The U.S. Postal Service unveiled its 2026 Lunar New Year: Year of the Horse stamp at Houston's Chinese Community Center, continuing a beloved tradition that has celebrated Asian American culture for more than three decades.
“This Lunar New Year stamp dedication shows our continued storied tradition of using stamps to spotlight the diverse events, ideals, and people that make our nation great,” said Postmaster General David Steiner at the February dedication ceremony. “As you use them, we hope that the ‘Year of the Horse' brings each of you good health, great joy and boundless prosperity.”
The Year of the Horse begins February 17, 2026, and ends February 5, 2027. Those born under this sign are said to be energetic, free-spirited, confident and hardworking — qualities that resonate deeply with many seeking success and stability in the new year.
Art Meets Tradition
The stamp features a vibrant three-dimensional mask created by artist Camille Chew, whose handcrafted designs have defined the current Lunar New Year series since 2020. Chew constructed the horse mask from hand-printed paper, carefully cutting, scoring and folding it into shape before embellishing it with acrylic paint, flowers, tassels and papier-mâché.
“I love the current series!” said Antonio Alcalá, USPS art director who designed the stamp layout. “One woman even got a tattoo of the Year of the Rat artwork on her leg — truly a ‘Forever' stamp!”
The masks call to mind the elaborately decorated costumes used in dragon and lion dances during Lunar New Year parades, offering a contemporary take on traditional paper-cut folk art.
Behind the Camera
Transforming Chew's sculptural masks into stamp-sized images requires precision photography. Veteran photographer Sally Andersen-Bruce has captured each mask in the series, facing unique challenges with every zodiac animal.
“The mask is three dimensional and the decorative pieces dangling on either side can pivot,” Andersen-Bruce explained. “Adjusting the length of the threads and securing the floating pieces so they are parallel to the lens is a challenge.”
For the Year of the Horse, minimal depth between the mask's many layers required careful lighting to create clear definition. “The shadows would create the separation between layers, which is more difficult to do when there is a small distance between them,” she said.
Through close collaboration with Alcalá, Andersen-Bruce sends initial images and then makes precise adjustments to lighting, positioning and shadow density until the final image achieves the perfect balance of dimension and clarity.
A Series Galloping Forward
The current Lunar New Year series, which began in 2020, will continue through 2031 with upcoming stamps for the Year of the Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Boar. It follows two previous award-winning series: Clarence Lee's traditional paper-cutting designs (1992-2004) and Kam Mak's colorful painted imagery (2008-2019).
“I think this collection is fun and fabulous,” Andersen-Bruce said. “The general public seems to love it. It's very different from the two earlier Lunar New Year stamp series.”
The Year of the Horse stamp is issued as a Forever stamp in panes of 20, each featuring colorful selvage with all 12 zodiac animals. The stamp will always equal the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price.
For Asian Americans and stamp collectors alike, the series represents both cultural celebration and artistic achievement — a small but meaningful acknowledgment of the diverse traditions that enrich American life.
Source: USPS.com
