Royal Mail Stamp Programme for 2026

Coinciding with the release of details about the first issue of the year, Royal Mail have set out the programme for the first half of 2026.  As last year, they have withheld details about the second half, even from cover producers who have to do a lot of research before they can start printing designs and sponsoring handstamps.

Full details of the first issue will not be published here until the embargo date of 6 January but as Royal Mail's website includes this detail, I see no reason not to share the first six months' issues with you now.  Updated 20 April with most of the rest of the programme.

Thank you to the dozen or so readers here and on Stampboards who contributed over 70 suggestions, some of them frivolous (like the set that kicked off 'reader suggestions' many years ago), many others very unlikely, but some notable anniversaries and other worthy suggestions for which we will have to await the full programme to find out whether they match.  

As with previous years, there will be many stamp issues that no-one came anywhere near guessing and some that even when they are issued we will not really understand Royal Mail's justification.

Suggestions which I don't think will make it into the second half of the programme - Centenary of the General Strike, 75th year of Europa, 50th Anniversary of Dolly the Sheep, 150th anniversary of the Bell Telephone, The Archers (long-running BBC radio soap), Birth or Death Anniversaries of Agatha Christie (although that would be an easy option as there is already a precedent for using her material), Benjamin Britten, John Constable, Henry Blogg and David Beckham. 

Other subjects which stand a reasonable chance: The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, 300th Anniversary of Fire Brigades, The King Charles Coastal Path, London Zoo.  

Thematic subjects suggested were: Theatre Buildings* - which could incorporate the National Theatre, the Royal Ballet, Royal Opera, and Royal Opera House all of which have anniversaries in 2026.  Music Giants were not given much chance, although Swedish group Abba, Freddie Mercury himself, Genesis, Gorillaz, Joy Division, Led Zeppelin, and Oasis all got a mention.  Trees were suggested both for themselves and for the National Arboretum (linking in with Remembrance), Christmas Trees at landmarks, and the Peak District National Park.  *If this comes about then the person who suggested Architecture might be in contention too!

Suggestions which might be deemed frivolous - but about which picture books have been published - include Solar power, Trademarks, and Wheelie Bins.

I think one of the problems with trying to predict is trying to remember what has happened in the not too distant past when, maybe, we took less interest in new issues.  Thus the 60th anniversary of Star Trek when that has been done to death anyway, Centenary of Winnie The Pooh ditto (although having the agreement with Disney for earlier issues might sway things), and the National Arboretum was the subject of a Commemorative Sheet.  

Anyway, for the time being, this is what we know.  My intention always is to add links to this table when the details of the issue appear in their own post, but sadly that rarely happens.  I don't mind if you nudge me, by email. 

This table has already been amended since my first draft because dates have changed and the order of some issues has been revised since we were first told.  So don't expect this to be the final even for the first half.  I've no idea when we will be able to add all the July-December details but most of the second half of the year has now been added.

UPDATE24 July: Thank you to readers for pointing out that the 29th September issue has been postponed until 1st December.  This means only one issue in July, August, September, October, but two in November and one in December - two after the Christmas issue!  Of course the need to keep the pre-Christmas period clear doesn't matter as much now because most Post Office branches are not rushed off their feet satisfying collectors, and those that don't stock special stamps won't be affected anyway.

Links in the table are to the main blogposts for the issue.

13th January	Stranger Things (Neflix series) Blockbuster issue with all sorts of extras
21st January	Concorde supersonic airliner  8 x 1st, 4 x 1st MS
19th February	Hornby 125th    8 x 1st, 4 x 1st MS
26th February	Roses - 50th Anniversary of the first set of stamps dedicated to this flower, which was issued on the centenary of the Royal National Rose Society
20th March	Lord of The Rings. Another blockbuster issue with all sorts of extras
26th March	New Tariff definitives
21st April	Centenary of the Birth of Queen Elizabeth II 8 x 1st, 4 x 1st MS, PSB
21st May	Castles  - these, or new ones?   As it turns out, some old, some new.
23rd June	Waterfalls 5 x 1st, 5 x 2nd
9 July	Moths 5 x 1st, 5 x 2nd  Elephant Hawk Moth 2020
30 July	Military Jet Aircraft 8 x 1st and 4 x 1st miniature sheet  Avro Vulcan issued in 2018, gets more exposure
20 August	Pets  Dog issued 2024
17 September	Music Giants: Duran Duran Duran Duran in New York City, 2005 By Tendai - https://www.flickr.com/photos/45624184@N00/18523842/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11877728
29  September	Postponed until 1 December
14 October	another issue to be confirmed
3rd November	Christmas
11 November	Remembrance Poppy issued 2008
1 December	another issue to be confirmed

Royal Mail Stamp Programme for 2025

The Royal Mail stamp programme for 2025 can now be published and all those who contributed to our competition can now see how accurate their predictions were.  (Answer - not very!  Four readers sent in lists which contained 3 of the subjects on the list (including Christmas so really only two), and one of those had a suggestion which may be a third.

In fact some subjects not included in the list had more or as many supporters, with Jane Austen having 4. Nobody got the two Music Legends correct, and only one person suggested the right TV programme, although two others were also suggested.  One subject was suggested by 7 readers and is included in the programme.  (More details below.)

The subjects as listed below are as Royal Mail provided them to us in autumn 2024,, updated in spring 2025.  I have added (in brackets) associated anniversaries which may or may not be the reason behind the issue.

This year fewer of the stamp issues are media/entertainment related, leaving more (including Christmas) more directly relevant.

This programme should be made public at the same time as the Vicar of Dibley stamps which are on a separate post. 

So this year we have two UK television programmes and another Music Giants - an Australian.  There are some very obvious anniversaries, although whether the anniversaries will be specified on the stamps remains to be seen.  

Many people think that Monopoly is a British invention because the original UK version was produced by John Waddington, but that was under licence from US toy and gamemaker Parker Brothers.  But it's hard to see the Peanuts link with the UK.   

But as can be seen from the previous British stamps shown, many of the topics have already been covered in greater or lesser detail in the past. 

Other subjects which might have been covered, and which were suggested by readers ...

- The 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen (yes, she's appeared before, but this is a worthy anniversary.)

- The Centenary of John Logie Baird's first demonstrations of  Television.

- The Women's Rugby World Cup and the Snooker World Cup.

- Television soap EastEnders, and sitcom Fawlty Towers - 40th anniversary of first broadcasts.

- under Music Giants, the following were suggested: Oasis, Bob Marley, Kate Bush, George Michael, Bay City Rollers.

- thematic suggestions included Art Deco Buildings, Coins, Sports Cars, Reintroduced Species, Small Pets, the Anglo-Saxons, Reptiles. (Sorry if I missed any!)

I'm sure there will be a significant number of Prestige Stamp Books and Collector Sheets.  If you are still buying everything, it will be an even more expensive year.  I'll do my best to continue to provide you with all the information I can.

PRIZE TIME - one person's name features in two issues this year.  The name is the same, the person is different.

When you spot it, email me with your name and address - don't leave the answer as a comment - and  I'll send some philatelic prize which has not yet been decided!

14th January	The Vicar of Dibley, television situation comedy (30 years)
30th January (Thanks John H)	The Royal Armouries
18th February	Music Giants - AC/DC (Australian band founded by two Scots)
11th March	Garden Wildlife
27 March 15th April Updated 23 January	British Myths & Legends
Also 27 March	Airmail definitives
1st May (Yes, this means no stamps in April.)	Valour and Victory Stories of the Second World War; overprinted sheet for Europhilex 2025
22nd May	The Chronicles of Narnia  (75 years since the first book by C S Lewis was published.) I had a report today, 6 May, of somebody being offered the MS in a post office - and buying it of course!
12th June	Royal Observatory at Greenwich - 350th Anniversary of Founding
3rd July	Fungi
24th July	Peanuts
14th August	Monty Python (television series 1969-74 - and films)
11th September	Ducks
25th September	Steam Locomotives - 200th anniversary of the Stockton - Darlington Railway
16th October	Monopoly (nobody saw that one coming!)
4th November	Christmas
27th November (Updated 26 June)	The stamps of Queen Victoria (WHY?  QV died in January 1901 so the obvious time to mark the 125th anniversary would be in 2026.)

---

Music is the Spice of life: Music Giants IX, The Spice Girls - 11 January 2024

Royal Mail start the new year yet again with a Music Giants issue, this time for"the biggest girl group of all time, the Spice Girls, on the 30th anniversary of their formation" (*). 

The Spice Girls are global superstars, feminist icons, cultural figureheads and one of the most successful British bands since The Beatles. Between 1996 and 1998, when Spicemania was at its peak, they dominated the airwaves and stormed charts around the world with their inspirational ‘Girl Power!’ ethos and catchy pop hits. They have sold over 100 million records worldwide and scored nine UK number one singles.

* Last year the New York Times ranked the Spice Girls only fourth behind Diana Ross and the Supremes, who had 12 number one hits in first place.

The issue consists - as usual - of a set of stamps and a miniature sheet. The 15 stamps in total are all 1st class, meaning a basic cost of £18.75.

The stamps.

Set of 10 x 1st class Spice Girls stamps issued 11 January 2024.

Miniature sheet of five x 1st class Spice Girls stamps issued 11 January 2024.

The sheet stamps consist of five showing each group member individually, and five group shots from "some of their most iconic live performances internationally and in the UK."

 

For details, see Acknowledgements below.

 

The miniature sheet shows each of the band members in an iconic group photo. 

 

 

Technical Details and acknowledgements

The 41 x 30 mm gummed stamps have been printed in lithography by International Security Printers in sheets of 50 in horizontal se-tenant strips of 5,  perforated 14.5 x 14. 

The 180 x 74 mm self-adhesive miniature sheet contains 26 x 36 mm stamps printed in lithography by International Security Printers perforated 14 x14.

Designed by Supple Studio.
Acknowledgements in stamp order: (1) Spice Girls performing at the BRIT Awards, 1997 © Shutterstock.com; Melanie Chisholm performing at the BRIT Awards, London, 1998 © Richard Young/Shutterstock.com; Spice Girls performing during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games © Johannes Eisele/AFP/ Getty Images; Geri Halliwell performing at the BRIT Awards, London, 1997 © Dave Benett/Getty Images; Spice Girls performing in San Jose, California, 2007 © Matt Baron/Shutterstock. com; 

(2) Emma Bunton performing at Wembley Arena, London, 1998 © Pete Still/Redferns/Getty Images; Spice Girls performing in Istanbul, 1997 © 2024 Spice Girls; Victoria Beckham performing during The Return of the Spice Girls Tour at Madison Square Garden, New York City, 2008 © MJ Kim/Spice Girls LLP via Getty Images; Spice Girls performing in Dublin, 1998 © Dave Hogan/Getty Images; Melanie Brown performing at the BRIT Awards, London, 1997 © JMEnternational/Redferns/Getty Images. Under license to Bravado Merchandising. All rights reserved. © 2024 Spice Girls. 

MS: Spice Girls, photograph by Christophe Gstalder © Spice Girls/ Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection/Alamy Stock Photo. Under license to Bravado Merchandising. All rights reserved. © 2024 Spice Girls.

Products available

Set of 10 stamps, miniature sheet, first day covers (2), presentation pack, prestige stamp book (PSB), press sheet of 12 minitaure sheets (edition of 200), stamp cards, fan sheets (2), collectors sheets (2), gold stamp set, platinum mini-sheet, framed products, print, stamps & MS each in a special souvenir carrier, limited edition PSB.   

Prestige Stamp Book, price £23.70.

As expected the PSB contains all the stamps in the same form as they are otherwise available, plus a pane of King Charles III definitive stamps coded M23L MPIL, with labels showing stills from the videos 2 Become 1 and Viva Forever.  (Click on the images to enlarge.)

Front cover of regular book.

Back cover of regular book.

 

 

Front cover of Limited Edition book.

Limited Edition PSB has the same stamps but is has different covers and comes with a certificate of authenticity.  Limited to 1994 copies, price £49.99. 

Collectors sheets

One collectors sheet contains a full set of 10 stamps, the other two sets of stamps from the miniature sheet, both accompanied by pictorial labels of the group, price £13.70 each.  Both are self-adhesive making the 'sheet' stamps different to those issued in sheets.

Spice Girls Collectors sheet of 10 stamps and labels.

Spice Girls Collectors sheet of two sets of miniature sheet stamps, with labels.

Fan Sheets

1. containing two each of the 1997 Brit Award and Istanbul stamps. Size A4, litho with PVA gum. Edition of 5,000 - £7.00.

2. containing one each of the miniature sheet stamps.  Size 230 x 190 mm, litho self-adhesive, edition of 5,000 price £7.50.

As usual, the first issue of the year has garnered wide publicity in the general media. 

---

Royal Mail stamp programme for 2024

The Royal Mail stamp programme for 2024 can now be published and all those who contributed to our competition can now see how accurate their predictions were.

As has been widely discussed already, The Spice Girls are up first (although not with the stamp shown alongside which was suggested by a reader a couple of years ago), with a second Music Giants issue, for The Who, in the autumn. 

The subjects as listed below are as Royal Mail provided them to us in autumn 2023.  I have added (in brackets) associated anniversaries which may or may not be the reason behind the issue.

This year only five of the five of the stamp issues is media/entertainment related, leaving 10 (including Christmas) more directly relevant.

This programme has been made public at the same time as the Spice Girls stamps which are on a separate post.

11th January	Music Giants IX: Spice Girls
1st February	Weather: 170th Anniversary of the Meteorological Office (but also Centenary of The Shipping Forecast)   §§§§
20th February	Vikings: 40 years since the opening of the Jorvik Centre in York.
12th March	Dinosaurs
? April	New Definitives for tariff change - possible, and likely to be airmail only
16th April	Centenary of Commemorative Stamps (British Empire Exhibition)
16th May	Peppa Pig (Children's TV animation first aired 2004)
6th June	Dogs §§§
20th June	Red Arrows 60th Anniversary
25th July	Dungeons and Dragons §§§
13th August	Tower of London
3rd September	Porridge (TV programme which first aired in 1974)
26th September	Spiders
17th October	Music Giants X: The Who §
5th November	Christmas
30th November	Sir Winston Churchill (150th Anniversary of Birth) §§§§§§§

The indicators § show how many competition participants predicted he particular issue/subject in some way.  Everybody included Christmas of course.

My first reaction was that the subjects looked more interesting than in many recent years.  It remains to be seen just why the Dinosaurs, Dogs, Spiders and Tower of London sets are included and any events or anniversaries that they are associated with.

Various Royal Houses were covered in the past, and 2017's Ancient Britain covered the pre-historic period, so The Vikings may be another in a series.  Similarly the Tower of London probably continues the Royal Palaces series.

Porridge is likely to be in similar style to Only Fools and Horses or Blackadder.

Time will tell; hopefully when the official announcement is made there will be more flesh on these bare bones.

---