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By Aliss Higham
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The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is heading into 2026 with higher shipping prices, new stamp designs, and continued efforts to modernize its network.
Here everything you need to know about the USPS in 2026:
Shipping Price Change
Shipping costs through the U.S. Postal Service are set to rise in early 2026 after the agency filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission on November 14, 2025. The proposed changes, approved by USPS governors this week, are scheduled to take effect on January 18.
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If implemented as planned, Priority Mail prices would increase by about 6.6 percent, while Priority Mail Express would rise roughly 5.1 percent. USPS Ground Advantage would see a larger increase of about 7.8 percent, and Parcel Select rates would go up by approximately 6.0 percent.
USPS explained that shipping prices are handled differently from traditional mailing services. While Mailing Services are generally adjusted based on inflation, Shipping Services are set in response to market conditions. As a result, the Postal Service has confirmed it will not raise Mailing Services prices in January, meaning the cost of a First-Class Mail stamp will remain the same—78 cents—for now.
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New Stamps
USPS has also announced new stamp designs for 2026, including two that highlight American space exploration. The Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express stamps unveiled this month feature images captured by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.
One design, created for Priority Mail, features an infrared image of the Crab Nebula. Located about 6,500 light-years away in the Taurus constellation, the nebula is the remnant of an exploded star and is among the brightest such objects visible in the night sky.
The Priority Mail Express stamp showcases a composite image of two interacting galaxies, IC 2163 and NGC 2207, which are located roughly 80 million light-years from Earth. The image combines data from the James Webb and Hubble space telescopes and was designed using NASA imagery.
These space-themed stamps will join a broader slate of issues planned for early 2026, a year that also marks the Postal Service’s 250th anniversary. Other designs scheduled between January and March will recognize cultural milestones, historical anniversaries, and influential figures, ranging from Black Heritage poet Phillis Wheatley and martial artist Bruce Lee to themes such as love, the Lunar New Year, and American folk art.
Modernization
Alongside pricing and new stamps, USPS is continuing to update how customers interact with its post offices. Many locations have already received upgrades, with additional improvements planned throughout the 2026 fiscal year.
A growing number of post offices now offer 24/7 smart lockers, allowing customers to pick up packages at any time using Click-N-Ship. Self-service kiosks, installed in thousands of locations, enable customers to weigh packages, print labels, buy supplies, and mail items without waiting in line. USPS says these tools have helped reduce lobby wait times.
Digital improvements extend beyond the counter. A mobile app allows customers to manage prepaid labels, track packages, receive alerts, and speed up shipping tasks, while new digital displays inside post offices are designed to make services easier to navigate. Redesigned layouts aim to improve traffic flow and make commonly used supplies easier to find.
USPS has also expanded the number of locations offering services for other federal agencies, such as passport processing and identity verification, allowing customers to complete multiple government-related tasks in one visit.
While many of these changes are already visible, USPS has indicated that further upgrades are planned for more locations in 2026.
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