U.S. Postal Service Unveils New Year of the Horse Stamp for 2026 Celebration
On February 4, 2026, the U.S. Postal Service held an official unveiling of its "Lunar New Year: Year of the Horse" stamp, celebrated at the Chinese Community Center in Houston, Texas. This stamp commemorates the start of the Year of the Horse, which begins on February 17, 2026, and concludes on February 5, 2027. David Steiner, the Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Postal Service, highlighted the significant role of stamps in connecting the American people for over 250 years, stating, "The unveiling of this stamp reflects our enduring tradition of highlighting diverse events and values that showcase the greatness of our nation." Starting today, this vibrant illustration will be sent across the country and around the world with millions of letters and packages. The Postal Service wishes everyone good fortune and joy during the 'Year of the Horse.'
The unveiling was attended by notable figures including Gary Poon, CEO of the Chinese Community Center, Kenneth Li, Chair of the Southwest Management District Board, and opera artist Lian Chen Walker, with Luis M. Chen from the Asian Pacific American Heritage Association serving as the event's emcee. The U.S. Postal Service launched its third series of Lunar New Year stamps in 2020, with the Horse stamp being the seventh in this ongoing series, which will continue until 2031. Future stamps will celebrate the Year of the Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
The design of the stamp was led by Antonio Alcalá, the Postal Service’s art director, who used original artwork from artist Camille Chew. Previous series of Lunar New Year stamps were introduced between 1992-2004 and 2008-2019, showcasing the works of artists Clarence Lee and Kam Mak, respectively.
Alcalá expressed enthusiasm for the current series: “Every time I introduce the Lunar New Year stamps to students or other professional designers, it garners unanimous positive feedback. One lady even got a tattoo of the artwork from the Year of the Rat stamp, which truly makes it a 'permanent' stamp!” The newly launched stamp showcases a colorful, three-dimensional mask design that depicts the face of a horse, reminiscent of the elaborate masks used in traditional Lunar New Year dragon and lion dance performances. Chew's artwork infuses contemporary aesthetics into a longstanding paper-cutting folk art tradition.
After creating the horse mask using hand-printed paper, Chew employed cutting, folding, and embossing techniques before embellishing it with acrylic paint, flowers, and tassels. The images for the stamp series were photographed against a white background. Alcalá noted the positive reception to the more contemporary designs, stating they have been encouraging.
Traditionally, individuals born in the Year of the Horse are viewed as energetic, outgoing, confident, and hardworking; horses symbolize speed, strength, and endurance. These attributes resonate with many people's aspirations for success, stability, and good fortune in the new year. The Year of the Horse holds particular appeal in the U.S. due to its representation of independence and freedom, core values aligned with the American spirit. Whether among Asian Americans or diverse communities, many consider the Year of the Horse a time for embracing vitality, setting new goals, and facing challenges.
Each sheet of the "Lunar New Year: Year of the Horse" stamp contains 20 stamps and is classified as a forever stamp, maintaining its value equivalent to the current postage rate for domestic one-ounce letters. Information about the stamp can be shared using the hashtags #LunarNewYearHorse and #LunarNewYearStamp. The Postal Service has printed 20 million stamps, now available at post offices nationwide and on usps.com. Customers can purchase the stamps and other philatelic products through the USPS Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps. Orders can also be placed by calling 844-737-7826 or via mail to USA Philatelic, or through local post offices. For authorized stamp-related products, shoppers can explore the USPS official product line on Amazon. Additional details about the stamps, first-day ceremony, and stamp-inspired products can be found at stampsforever.com.
Please note: The U.S. Postal Service is an independent federal agency that operates without taxpayer funding. It provides reliable and secure mail services six days a week to over 170 million addresses while working towards long-term financial sustainability and enhanced service quality as it approaches its 250th anniversary. For media resources, including broadcast-quality video and audio, and images related to USPS, visit the USPS Newsroom. We invite you to connect with us on our social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Threads, and LinkedIn, and subscribe to the USPS YouTube channel. For further insights regarding the U.S. Postal Service, please visit usps.com and facts.usps.com.
National Contact: David P. Coleman, [email protected] - USPS Newsroom. Texas Contact: "Nikki" Johnson, [email protected] - USPS Newsroom.
The unveiling was attended by notable figures including Gary Poon, CEO of the Chinese Community Center, Kenneth Li, Chair of the Southwest Management District Board, and opera artist Lian Chen Walker, with Luis M. Chen from the Asian Pacific American Heritage Association serving as the event's emcee. The U.S. Postal Service launched its third series of Lunar New Year stamps in 2020, with the Horse stamp being the seventh in this ongoing series, which will continue until 2031. Future stamps will celebrate the Year of the Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
The design of the stamp was led by Antonio Alcalá, the Postal Service’s art director, who used original artwork from artist Camille Chew. Previous series of Lunar New Year stamps were introduced between 1992-2004 and 2008-2019, showcasing the works of artists Clarence Lee and Kam Mak, respectively.
Alcalá expressed enthusiasm for the current series: “Every time I introduce the Lunar New Year stamps to students or other professional designers, it garners unanimous positive feedback. One lady even got a tattoo of the artwork from the Year of the Rat stamp, which truly makes it a 'permanent' stamp!” The newly launched stamp showcases a colorful, three-dimensional mask design that depicts the face of a horse, reminiscent of the elaborate masks used in traditional Lunar New Year dragon and lion dance performances. Chew's artwork infuses contemporary aesthetics into a longstanding paper-cutting folk art tradition.
After creating the horse mask using hand-printed paper, Chew employed cutting, folding, and embossing techniques before embellishing it with acrylic paint, flowers, and tassels. The images for the stamp series were photographed against a white background. Alcalá noted the positive reception to the more contemporary designs, stating they have been encouraging.
Traditionally, individuals born in the Year of the Horse are viewed as energetic, outgoing, confident, and hardworking; horses symbolize speed, strength, and endurance. These attributes resonate with many people's aspirations for success, stability, and good fortune in the new year. The Year of the Horse holds particular appeal in the U.S. due to its representation of independence and freedom, core values aligned with the American spirit. Whether among Asian Americans or diverse communities, many consider the Year of the Horse a time for embracing vitality, setting new goals, and facing challenges.
Each sheet of the "Lunar New Year: Year of the Horse" stamp contains 20 stamps and is classified as a forever stamp, maintaining its value equivalent to the current postage rate for domestic one-ounce letters. Information about the stamp can be shared using the hashtags #LunarNewYearHorse and #LunarNewYearStamp. The Postal Service has printed 20 million stamps, now available at post offices nationwide and on usps.com. Customers can purchase the stamps and other philatelic products through the USPS Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps. Orders can also be placed by calling 844-737-7826 or via mail to USA Philatelic, or through local post offices. For authorized stamp-related products, shoppers can explore the USPS official product line on Amazon. Additional details about the stamps, first-day ceremony, and stamp-inspired products can be found at stampsforever.com.
Please note: The U.S. Postal Service is an independent federal agency that operates without taxpayer funding. It provides reliable and secure mail services six days a week to over 170 million addresses while working towards long-term financial sustainability and enhanced service quality as it approaches its 250th anniversary. For media resources, including broadcast-quality video and audio, and images related to USPS, visit the USPS Newsroom. We invite you to connect with us on our social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Threads, and LinkedIn, and subscribe to the USPS YouTube channel. For further insights regarding the U.S. Postal Service, please visit usps.com and facts.usps.com.
National Contact: David P. Coleman, [email protected] - USPS Newsroom. Texas Contact: "Nikki" Johnson, [email protected] - USPS Newsroom.
Topics Consumer Products & Retail）
【About Using Articles】
You can freely use the title and article content by linking to the page where the article is posted.
※ Images cannot be used.
【About Links】
Links are free to use.