Love (2026) (U.S. 2026)

Inspired by both mid-century American design and Japanese children’s book illustrations, James Yang created the art for this year’s Love stamps. His illustrations show pairs of stylized birds in a colorful world in which hearts appear, like love itself, in sweet and surprising ways. Ethel Kessler, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps.

More details will be posted below the line, with the most recent information at the top.

Updated March 3^rd:
Here are the Scott catalogue numbers for this issue:
6046 red background
6047 gray background
6048 dark blue background
6049 light blue background

Updated January 14^th:
From the USPS’ StampsForever.com website, buried in the story “What Is a First Day of Issuance Cancellation?”
In addition to Kansas City, the special first-day cancellation for the newest Love stamps will also be available at the main Post Offices in Nashville, Tenn., and Reading, Pa

Updated January 8^th:

Wondering why the first-day city is Kansas City and not something like “Love,” “Valentine” or “Romance?” We asked Mike Henry, who coordinates first-day events. “USPS wanted to have the Kansas City Postmark in association with a social media marketing campaign developed around the 2026 Love Stamps.” And guess what company that might have an interest is headquartered in KC? Mike didn’t say, but my guess is Hallmark is involved.

Updated January 8^th:

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Love Stamps
Item Number: 582100
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever®
Format: Pane of 20 (4 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: January 13, 2026, Kansas City, MO 64108
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: James Yang, Brooklyn, NY
Artist: James Yang, Brooklyn, NY
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 75,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.0500 x 0.7700 in. / 26.6700 x 19.5580 mm.
Overall Size (w x h): 1.1900 x 0.9100 in. / 30.2260 x 23.1140 mm.
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.7600 x 5.5500 in. / 146.3040 x 140.9700 mm.
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 23.0400 x 22.2000 in. / 585.2160 x 563.8800 mm.
Plate Size: 320 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in four corners of pane
Back: © 2025 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (582100) • Plate position diagram (8) • Promotional text

Updated December 29^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.96″ x 1.54″The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.46″ x 1.25″

Updated December 27^th:
On January 13, 2026, in Kansas City, MO, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Love stamps (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in four designs, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 582100). These stamps will go on sale nationwide January 13, 2026, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

In four scenes, the 2026 Love stamps feature pairs of stylized birds in a colorful world in which hearts appear, like love itself, in sweet and surprising ways. Whether the bird couples on these stamps are exploring branches adorned with hearts, offering a heart-shaped flower as a token of affection, pecking at hearts that fall like spring petals, or nesting in peace under a heart-shaped moon, their behavior sends a universal message: that togetherness marked by small, thoughtful gestures is the essence of a true and loving bond. James Yang designed the stamps and created the original artwork that appears on them. Ethel Kessler served as art director.

Item 582100, Pane of 20 Stamps

Automatic distribution.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
The first-day-of-issue postmark is a postmark notating the day a stamp is first authorized for use by the Postal Service. Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. All requests for first-day-of-issue postmarks (Traditional or Digital Color Postmark) should be sent to the following address with the choice of Traditional or Digital Color Postmark identified. All orders must be postmarked by May 13, 2026.

FDOI – Love Stamps
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

Technical details will appear in a future edition of the Postal Bulletin.

Updated December 12^th:
These stamps will be issued Tuesday, January 13, with no ceremony. The first-day city is Kansas City, MO.