2026 U.S. stamp program to celebrate Muhammad Ali, American Revolution figures, Route 66, Declaration of Independence, more

By Jay Bigalke

The United States Postal Service has provided collectors with a first look at the 2026 stamp program, one that blends American history, art and popular culture as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.

Nineteen subjects featuring 70 different designs will appear on new stamps next year, ranging from a pane honoring figures of the American Revolution to tributes to Muhammad Ali, Bruce Lee and Route 66.

“This early preview of our 2026 stamp program underscores the Postal Service’s commitment to celebrating the artistry and storytelling that make stamps so special,” said Lisa Bobb-Semple, the Postal Service’s director of Stamp Services. “Each stamp is a small work of art, an entryway into a larger story that connects people, places and moments in history.”

Bobb-Semple said the 2026 lineup continues the rich legacy of the USPS “with a diverse range of subjects and designs, from beloved series and commemorative anniversaries to bold new releases that will inspire and excite collectors and admirers alike.”

This is a partial list of subjects, with additional stamps expected to be announced in the coming months. The designs are preliminary and may change.

Flowers and familiar favorites

The year opens with 4¢ Angel’s Trumpets, the latest in a series of low-denomination definitive stamps featuring flowers photographed by Harold Davis. The luminous, brightly-lit compositions follow earlier releases picturing tulips, daffodils and peonies. Low-denomination issues are often used by bulk mailers and collectors to make exact postage combinations. Ethel Kessler served as art director.

Sports and culture icons

Two Muhammad Ali forever stamps will honor the three-time world heavyweight champion known as “The Greatest.” Designed by Antonio Alcala using a 1974 Associated Press photograph, the stamp features the name “ALI” stacked in alternating directions to suggest motion and energy. The stamp will be issued Jan. 15 in Louisville, Ky., his hometown.

Ali (1942–2016), born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., became an international symbol of athletic excellence, confidence and conviction. He won Olympic gold in 1960, captured the world heavyweight title three times, and was named Sports Illustrated’s “Sportsman of the Century.” Beyond the ring, Ali was a humanitarian and outspoken advocate for civil rights and global peace.

Bruce Lee, the martial artist and film star who broke barriers for Asian Americans in Hollywood, will also be commemorated. Kam Mak’s artwork captures Lee in mid-kick against a yellow brushstroke background referencing his iconic tracksuit from Game of Death. Alcala also served as art director.

Lee (1940–1973) revolutionized martial arts cinema and became a global cultural icon through films such as Enter the Dragon and Fist of Fury. As a philosopher and teacher, he championed personal growth and cultural pride, influencing generations of athletes, filmmakers and performers.

Love and landscapes

The Love 2026 stamps, with artwork by James Yang and design by Ethel Kessler, depict pairs of stylized birds and hearts in a playful nod to mid-century design and Japanese illustration. The Love series, first introduced in 1973, has become a perennial favorite for wedding invitations and Valentine’s Day cards.

Colorado Statehood marks the 150th anniversary of the Centennial State’s admission to the Union in 1876. The stamp shows Jagged Mountain in the Weminuche Wilderness, using a photograph by the late John Fielder. Designed by Derry Noyes, the stamp will be issued Jan. 24 in Denver. Colorado’s previous statehood commemoratives appeared in 1951 (Scott 1001) and 1977 (1711).

Heritage and history

The 49th stamp in the Black Heritage series honors Phillis Wheatley (circa 1753–84), the first published African American poet. Artist Kerry James Marshall painted the portrait, and Alcala designed the stamp, which will debut Jan. 29 in Boston.

Enslaved as a child in West Africa and brought to Boston, Wheatley published Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral in 1773, becoming a literary sensation in Colonial America and England. Her eloquent verses challenged prevailing attitudes about race and intellect, and she is often called the mother of African American literature.

Lunar New Year: Year of the Horse continues the third USPS Lunar New Year series launched in 2020 (Scott 5428). The stamp features a paper-cut mask by Camille Chew photographed by Sally Andersen-Bruce and designed by Alcala. It will be issued Feb. 3 in Houston. The Year of the Horse begins Feb. 17, 2026, according to the Chinese zodiac calendar.

Folk art and Americana

Four stamps celebrates quiltmaker Harriet Powers (1837-1910), whose storytelling quilts are masterpieces of American folk art. Derry Noyes designed the issue using details from Powers’ Pictorial Quilt of 1898, now housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Mass.

Born into slavery near Athens, Ga., Powers used applique and stitching to depict biblical scenes, celestial events and local folklore. Her surviving quilts are considered among the most important examples of 19th-century African American textile art, admired for their symbolism and narrative complexity.

The Lowriders stamps highlight five elaborately customized classic cars that have become symbols of Chicano and Mexican American culture. Among those shown are a 1946 Chevrolet Fleetline, a 1964 Impala named Golden Rose and a 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. The lowrider tradition, born in postwar California, remains a vibrant expression of craftsmanship and identity. Alcala designed the stamps using photographs by Philip Gordon and Humberto “Beto” Mendoza.

Nature and seasonal themes

Illustrator Nancy Stahl’s bright Sunflowers forever stamp celebrates a pollinator favorite and a perennial symbol of joy. The sunflower, native to North America, has been featured on U.S. stamps before, most notably on a 1970 issue for Kansas statehood. Greg Breeding served as art director.

For A Day at the Beach, artist Gregory Manchess’ oil paintings capture breezy summer scenes inspired by Noyes’s own New England vacations. The four stamps convey “fresh, bold spontaneity,” according to Noyes, and recall classic travel poster art of the mid-20th century.

The Squirrels and Chipmunks in Winter booklet features four designs of lively small mammals, including eastern chipmunks, gray squirrels and red squirrels, peeking from the snow. Noyes designed the issue to be “fun and uplifting,” perfect for brightening winter mail.

Historic anniversaries

A pane titled Figures of the American Revolution commemorates 25 individuals who shaped the struggle for independence, marking the 250th anniversary of the United States. Artwork from 13 contemporary artists portrays political thinkers, soldiers, diplomats and citizens who contributed to the Revolution. Kessler served as art director.

The first row of stamps features Abigail Adams (1744–1818), advocate for women’s rights and independence; John Adams (1735–1826), Continental Congress delegate and second U.S. president; Agwalondonwgas ‘Good Peter’ (1717-93), Oneida leader and ally of American forces; James Armistead (1748-1830), an enslaved spy whose intelligence aided the Continental Army; and Cornplanter (1752-1836), the Seneca chief who balanced diplomacy and peace after the war.

The second row includes John Dickinson (1732–1808), author of influential pre-Revolution writings; Benjamin Franklin (1706-90), statesman, inventor and first postmaster general; Elizabeth Freeman ‘Mumbet’ (1744–1829), who sued for her freedom in 1780 and helped end slavery in Massachusetts; Bernardo de Galvez (1746–86), Spanish governor whose military victories secured the Gulf Coast; and Nathanael Greene (1742–86), a skilled general whose southern campaigns turned the tide of war.

On the third row are Alexander Hamilton (1755–1804), Washington’s aide and architect of the nation’s financial system; Lemuel Haynes (1753–1833), veteran and early African American minister who condemned slavery; Patrick Henry (1736-99), fiery orator of “Give me liberty or give me death” fame; John Jay (1745-1829), diplomat and first chief justice; and Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), principal author of the Declaration of Independence and third U.S. president.

The fourth row presents Thaddeus Kosciuszko (1746-1817), Polish engineer who strengthened American fortifications; Marquis de Lafayette (1757-1834), French ally and hero of Yorktown; James Madison (1751–1836), constitutional architect and fourth president; Thomas Paine (1737–1809), pamphleteer whose writings unified the colonies; and Esther De Berdt Reed (1746–80), leader of women’s fundraising efforts for the Continental Army.

The final row honors Paul Revere (1735-1818), patriot silversmith and midnight rider; Deborah Sampson (1760-1827), who disguised herself as a man to serve as a soldier; Baron von Steuben (1730-94), Prussian officer who trained and disciplined the Continental Army; Mercy Otis Warren (1728–1814), poet and historian of the Revolution; and George Washington (1732-99), commander in chief and first U.S. president whose leadership secured independence.

Route 66 celebrates the 100th anniversary of the “Mother Road” connecting Chicago and Los Angeles. The pane of 16 stamps uses photographs by David Schwartz from each of the eight states along the highway, with scenic selvage showing the open road in Arizona. The route, decommissioned in 1985, remains an enduring symbol of freedom and nostalgia in American culture.

A new set titled Bald Eagle: Hatchling to Adult depicts America’s national bird at various life stages, with detailed paintings by noted ornithologist and illustrator David Allen Sibley. Noyes designed the issue. The bald eagle has appeared on U.S. stamps since 1869.

The American Bison stamp honors the country’s national mammal and evokes classic philately by incorporating artwork from the 1923 30¢ Bison stamp (Scott 569) within a contemporary photograph by Tom Murphy. Designed by Greg Breeding, the intaglio-accented stamp recognizes both wildlife conservation and U.S. stamp heritage.

International Peace features a photograph of an origami crane folded by artist Sue DiCicco, symbolizing hope and global harmony. Alcala designed the issue using a photo by Sally Andersen-Bruce.

Honoring America’s founding document and literary legacy

Marking the nation’s semiquincentennial, the Declaration of Independence stamp focuses on typography, with the numerals “1776” shaped like quill pens. Designed by Juan Carlos Pagan under the direction of Breeding, the design pays tribute to the document that articulated America’s founding ideals.

The Literary Arts series continues with author Sarah Orne Jewett (1849–1909), a Maine native whose stories defined American literary regionalism. Artist Mark Summers’s engraved portrait is set against a coastal landscape and a ray of sunshine evoking Jewett’s novel The Country of the Pointed Firs. Kessler served as art director. Jewett joins past honorees such as Mark Twain, John Steinbeck and Zora Neale Hurston in the long-running series.

The Postal Service said additional 2026 issues will be revealed in the coming months as part of the ongoing 250th-anniversary celebrations.

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