Lunar New Year • Year of the Horse Forever Stamp 2026
The U.S. Postal Service continues its celebration of Lunar New Year traditions in 2026 with the release of the seventh stamp in its current 12-stamp Lunar New Year series. The issue honors the Year of the Horse, a holiday observed with vibrant parades, fireworks, cultural performances, and community celebrations among Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, and other East and Southeast Asian communities throughout the United States.
Launched in 2020, the current Lunar New Year series represents the Postal Service’s third ongoing collection dedicated to this important cultural celebration. The series will continue through 2031, featuring stamps commemorating the remaining zodiac animals: the Year of the Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar.
The Year of the Horse stamp was designed by USPS art director Antonio Alcalá and features original artwork by artist Camille Chew. Earlier Lunar New Year stamp series were issued from 1992 through 2004 and from 2008 through 2019, showcasing the creative work of artists Clarence Lee and Kam Mak.
Alcalá has praised the popularity of the current series, noting that its contemporary artistic style has received enthusiastic responses from students, designers, and stamp enthusiasts. He shared that one admirer even chose to permanently celebrate the artwork by getting a tattoo inspired by the Year of the Rat stamp design — a fitting example of how a stamp can become a lasting personal symbol.
The Year of the Horse design features a vibrant three-dimensional horse mask inspired by the elaborate masks often seen in traditional dragon and lion dances performed during Lunar New Year celebrations. Camille Chew’s interpretation combines modern design with the long-standing tradition of paper-cut folk art associated with this festive season.
To create the artwork, Chew first produced the horse mask from hand-printed paper, carefully cutting, shaping, and folding the material into a three-dimensional form. She then enhanced the piece with acrylic paint and additional decorative paper elements, including flowers and tassels. The back of the mask was reinforced with papier-mâché before the finished creation was photographed against a white background for the stamp design.
The Year of the Horse begins on February 17, 2026, and continues through February 5, 2027. In the Chinese zodiac tradition, people born under the sign of the horse are often associated with qualities such as energy, independence, confidence, and determination. Because horses symbolize speed, strength, and endurance, the sign is commonly connected with ambition, progress, and the pursuit of success.
Within the United States, the Year of the Horse holds special appeal because its traditional meanings of freedom, motivation, and personal achievement align with values embraced by many communities. For many Asian Americans and others who celebrate Lunar New Year, this zodiac year represents an opportunity to pursue new goals, welcome positive change, and approach challenges with enthusiasm.
The Year of the Horse stamp is issued as a Forever® stamp in panes of 20. This Forever stamp will always retain the same value as the current First-Class Mail® one-ounce postage rate.
