Christmas 2026 stamps unveiled by Royal Mail

Royal Mail has unveiled its Christmas stamps for this year - featuring scenes from the Nativity.

The series of five stamps have been jointly created by graphic designer Gareth Howat and illustrator Rebecca Sutherland.

The stamps depict familiar scenes of Mary and Joseph travelling, baby Jesus, an angel, the shepherds and the Three Wise Men.

This year's collection marks the 60th anniversary of the first-ever Christmas special stamp.

Sutherland said it was an "absolute honour" to be given the opportunity to illustrate the Christmas stamps for the Royal Mail.

She said she has loved stamps since she was a child and had even collected them. "Being asked to create a set myself feels incredibly special," she added.

The Christmas stamps from recent years have featured snowy scenes of UK cathedrals, or lyrics from famous carols - although 2025 also showed scenes from the Nativity.

The first Christmas stamp collection came out in December 1966 after a children's art competition was announced by the then-postmaster Tony Benn.

David Gold, of Royal Mail, said: "We hope this year's Christmas stamps will add an extra touch of festive magic to the millions of greetings sent to family and friends at home and around the world."