Swiss Post celebrates the new beginnings
Bright lanterns, festive sounds and luminous colours: Lunar New Year is a time for celebrating new beginnings. Swiss Post wants to raise awareness of the festival in Switzerland and is dedicating two stamps to the occasion.
On 17 February 2026, millions of people around the world will celebrate Lunar New Year, which marks the beginning of the new year in many Asian countries, most famously China. As the date is based on the lunar calendar, New Year falls on a different day each year, always between the end of January and mid-February. It also marks the beginning of a new year in the Chinese zodiac, which assigns each year to an animal. 2026 is the Year of the Horse, which represents energy, vitality and dynamism in Chinese astrology.
These qualities are reflected in the design of the stamps. At first glance, the colourful image catches the eye, but if you look more closely, you’ll discover small details: patterns inspired by Chinese and Swiss folk art, as well as flower motifs that connect the two cultures. The special sheet itself can even be hung up as a decoration, like a small lantern.
A piece of culture for you to collect
Swiss Post’s special stamps celebrate the Lunar New Year and offer collectors, travellers and anyone else who’s curious a piece of cultural diversity of their very own. The miniature artworks combine traditional symbolism with modern design and shine a spotlight on the Year of the Horse in Switzerland.
