Announced by the USPS on February 17, 2026:

For the first time since 2021, the Postal Service will issue a stamp designed especially for birthday invitations, cards, letters and packages. “I am excited that we are issuing new Happy Birthday stamps. Many customers have submitted ideas for occasion-specific stamps such as these and we are pleased to be able to fulfill this request from the public,” said Lisa Bobb-Semple, USPS stamp services director. Lisa Congdon designed the stamp using her own artwork. The project was art directed by Greg Breeding.

This stamp will be issued April 18 in Providence, RI. Additional information will appear below the line, with the most recent at the top.

Updated April 15^th:
Technical Specifications:

Issue: Happy Birthday Stamp
Item Number: 582200
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever®
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: April 18, 2026, Providence, RI 02904
Art Director: Greg Breeding, Charlottesville, VA
Designer: Lisa Congdon, Portland, OR
Artist:: Lisa Congdon, Portland, OR
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 40,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Custom Blue, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.7700 x 1.0500 in. / 19.5580 x 26.6700 mm.
Overall Size (w x h): 0.9100 x 1.1900 in. / 23.1140 x 30.2260 mm.
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.7600 x 5.5500 in. / 146.3040 x 140.9700 mm.
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 11.5200 x 22.2000 in. / 292.6080 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: © 2026 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (582200) • Plate position diagram (8) • Promotional text

Updated April 12^th:
The philatelic products for this issue include wrapping paper, four designs, 24″x36″, for $18.95

Updated March 30^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue: The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.91″ x 1.43″The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.50″ x 1.18″

Updated March 26^th:
Although the first-day postmarks were shown in the Postal Bulletin a week ago, I’m told they are not yet finalized and so the larger, clearer versions are not yet available for us.

Updated March 19^th:
On April 18, 2026, in Providence, RI, the United States Postal Service® will issue the Happy Birthday stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail® rate), in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) pane of 20 stamps (Item 582200). This stamp will go on sale nationwide April 18, 2026, and must not be sold or canceled before the first-day-of-issue.

For the first time in five years, USPS® will issue a stamp designed especially for birthday invitations, cards, letters, and packages. The stamp features an illustration of an oversized white birthday cake with bright and colorful candles and capital letters spelling out HAPPY BIRTH DAY! on three lines. Lisa Congdon designed and illustrated the stamp. Greg Breeding was the art director.

No 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) must be sent to the following address with the choice of Traditional or Digital Color Postmark identified. All orders must be postmarked by August 18, 2026.

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

Technical specifications are not yet available.

Updated March 10^th:
[ceremony details] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
The Postal Service Says Happy Birthday!

What: The U.S. Postal Service is commemorating the annual celebration that everyone enjoys with a new Happy Birthday stamp. The stamp will be released at the first Perfect Pairing Pop-Up Party — an event that is being planned and hosted by the Greeting Card Association.

The first-day-of-issue event is free and open to the public.

When: Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 11 a.m. Eastern

Where: Track 15 [a restaurant]
1 Union Station
Providence, RI 02903

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

Background: The new Happy Birthday stamp will be the fifth stamp issued by the Postal Service specifically designed to light up birthday invitations, cards, letters and packages. As a Forever stamp, it will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

News about the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #HappyBirthdayStamp.