Atlanta, December 16, 2025-The United States Postal Service announced a diverse lineup of stamps set for release in 2026, with several honoring cultural icons and celebrations that resonate deeply with communities across America. The postal service also revealed space-themed designs for its Priority Mail services.
Celebrating Heritage and Legacy
Boxing legend Muhammad Ali will be commemorated on a stamp releasing January 15, 2026. The three-time heavyweight champion transcended sports to become a global symbol of courage, conviction, and humanitarian work before his passing in 2016. His influence on American culture and the civil rights movement remains profound decades after he first captured the world's attention.
The Lunar New Year stamp arrives February 3, welcoming the Year of the Horse. This continuing series acknowledges one of the most significant celebrations in Asian culture, observed by millions of Asian Americans and people worldwide. The horse symbolizes energy, strength, and freedom in the Chinese zodiac.
Martial arts icon Bruce Lee receives recognition February 18 with a commemorative stamp honoring his groundbreaking contributions to cinema and popular culture. Lee shattered stereotypes and opened doors for Asian representation in Hollywood while introducing Eastern philosophy and fighting techniques to Western audiences. His legacy endures more than 50 years after his untimely death in 1973.
Additional stamp subjects will be announced in coming months.
Webb Telescope Imagery Adorns Priority Mail Stamps
The postal service also unveiled two stamps featuring stunning imagery from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope for its Priority Mail services.
The Priority Mail stamp showcases the Crab Nebula, a brilliant remnant of an exploded star located 6,500 light-years away in the Taurus constellation. Webb's infrared capabilities captured previously unseen details of this frequently observed celestial object, advancing scientific understanding of stellar life cycles. The nebula remains one of the brightest supernova remnants visible in Earth's night sky.
For Priority Mail Express, the stamp displays a composite image of IC 2163 and NGC 2207—two interacting galaxies approximately 80 million light-years from Earth. The artwork combines data from both the Webb and Hubble space telescopes, revealing the gravitational forces that shape galactic evolution.
USPS art director Greg Breeding designed both stamps using NASA photography. The denominations will reflect updated Priority Mail rates pending approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission. Release dates for these stamps will be announced following the rate review process.
The designs for all 2026 stamps remain preliminary and subject to change.
