The key facts

  • A set of five stamps dedicated to Nativity scenes
  • 60th anniversary of the first Christmas special stamp of 1966
  • Designers: Gareth Howat and Rebecca Sutherland

A new series marking the 60th anniversary of a tradition

Royal Mail has unveiled its 2026 Christmas stamps — a set of five stamps featuring Nativity scenes: Mary and Joseph on their journey, the baby Jesus, an angel, shepherds and the three wise men. The designs were created jointly by graphic designer Gareth Howat and illustrator Rebecca Sutherland. The issue marks the 60th anniversary of the first Christmas special stamp, issued in December 1966 following a children's drawing competition announced by the then Postmaster General, Tony Benn.

Reaction and context

Sutherland called the invitation to design the stamps an 'absolute honour': she said she has loved stamps since childhood and even collected them, so creating her own set is 'incredibly exciting'. Royal Mail spokesman David Gold expressed the hope that the stamps would add 'a touch of festive magic' to the millions of greetings sent to loved ones across the country and around the world. In recent years, Royal Mail's Christmas issues have depicted snow-covered cathedrals of Britain or lines from well-known Christmas carols, although Nativity scenes were also used in 2025. Separately, the BBC previously reported on the increase in the price of a first-class stamp to £1.80 from 7 April — a change that affects the practical cost of sending greetings, to which the new issue is tied.

A handout of the Royal Mail Christmas 2026 stamps featuring scenes from the Nativity with Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus in a stable, and them travelling on a donkey.Image source, Royal Mail
Image caption,

Two stamps from the Royal Mail's annual Christmas collection

Rows of first and second class stampsAn illustration on a first class stamp depicting Mary and the baby Jesus Mary is wearing a pink patterned headdress, an orange and pink dress and is holding baby Jesus, who is swaddled in a white blanket. Behind them is a purple sky with gold stars and a gold moon.