2026 marks the 70th anniversary of the EUROPA stamp. To mark the milestone, PostEurop launched a Europe-wide design competition under the theme 70th Anniversary of the EUROPA stamp and, for the first time in decades, chose a single common design to be carried by all participating postal administrations alongside their own national stamps.
The winning artwork was created by Klaus Welp, a German-Finnish artist working for Posti Finland: seven dots climbing a diagonal dotted line over a blend of European flag colours. The campaign opened on Europe Day, 9 May 2026 and runs through September, with issues from more than fifty administrations. This post covers the anniversary issue itself — the design, its symbolism, the national companions, and a complete overview of 55 EUROPA 2026 issues with dates, designers and images.
The 70th Anniversary Issue
The anniversary year breaks with the usual EUROPA format: instead of every administration interpreting a shared theme in its own design, PostEurop invited its members to submit ideas for a single common artwork for the birthday year. 15 creative submissions were received, and the entry from Posti Finland, designed by Klaus Welp, was selected as the winner and adopted for the joint issue.
- Theme70th Anniversary of the EUROPA stamp
- SelectionPostEurop competition — 15 submissions, won by Klaus Welp for Posti Finland
- 9 May 2026Campaign launched on Europe Day
- Through Sep.Stamps issued by more than fifty postal administrations, each adding a national companion stamp
- In this postAll 55 documented issues with first day, value, format and designer
The Common Design: Seven Dots for Seven Decades
The symbolism is deliberately simple. The diagonally rising dotted line reads both as the perforation of a stamp and as forward momentum; the seven dots connected by a straight line stand for seventy years of unified effort by the postal operators of the continent. The background blends gradients and dotted patterns in the colours of the European flags — a cheerful mix representing unity in diversity among the member nations.
Klaus Welp frames the stamp as a statement about communication itself: in an increasingly turbulent world, he argues, the need for peace, unity and reliable communication has never been greater — a strong and efficient postal system is not only a means of connection but a cornerstone of democratic stability and public trust. "An efficient national postal system can be seen as a fundamental asset of democracy, ensuring its functioning and providing security for citizens," he explained of the design.
Tommi Kantola, Design Manager at Posti, described the result this way: "The seven dots, connected by straight lines, symbolize seventy years of unified effort by postal operators across the continent. The background reflects a joyful mix of colors from the European flags and symbolizes the unity of the member countries."
National Interpretations
Most countries print the winning design alongside a national stamp of their own — a dove in Luxembourg, intertwined figures in Hungary, a "Tree of Life" in Moldova, clock towers from seven European cities in Bulgaria, or Ukraine's white doves above the capitals of Europe. Switzerland, Croatia, Monaco, Italy and others add their own artistic voice to the shared anniversary, making 2026 a rare meeting point of a true joint issue and the traditional EUROPA competition format.
Liechtenstein — CHF 1.90 · 2026-03-02 · Klaus Welp
San Marino — EUR 3.30 · 2026-03-03 · Klaus Welp
Gibraltar — £1.96, £3.16 · 2026-03-30 · Klaus Welp, Stephen Perera
Guernsey — £1.54 · 2026-04-01
Moldova — 12 MDL · 2026-04-03 · Eugeniu Verebceanu
Bosnia and Herzegovina - HRVATSKA POŠTA MOSTAR — 4.00 BAM · 2026-04-05 · Klaus Welp
Romania — 9 Lei, 16 Lei · 2026-04-09 · Mihai Criste
Armenia — 400 AMD · 2026-04-10
Lithuania — EUR 2,05 · 2026-04-10 · K. Welp
Belgium — 3 € · 2026-04-13 · Wim Vandersleyen
Azerbaijan — 1 AZN · 2026-04-15 · Common design
Bosnia & Herzegovina - Pošte Srpske — 3.60 BAM value of one stamp, and 3.60 BAM value of the block · 2026-04-22 · Klaus Welp
Austria — 1.25 · 2026-04-24 · Klaus Welp
Kazakhstan — 1800 tenge · 2026-04-27 · Klaus Welp / G. Umirbekov
Poland — PLN 10 · 2026-04-27 · Klaus Welp / Joanna Fleszar-Haspert
Bulgaria — 0.80 Eur · 2026-04-30 · Damyan Damyanov
Montenegro — 1,00€ · 2026-05-01 · Adela Zejnilović
Andorra - SPAIN — 2 € · 2026-05-05 · Laura Recio Hidalgo
Luxembourg — First stamp: 1,20 € - Second stamp: 1,70 € · 2026-05-05
Republic Of North Macedonia — 184 denars · 2026-05-05 · Loran Kufalo
Slovakia — 3,20 EUR · 2026-05-05 · Adrian Ferda
Spain — 2 € · 2026-05-05 · Laura Recio Hidalgo
Czech Republic — — · 2026-05-06 · Jan Rihak
Finland — €3.00 · 2026-05-06 · Klaus Welp
Germany — 0,95 € · 2026-05-07 · Hanno Schabacker, Berlin
Latvia — 3.00 € · 2026-05-07
Monaco — 2,25 € · 2026-05-07 · Klaus WELP
Serbia — 160 RSD · 2026-05-07
Sweden — 44 KR · 2026-05-07 · Klaus Welp
Switzerland — CHF 1.20 · 2026-05-07 · Klaus Welp / Michael Stuenzi
Croatia — 1.70 € · 2026-05-08
Georgia — 5 GEL · 2026-05-08 · Baadur Koblianidze
Greece — 3,00 € · 2026-05-08
Greenland — DKK 25.00 · 2026-05-08 · Klaus Welp
Jersey — £2.35 · 2026-05-08 · Klaus Welp
Netherlands — €12,60 · 2026-05-08 · Sandra Smulders, Vormgoed, Gouda
Slovenia — — · 2026-05-08 · Natalia Berezina
Vatican City — — · 2026-05-08
Åland — €4.20 · 2026-05-08 · Klaus Welp & Tzenko Stoyanov
Estonia — 3,90 € · 2026-05-09 · Birgit Pajust
France — 2,25€ (international value) · 2026-05-09 · Klaus WELP - Layout : Valérie BESSER
Italy — Class B zone 1 · 2026-05-09 · created by Klaus Welp for Posti Finland
Malta — €2.00 · 2026-05-09 · Klaus Welp
Portugal - Azores — €1,30 · 2026-05-09 · Unidesign/Helder Soares
Portugal - Madeira — €1,30 · 2026-05-09 · Unidesign/Helder Soares
Portugal — €1,30 · 2026-05-09 · Unidesign/Helder Soares
Türkiye — 45 · 2026-05-09 · PTT
Andorra - France — 4,85 € · 2026-05-11
Cyprus — €0,64 · 2026-05-11 · KLAUS WELP
Isle Of Man — £2.63 · 2026-05-20 · EJC Design
Faroe Island — 37,00 DKK · 2026-05-26 · Klaus Welp
Hungary — 4 x 1020HUR · 2026-06-10 · Mrs Krisztina MAROS / Mr Klaus WELP
Bosnia & Herzegovina - Bh Pošta — 2 x 4,00 KM · 2026-06-26 · Tamer Lučarević / Branka Sumenić-Bajić
Ukraine — A-1.2USD · 2026-07-10 · Kost Lavro
Ireland — €3.50 · 2026-09-10
Complete Overview: 55 EUROPA 2026 Issues
The table below lists every EUROPA 2026 issue documented in the familienpass stamp database, with issuing administration, first day, denomination and format. Images are served from europastamps.eu.
| Country / Administration | Issue Date | Value | Format | Designer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liechtenstein | 2026-03-02 | CHF 1.90 | Sheet of 4 | Klaus Welp |
| San Marino | 2026-03-03 | EUR 3.30 | Sheets of 12 stamps | Klaus Welp |
| Gibraltar | 2026-03-30 | £1.96, £3.16 | Sheet of six stamps, three of each value | Klaus Welp, Stephen Perera |
| Guernsey | 2026-04-01 | £1.54 | Sheets of 10 | Mini-sheet Chris Elligott, Stamp: Klaus Welp |
| Moldova | 2026-04-03 | 12 MDL | Sheets of 8 stamps and 1 vigniette | Eugeniu Verebceanu |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina - HRVATSKA POŠTA MOSTAR | 2026-04-05 | 4.00 BAM | Sheets of 8 stamps + 2 vignettes and a block with 1 stamp | Klaus Welp |
| Romania | 2026-04-09 | 9 Lei, 16 Lei | 2 minisheets of 5 stamps + 1 label, 2 sheets of 28 stamps | Mihai Criste |
| Armenia | 2026-04-10 | 400 AMD | Sheets of 10 stamps | Artist and designer: Klaus Welp (Posti Ltd, Finland) Designer: Davi… |
| Lithuania | 2026-04-10 | EUR 2,05 | sheet of 10 stamps | K. Welp |
| Belgium | 2026-04-13 | 3 € | Sheet of 2 stamps | Wim Vandersleyen |
| Azerbaijan | 2026-04-15 | 1 AZN | Sheets of 4 stamps | Common design |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina - Pošte Srpske | 2026-04-22 | 3.60 BAM value of one stamp, and 3.60 BAM value of the block | Sheet of 9 stamps and a block | Klaus Welp |
| Austria | 2026-04-24 | 1.25 | — | Klaus Welp |
| Kazakhstan | 2026-04-27 | 1800 tenge | Sheet of 6 stamps | Klaus Welp / G. Umirbekov |
| Poland | 2026-04-27 | PLN 10 | Sheets of 12 stamps (tete-beche) | Klaus Welp / Joanna Fleszar-Haspert |
| Bulgaria | 2026-04-30 | 0.80 Eur | Sheets of 6 stamps and 2 tabs | Damyan Damyanov |
| Montenegro | 2026-05-01 | 1,00€ | Sheets 8+1 | Adela Zejnilović |
| Andorra - SPAIN | 2026-05-05 | 2 € | Sheets of 25 | Laura Recio Hidalgo |
| Luxembourg | 2026-05-05 | First stamp: 1,20 € - Second stamp: 1,70 € | sheets of 10 stamps | First stamps (Dove) Jill Els [Luxembourg], Second Stamp (common vis… |
| Republic Of North Macedonia | 2026-05-05 | 184 denars | Sheet of 9 stamps | Loran Kufalo |
| Slovakia | 2026-05-05 | 3,20 EUR | Sheets of 8 stamps | Adrian Ferda |
| Spain | 2026-05-05 | 2 € | Sheets of 25, Premium Sheets of 8 | Laura Recio Hidalgo |
| Czech Republic | 2026-05-06 | — | Sheets of 6 stamps | Jan Rihak |
| Finland | 2026-05-06 | €3.00 | Sheet of 10 stamps | Klaus Welp |
| Germany | 2026-05-07 | 0,95 € | Sheet of 10 stamps | Hanno Schabacker, Berlin |
| Latvia | 2026-05-07 | 3.00 € | Sheeets of 10 stamps | — |
| Monaco | 2026-05-07 | 2,25 € | Sheets of 10 stamps | Klaus WELP |
| Serbia | 2026-05-07 | 160 RSD | Sheets of 8 stamps with vignette in the middle | Klaus Welp, Graphic Designer (Finland) – stamp with a face value of… |
| Sweden | 2026-05-07 | 44 KR | — | Klaus Welp |
| Switzerland | 2026-05-07 | CHF 1.20 | Sheets of 16 stamps | Klaus Welp / Michael Stuenzi |
| Croatia | 2026-05-08 | 1.70 € | 20-stamp sheets | Dean Roksandić from Croatia and Klaus Welp from Finland, Germany |
| Georgia | 2026-05-08 | 5 GEL | Sheets of 6 stamps | Baadur Koblianidze |
| Greece | 2026-05-08 | 3,00 € | Sheet of 8 (8 complete sets per sheet) & 4.000 numbered booklets, each containing 2 joined stamps perforated on the vertical side and imperforate on the horizontal side | Design: Klaus Welp - Adaptation: Anthoula Lygka |
| Greenland | 2026-05-08 | DKK 25.00 | Sheets of 10 identical stamps | Klaus Welp |
| Jersey | 2026-05-08 | £2.35 | Sheets of ten | Klaus Welp |
| Netherlands | 2026-05-08 | €12,60 | Sheet of 6 stamps in 6 identical designs | Sandra Smulders, Vormgoed, Gouda |
| Slovenia | 2026-05-08 | — | Sheet of 8 stamps | Natalia Berezina |
| Vatican City | 2026-05-08 | — | — | — |
| Åland | 2026-05-08 | €4.20 | Sheets with 2 x 15 stamps | Klaus Welp & Tzenko Stoyanov |
| Estonia | 2026-05-09 | 3,90 € | Sheets 5x5 | Birgit Pajust |
| France | 2026-05-09 | 2,25€ (international value) | Sheet of 12 stamps | Klaus WELP - Layout : Valérie BESSER |
| Italy | 2026-05-09 | Class B zone 1 | Sheet of 45 stamps | created by Klaus Welp for Posti Finland |
| Malta | 2026-05-09 | €2.00 | 11 stamps + tab in a sheet | Klaus Welp |
| Portugal | 2026-05-09 | €1,30 | Sheets of 10 stamps | Unidesign/Helder Soares |
| Portugal - Azores | 2026-05-09 | €1,30 | sheets of 10 stamps | Unidesign/Helder Soares |
| Portugal - Madeira | 2026-05-09 | €1,30 | Sheets of 10 stamps | Unidesign/Helder Soares |
| Türkiye | 2026-05-09 | 45 | — | PTT |
| Andorra - France | 2026-05-11 | 4,85 € | — | Govern d'Andorra. Layout Philaposte Illustration Klaus WELP |
| Cyprus | 2026-05-11 | €0,64 | Sheets 8 | KLAUS WELP |
| Isle Of Man | 2026-05-20 | £2.63 | Sheets of 10 | EJC Design |
| Faroe Island | 2026-05-26 | 37,00 DKK | Sheets of 20, selfadhesive booklet of 4 stamps + 2 labels | Klaus Welp |
| Hungary | 2026-06-10 | 4 x 1020HUR | miniature sheet of 2 x 2 stamps | Mrs Krisztina MAROS / Mr Klaus WELP |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina - Bh Pošta | 2026-06-26 | 2 x 4,00 KM | Two sheets of 10 stamps and block of two stamps | Tamer Lučarević / Branka Sumenić-Bajić |
| Ukraine | 2026-07-10 | A-1.2USD | Sheet of 4 stamps | Kost Lavro |
| Ireland | 2026-09-10 | €3.50 | Sheet of 4 | Design: Klaus Welp. Typography and Layout: The Stone Twins |
Technical Specifications — Common Design Issue
| Theme | 70th Anniversary of the EUROPA stamp (anniversary joint issue) |
| Patron | PostEurop — Association of European Public Postal Operators |
| Common Design | Klaus Welp (German-Finnish artist), created for Posti Finland — winner of the PostEurop competition (15 entries) |
| Motif | Rising diagonal dotted line (stamp perforation) with seven dots (seven decades) over a blend of European flag colours |
| Campaign Launch | Europe Day, 9 May 2026 (campaign runs through September) |
| Printing Process | Offset (most issues); printers include Cartor, Bundesdruckerei, bpost, AKD, Joh. Enschedé, Printex |
| Issues Documented | 55 stamp sheets and miniature sheets from European and participating postal administrations |
Collecting the 70th Anniversary Issue
The anniversary set is unusually easy to collect as a whole. Because every administration prints the same common design, the artwork appears in more than fifty national variations — different currency, format, perforation and printer — while the companion stamps show each country's own take on the year: a dove in Luxembourg, intertwined figures in Hungary, Ukraine's white doves above European capitals, clock towers in Bulgaria.
Three ways to approach it: collect the pure common design (Finland, France, Sweden and others issue it standalone), build a country pair of common design plus national stamp, or chase the complete run of all 55 issues listed below. With a single campaign running from Europe Day to September, complete sets are realistic within one season — a rare thing for a pan-European programme.