, MA | Forever $0.82 | 1 design, 4 positions, plate no. in 2 corners, offset (BCA) | Issued |
| American Bison | May 25, 2026 | Boston, MA | Forever $0.82 | 1 design, 9 positions, plate no. in 2 corners, offset (APU) | Issued |
| Postcrossing | May 26, 2026 | Boston, MA | International $1.75 | 4 designs, 8 positions, plate no. in 2 corners, offset (APU) | Issued |
| International Peace | May 27, 2026 | Boston, MA | Forever $0.82 | 1 design, 9 positions, plate no. in 2 corners, offset (APU) | Issued |
| North American Soccer | May 28, 2026 | Boston, MA | Forever $0.82 | 1 design, 6 positions, plate no. 4 corners, offset (BCA) | Issued |
| American Icons | June 9, 2026 | New York, NY | Forever $0.82 | Check issue record | Issued |
| U. S. Flag | June 9, 2026 | Not yet confirmed | Forever $0.82 | Pane: 1 design, 8 positions, plate no. in 4 corners, offset (BCA) Booklets: 1 design, offset Coil of 100: 1 design, plate no. every 27*, offset Coil of 10K & 3K: 1 design, plate no. every 27*, offset (BCA) *This number represents the actual plate number intervals. | Issued |
| Summer Sunset | June 25, 2026 | Edgartown, MA | Nonprofit $0.05 | 1 design, plate no. every 27*, offset (APU) *This number represents the actual plate number intervals. | Issued |
| Blue-Winged Teal Junior Duck Stamp | June 26, 2026 | Not yet confirmed | Check issue record | Check issue record | Issued |
| Bufflehead | June 26, 2026 | St. Augustine, FL | Special | Check issue record | Issued |
| Declaration of Independence | July 4, 2026 | Philadelphia, PA | Check issue record | 1 design, 6 positions, plate no. in 2 corners, offset (BCA) | Issued |
| Barbie® | July 11, 2026 | Austin, TX | Forever $0.82 | Check issue record | Issued |
| Diagonal U. S. Flag Stamped Envelope | August 7, 2026 | Linthicum Heights, MD | Check issue record | Check issue record | Issued |
| Sarah Orne Jewett | August 21, 2026 | South Berwick, ME | Three Ounce $1.40 | 1 design, 6 positions, plate no. in 4 corners, offset (APU) | Issued |
| U. S. Coast Guard Academy | September 12, 2026 | New London, CT | Forever $0.82 | 1 design, 6 positions, plate no. in 2 corners, offset (BCA) | Issued |
| Winter Wreath | September 18, 2026 | Humble, TX | International $1.75 | 1 design, 9 positions, plate no. in 4 corners, offset (APU) | Scheduled; not yet issued on September 13, 2026 |
| Christmas Cookies | September 19, 2026 | Washington, DC | Forever $0.82 | 4 designs, offset (BCA) | Scheduled; not yet issued on September 13, 2026 |
| Kwanzaa | September 23, 2026 | Norfolk, VA | Forever $0.82 | 1 design, 6 positions, plate no. in 4 corners, offset (BCA) | Scheduled; not yet issued on September 13, 2026 |
| Linda McCartney | September 25, 2026 | New York, NY | Forever $0.82 | 5 designs, 6 positions, plate no. in 2 corners, offset (APU) | Scheduled; not yet issued on September 13, 2026 |
| Squirrels & Chipmunks in Snow | September 25, 2026 | Brookfield, WI | Forever $0.82 | 4 designs, offset (APU) | Scheduled; not yet issued on September 13, 2026 |
| Hanukkah | September 29, 2026 | New Orleans, LA | Forever $0.82 | 1 design, 6 positions, plate no. in 4 corners, offset (BCA) | Scheduled; not yet issued on September 13, 2026 |
| Christmas Madonna and Child | October 2, 2026 | Williamstown, MA | Forever $0.82 | 1 design, offset (BCA) | Scheduled; not yet issued on September 13, 2026 |
| Know the Facts About Fentanyl | October 6, 2026 | Bethesda, MD | Semipostal $1.00 | Check issue record | Scheduled; not yet issued on September 13, 2026 |
| Diwali | Not yet confirmed | Not yet confirmed | Forever $0.82 | 1 design, 8 positions, plate no. in 4 corners, offset (APU) | Announced; date not yet confirmed |
Source status is based on the USPS issue archive and issue-level records. Recheck future items when their release date arrives.