U.S. Postal Service Continues Its Tradition of Celebrating Kwanzaa

What:

USPS will issue its 11th stamp celebrating Kwanzaa, the pan-African holiday observed by millions of Americans each year from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.

The first-day-of-issue event is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #KwanzaaStamp.

When:

Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 12 p.m. ET

Where:

Association for the Study of African American Life and History
111th annual conference
Norfolk Waterside Marriott Hotel
235 E. Main St.
Norfolk, VA 23510

RSVP:

Attendees are encouraged to register at www.usps.com/kwanzaastamp.

Background:

The pan-African holiday Kwanzaa, observed annually from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, brings together family, community and culture. Created in the United States in 1966 and drawing on a variety of African traditions, it was intended to help unify African Americans from a wide array of religious and cultural backgrounds. The name “Kwanzaa” is derived from the Swahili phrase meaning “first fruits.”

The 2026 Kwanzaa stamp — the 11th since 1997 in an ongoing series — brings a fresh approach. While many of the stamps have portrayed family, this is the first one to feature a father and daughter. In addition, the color scheme — lime green, pink and yellow — is an updated take on the customary black, red and green.

On the traditional side, the stamp artwork incorporates two of the seven Kwanzaa symbols: the gift (zawadi), held by the daughter, and the unity cup (kikombe cha umoja), held by the father.

Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp with original artwork by Cannaday Chapman.

The Kwanzaa stamp will be issued as a Forever stamp and will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

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