Five Postal Promotions in 2026

Postage increases may now be limited to once a year (through 2030) thanks to a January 2026 Postal Regulatory Commission decision. But saving money on campaigns? That’s a never-ending necessity in a competitive marketplace. Fortunately, as it has since 2013, the USPS is running a promotions program offering incentives to marketers. By using innovative mailing solutions, they can improve customer engagement and also boost their return on investment (ROI).

Compared to 2025, this year’s promotions were raised to a higher base 5% discount, while catalogs can qualify for 10%. With add-ons included, you can stack up savings that reach up to 12% on qualifying campaigns.

2026 Postal Promotions

Here’s a rundown of the five 2026 USPS Promotions & Incentives:

1. Tactile, Sensory and Interactive (5%)

First-Class and Marketing Mail creates a multi-sensory (touch, smell, taste, sound) customer experience with specialty inks, coatings, embossing, or interactive and dimensional elements. It runs through June 30.

Why it matters: Mail that appeals to senses beyond sight cuts through digital fatigue and increases brand recall and response rates.

2. Integrated Technology (5%)

This program encourages mail that taps technologies like QR codes linking to personalized landing pages, augmented reality (AR), Near-Field Communication (NFC), video-in-print, or AI-driven personalization. It can be used for any consecutive six-month period during 2026.

Why it matters: Offering tech-enabled mailpieces lets you track engagement, extend campaigns online, and improve attribution.

3. Continuous Contact (5%)

Returning for its second year, this incentive discounts non-identical follow-up mailings that complement the first message mailed. This one runs from April 1–Dec. 31, 2026.

Why it matters: Consistent touchpoints across a series increase engagement and build loyalty. It also helps audiences recall brand messaging.

4. First-Class Mail Advertising (5%)

This promotion incentivizes advertisers to use First-Class Mail for letters, flats, or cards with a focus on personalized messaging and urgency. Promotion period runs from Sept.1–Dec. 31, 2026.

Why it matters: Faster delivery and perceived value make this a strong choice for time-sensitive offers or high-value target segments.

5. NEW! Catalog Insights (10%)

This is an amazing opportunity. It offers a 10% discount on catalogs that include at least 12 bound pages with product listings, visuals, pricing, and ordering details. It runs through June 2026.

Why it matters: Catalogs drive engagement that leads to conversion for both e-commerce and brick-and-mortar retail. A well-designed catalog that qualifies is more cost-effective than ever.

Stacking Add-Ons for Maximum Savings

Running through the end of the year, two add-on incentives return from 2025 to again stack on any base promotion:

Informed Delivery Add-On (1%) also bridges the gap between the physical and digital worlds while providing additional impressions for your campaigns. As of Feb. 2025, 77.8 million people are already registered users for this USPS service.

Sustainability Add-On (1%) helps mailers support forest health when using certified sustainable paper.

When these add-ons are paired with a 5% base promotion, total savings can reach 7%. When stacked on the 10% Catalog Insights discount, total incentives can go up to 12% — a significant reduction on postage.

Budgets are tight. But marketers also expect that these promotions can deliver response and good ROI while also elevating the value of mail with new technologies. With the right partner, they can improve the performance of their mail, save money, and position themselves for growth well into the future.