This issue was announced on May 1, 2026:

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Barbie To Be Celebrated With New Stamps
Stamp set to be released at collectors convention this summer

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service today announced a new release coming this summer: a set of Barbie stamps featuring Barbie dolls through the years, dressed for 10 iconic careers.

These designs are preliminary and may change.

Barbie
Created by Mattel Inc., a global play and family entertainment company, and introduced in 1959 as “The Original Teenage Fashion Model,” Barbie quickly became an icon and symbol of limitless possibilities for generations of children. During more than 65 years as a staple of imaginative childhood play, the best-selling doll of all time has represented more than 250 careers.

From surgeon to astronaut, paleontologist to soccer player, sign language teacher to music star, Barbie fans can dream big and explore a huge range of possibilities.

Ethel Kessler, an art director for USPS, collaborated with Mattel on the design of the stamps and pane. To best showcase the dolls and their career attire, the stamps employ a rarely used format, a third taller than the usual vertical commemorative stamp. Kessler says the team approached the project “with a spirit of fun,” using bright, energetic shades — predominantly the famous “Barbie Pink” — to evoke a feeling of joy.

Barbie commemorative stamps will be released on July 11, during the 2026 National Barbie Doll Collectors Convention in Austin, TX. As Forever stamps, they will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

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

Updated July 15^th:
Technical Specifications:

Issue: Barbie Stamps
Item Number: 582500
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever®
Format: Pane of 10 (10 designs)
Series: N/A
Issue Date & City: July 11, 2026, Austin, TX, 78710
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Existing Photos: Mattel
Modeler: Sandra Lane / Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Flexographic
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Gallus RCS
Stamps per Pane: 10
Print Quantity: 30,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor, Block Tag
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.8042 x 1.9210 in. / 20.4267 x 48.7934 mm.
Overall Size (w x h): 0.9500 x 2.0379 in. / 24.1300 x 51.7627 mm.
Full Pane Size (w x h): 8.5000 x 5.9000 in. / 215.9000 x 149.8600 mm.
Press Sheets Size (w x h): 11.8000 x 17.0000 in. / 299.7200 x 431.8000 mm.
Plate Size: 40 stamps per revolution
Plate Number: “B” followed by four (4) single digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: Barbie® • Descriptive Text • You can be anything™ • Plate number in bottom two corners of pane
Back: © 2026 Mattel • All Rights Reserved • “BARBIE®” and associated trademanrks and trade dress are owned by and used with permission of Mattel, Inc. • © 2026 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (582500) • Plate position diagram (4) • Promotional text

Updated June 10^th:
Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.65″ x 1.28″The Pictorial Postmark measures 2.48″ x 1.22″