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Boston 2026 Sponsorships Available

Boston 2026 World Expo is offering a variety of promotional sponsorships to individuals, organizations and businesses. Many involve signage opportunities, small and large, throughout the show floor, including the various regional pavilions and the Minuteman Club.

Event sponsorships are also available. These include the Palmares Award Banquet and the Vernissage show preview, where sponsors will gain the greatest exposure to the most prominent philatelists from around the world. Beer, wine, coffee, iced tea and water sponsorships at various show locations are available as well.

Logo opportunities abound, whether on award medal boxes, dinner menus or the show catalog cover. All sponsorships will receive prominent recognition on the show website, in the show catalog and on our social media.

Mark Butterline, Boston 2026 Executive Director, is coordinating all sponsorships and welcomes inquiries at Mark.Butterline@Boston2026.org. The current sponsorship list can be found on the Sponsorship webpage on www.Boston2026.org. Do note that the organizers are also open to sponsorship ideas beyond the preliminary list.

Boston 2026 World Expo takes place May 23-30, 2026, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Full show details may be found at Boston2026.org and on Facebook, X and Instagram. Sign up to be added to the Boston 2026 email list and receive updates when available.

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Importation Tariff Issues Resolved

Until this year, stamps and covers could be imported into the United States under Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTSUS) 9704 free of duty. However, several months ago, new country specific tariffs came into effect. This affected philatelic material, which in turn, resulted in the global philatelic community fearing that foreign participants at the upcoming Boston 2026 World Expo would experience unacceptably high costs.

After close consultation with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) over the past several weeks, the Boston 2026 Organizing Committee is pleased to announce that stamps and covers are, once again, tariff free for entry into the US. Specifically, the initial ruling letter that resulted in philatelic tariffs has now been ruled void ab initio (i.e., null from the beginning) and voided. A new ruling letter holding that philatelic material covered by HTSUS 9704 is again tariff free will be issued by the CBP in the next few weeks.

To ensure the free and smooth entry of philatelic material for the show, the show organizers have hired a customs brokerage firm, Vantage Point Services. They will provide foreign parties (i.e., dealers, auction houses, postal administrations and commissioners) importing philatelic material with the appropriate instructions and documentation for entry into the US. The customs broker offers support at multiple ports of entry, including Boston, New York, Miami, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Boston 2026 World Expo takes place May 23-30, 2026, at the BostonConvention & Exhibition Center. Full show details may be found at Boston2026.org and on Twitter and Facebook. Sign up to be added to the Boston 2026 email list and receive updates when available.

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Boston 2026: Update on U.S. Philatelic Tariffs

Boston 2026 has been working with various officials of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which includes U.S. Customs and Border Protection, regarding tariffs and the exhibition. Lower-level analysts specializing in collectibles up to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem have been consulted, along with Republican and Democratic members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

The 1994 amendment to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) states that informational materials are free of all tariffs. Our case, being presented by Mick Zais (right), former U.S. Acting Secretary of Education during the first Trump administration, is that philately is primarily an educational undertaking. Since stamps, philatelic material and exhibits are the informational media instruments furthering that pursuit, no tariff should be levied.

As a supplemental strategy, we have employed a customs broker, Vantage Point, to assist with acquiring temporary importation bonds, permitting exhibits for display purposes and other philatelic material not being sold, to enter the country under a tariff-free status. This would allow Boston 2026 commissioners and exhibitors from abroad bringing in “displays,” along with auction houses not directly selling material at the show, to enter and depart without worry.

We continue our efforts in anticipation of a resolution as soon as possible and thank everyone involved for their patience and understanding. Further news will be released as soon as a final resolution is known.

Boston 2026 World Expo takes place May 23-30, 2026, at the BostonConvention & Exhibition Center. Full show details may be found at Boston2026.org and on Twitter and Facebook. Sign up to be added to the Boston 2026 email list and receive updates when available.

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Collectors Club of Chicago Named Boston 2026 Sponsor

The Collectors Club of Chicago has donated $5,000 to be named the Boston 2026 World Expo Philatelic Literature Library Sponsor.

Few hobbies can claim the wealth of abundant resources that philately has. The ever-growing number of books, periodicals, catalogs, articles, web sites, applications, videos and other reference material continue to fill home bookshelves, libraries and computer hard drives around the world in every possible language.

Boston 2026 and the Fédération Internationale de Philatélie (FIP) recognize the importance of these works in the scholarly pursuit of knowledge through the exhibition’s judged literature competition. All entries will be made available for viewing by show-goers in a special reading room set aside to showcase the breadth of material available to philatelists.

It is fitting that the Collectors Club of Chicago has agreed to sponsor the literature library, as their very charter has as its primary objectives the documentation, preservation, advancement and promotion of philately through education, study, research and services. This most recent gift added to their prior contribution boosts the organization to “Boston 2026 Directors” donor level status.

Collectors Club of Chicago has a long history of publishing original philatelic literature that has earned numerous awards globally. The club has been an early advocate for on-demand publishing, which is a recent expansion for philatelic literature.

Boston 2026 World Expo takes place May 23-30, 2026, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Full show details may be found at Boston2026.org and on Twitter and Facebook. Sign up to be added to the Boston 2026 email list and receive updates when available.

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New Patronage-Based Boston 2026 IREX Available

Boston 2026 philatelic and literature exhibitors should be aware that an update has taken place to the Boston 2026 IREX, the exhibition’s rules and regulations, which is now posted on the show’s web site. Applications continue to be accepted exclusively online.

The change was necessitated by the upgrade by the Fédération Internationale de Philatélie (FIP) of the show to “Patronage” from “Recognition” status. A number of competitive exhibition classes have been added and are now fully welcomed to join those available earlier. FIP Consultant Reinaldo Macedo of Brazil has reviewed and approved the new guidelines.

Speaking about the transition, Boston 2026 President Yamil Kouri said, “Everything is now formally in place to fulfill the patronage changeover. It has been a while coming, but well worth the wait.”

Exhibitors who had previously applied for frames are not affected by the new IREX and are reminded that the selection of philatelic exhibits will not begin until the September 30 deadline has passed. Notification of acceptance will come through each country’s respective commissioner by mid-November. Literature applications, which include books, periodicals, catalogs, web sites, software and similar items will be accepted through January 31.

Boston 2026 World Expo takes place May 23-30, 2026, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Full show details may be found at Boston2026.org and on Twitter and Facebook. Sign up to be added to the Boston 2026 email list and receive updates when available.

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Boston 2026 Now a General World Exhibition

The Fédération Internationale de Philatélie (FIP) has upgraded its Boston 2026 World Expo participation status from “Recognition” to its highest level, “Patronage,” now classifying the event as a General World Exhibition. The agreement was finalized between FIP, Boston 2026 and American Philatelic Society officials during EuroPhilEx this past weekend in Birmingham, UK. [In the photo, L-R,026 World Expo President Yamil Kouri, FIP President Prakob Chirikati, APS President Cheryl Ganz, and FIP Consultant Reinaldo Macedo]

The FIP is philately’s version of the United Nations, representing nearly 100 national philatelic organizations from around the world. It standardizes guidelines for international-level competitions of all sizes and provides varying operational structures to assist show organizers.

The FIP offers several levels of involvement with increasing organizational requirements and monetary fees at each step. Preliminary exhibition approval by the FIP came in 2022, resulting in an agreement granting recognition status to Boston 2026. Negotiations since that time have continued between the FIP and Boston 2026 officers to elevate the U.S. international to its highest level under patronage status. That contract has now been endorsed by both organizations.

“Achieving patronage status guarantees all participants full rights, privileges and opportunities through the FIP system of international exhibitions,” said Yamil Kouri, Boston 2026 President [photo left]. “Judges will be 100% FIP accredited, and all awards will be recognized and recorded by the FIP in its official Awards List. This also means qualified prior FIP large gold winners may take part in our World Stamp Championship Class competition. It brings together the world’s greatest exhibits under one roof to determine Grand Prix National, Grand Prix International and Grand Prix d’Honneur winners.”

Prospective exhibitors are reminded that philatelic exhibit applications are only accepted electronically through the Boston 2026 web site and must be received by September 30. National commissioners will inform accepted exhibitors in November. The deadline for literature applications is January 31, 2026.

Reinaldo Macedo of Brazil, who had earlier been appointed as the FIP Liaison Officer, is now the FIP Consultant. Most current and past FIP officers and officials are expected to be in attendance.

Boston 2026 World Expo takes place May 23-30, 2026, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Full show details may be found at Boston2026.org and on Twitter and Facebook. Sign up to be added to the Boston 2026 email list and receive updates when available.

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Boston 2026 Commissioner Reorganization

Chris Lazaroff has been appointed as the Commissioner General of Boston 2026, replacing Yamil Kouri who will continue as the exhibition’s President.

“As work progresses it became clear that it would be best that I concentrate my time solely on my leadership role and turn the important responsibilities of the exhibits to someone else,” said Kouri. “Chris is eminently qualified to handle the position, assisted by Deputy Commissioner General Dzintars Grinfelds.”

Lazaroff was earlier selected to be the show’s U.S. East Commissioner in addition to his role as United States Postal Service Liaison.

Tom Fortunato of Rochester, New York, is assuming the East Commissioner post while continuing as Public Relations Chair. He had been the exhibits chair for the national ROPEX stamp show for two decades and has been a jointly certified APS/ATA judge since 2000.

Kouri continued, “These reassignments strengthen our Boston 2026 team and commitment to exhibiting participants in particular. We welcome Chris and Tom’s willingness to add to their present show duties.”

Boston 2026 World Expo takes place May 23-30, 2026, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Full show details may be found at Boston2026.org and on Twitter and Facebook. Sign up to be added to the Boston 2026 email list and receive updates when available.