Bruce Lee (U.S. 2026)

From the USPS on October 29, 2025:

As the first Asian leading man in American film, Chinese American martial artist, actor and filmmaker Bruce Lee (1940-1973) captivated audiences with his skill, charisma and screen presence and inspired generations of fans. The stamp artwork by Kam Mak features a painting of Lee executing his iconic flying kick. It is set against what Antonio Alcalá, the art director for USPS who designed the stamp, calls “a calligraphic yellow brushstroke,” a reference to the iconic yellow tracksuit Lee wore in “Game of Death.” On the right side of the stamp, BRUCE LEE and USA FOREVER are printed vertically and angled to appear as if Lee’s kick were breaking them in half.

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


Updated January 16th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.88″ x 1.50″The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.75″ x 1.25″ The “Special” postmark measures 2.61″ x 1.25″

Updated January 9th:
[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Postal Service To Release Stunner of Stamp To Honor Bruce Lee

What: The U.S. Postal Service will honor Bruce Lee, the renowned Chinese American martial artist and actor, with a new Forever stamp. Lee captivated film audiences with his skill, charisma and screen presence and inspired a generation of young fans to explore action movies, mixed martial arts and Asian culture.

The first-day-of-issue event for the Bruce Lee Forever stamp is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #BruceLeeStamp.

Who: The Honorable Derek Kan, vice chairman, USPS Board of Governors
Shannon Lee, chief executive officer, Bruce Lee Enterprises

When: Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, at 2 p.m. PT

Where: :

RSVP: Nippon Kan Theater
628 S. Washington St.
Seattle, WA 98104

RSVP: Attendees are encouraged to register at usps.com/brucelee.

Background: : The stamp artwork features a black-and-white painting of Lee executing his famous flying kick set against a yellow calligraphic brushstroke on a white background. The brushstroke is a reference to Lee’s iconic yellow tracksuit in the film “The Game of Death,” which was completed and released years after his death.

On the right side of the stamp, “BRUCE LEE” and “USA FOREVER” are printed vertically and angled to appear as if Lee’s kick were breaking them in half. The stamp was designed using artist Kam Mak’s egg tempera painting on traditional gesso.

Updated January 8th:
On February 18, 2026, in Seattle, WA, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Bruce Lee stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 488000). This stamp will go on sale nationwide February 18, 2026, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

This stamp issuance honors Chinese American martial artist, actor, and filmmaker Bruce Lee (1940–1973). As the first Asian leading man in American film, Lee captivated audiences with his skill, charisma, and screen presence, inspiring a generation of young fans. The stamp features Lee performing a flying kick. His name and the words USA and FOREVER are arranged to appear as if Lee’s kick were breaking them in half. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp with Kam Mak’s egg tempera painting on traditional gesso.

Item 488000, 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 June 18, 2026.

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

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Bruce Lee Stamp
Item Number: 488000
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: February 18, 2026, Seattle, WA 98109
Art Director: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Designer: Antonio Alcalá, Alexandria, VA
Artist: Kam Mak, Brooklyn, NY
Modeler: Joseph Sheeran
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU)
Press Type: Muller A76
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 20,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: PMS 109 C, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Horizontal
Image Area (w x h): 1.4200 x 0.8400 in. / 36.0680 x 21.3360 mm.
Overall Size (w x h): 1.5600 x 0.9800 in. / 39.6240 x 24.8920 mm.
Full Pane Size (w x h): 7.2400 x 6.1700 in. / 183.8964 x 156.7180 mm.
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 21.7200 x 12.5270 in. / 551.688 x 318.186 mm.
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “P” followed by five (5) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Plate number in bottom two corners of pane
Back: © 2025 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (488000) • Plate position diagram (6) • BRUCE LEE and the Bruce Lee Flying Man Logo are registered trademarks of Bruce Lee Enterprises, LLC. All Rights Reserved. • Promotional text

Updated December 12th:
This stamp will be issued Wednesday, February 18, in Seattle, WA. He opened his first martial arts school in Seattle and is buried in a cemetery there.

One thought on “Bruce Lee (U.S. 2026)

  1. I would assume (Silly Me) that the first day would be in San Francisco. Since that is where he was born, left came back and left again.
    Unless they are going to do it in Hong Kong.
    Since the postal service hates coming west of the Mississippi unless they have to, or it is relevant ie (Colorado Statehood), I will hold my breath.

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