USPS raises Forever stamp price to 82 cents and unveils Barbie-themed stamp series

The United States Postal Service increased the price of its Forever stamp from 78 cents to 82 cents, effective July 12, 2026. The hike is part of a broader effort to manage operating costs.

At the same time, USPS introduced a new pane of ten Barbie Forever stamps, released at the National Barbie Doll Collectors Convention in Austin, Texas. The stamps showcase Barbie in ten careers—nurse (1961), surgeon (1973), astronaut (1986), firefighter (1995), paleontologist (1996), sign‑language teacher (2000), robotics engineer (2018), judge (2019), soccer player (2022), and musical artist (2025)—highlighting the doll’s evolving role over six decades. Designed by USPS art director Ethel Kessler in collaboration with Mattel, the stamps carry the slogan “You can be anything.”

Following the price change, the Postal Inspection Service warned Michigan residents about counterfeit Forever stamps being sold online at deep discounts of 20‑50 %. Scammers target buyers through marketplaces and third‑party vendors. The agency advises purchasers to use only Approved Postal Providers™ and to avoid stamps sold at unusually low prices, especially from vendors outside the United States.