2026 Program Guide · Postal Intelligence
2026 USPS Postal Promotions: The Complete Guide to Postage Discounts
Every 2026 USPS promotional program: discount percentages, eligibility requirements, registration windows, and how to plan them into your direct mail calendar to maximize postage savings.
What Are USPS Postal Promotions?
Each year, USPS offers a calendar of promotional programs that give qualifying mailers postage discounts, typically 5% on base promotions with an additional 1% available per add-on. These programs are designed to encourage adoption of technologies, techniques, and practices that increase engagement with mail.
For organizations that send substantial volumes of First-Class Mail or Marketing Mail, the savings from a single promotion can be meaningful, and stacking a base promotion with add-ons can push total discounts to 7%.
Registration and submission are handled through the USPS Business Customer Gateway. Mailers must register for each promotion they intend to use during the registration window and meet the specific eligibility requirements for each mailing that claims the discount.
How the 2026 Promotions Calendar Works
USPS typically announces the following year’s promotional calendar in September or October. The 2026 promotions were announced in late 2025, and registration for several programs opened before the calendar year began.
Each promotion has two dates to track: the registration window (when you sign up) and the promotion period (when your eligible mailings must be postmarked). You must be registered before the promotion period begins for your mailings to qualify.
USPS structures 2026 promotions in two categories:
- Base Promotions: 5% discount on eligible mail pieces that meet the promotion’s creative or technological requirements. A mailer can claim one base promotion per mailing.
- Add-On Promotions: 1% each. Up to two add-ons can be claimed per mailing. Add-ons must be combined with a qualifying base promotion; they cannot be claimed alone.
2026 Base Promotions
Tactile, Sensory & Interactive Mail Piece Engagement
Encourages mailers to enhance customer engagement through advanced print techniques: textured and embossed paper, specialty substrates, scented inks, pop-ups, infinite folds, and other dimensional treatments that engage recipients through touch, sight, smell, or sound.
Continuous Contact Promotion
Rewards multi-touch direct mail campaigns that send follow-up mailings to the same address. The follow-up mailing must complement or build upon, but not duplicate, the initial mailing. The discount applies to the follow-up mailings, not the initial drop.
Catalog Insights Promotion
The highest discount in the 2026 promotional calendar. Applies to catalogs of 12 or more pages sent as Marketing Mail or First-Class Mail. The program aims to support catalog mailers and encourage the format.
Integrated Technology Promotion
Encourages integration of digital technologies into physical mail pieces. The promotion period is flexible. It starts on the mailer’s first mail date claiming the discount and runs for up to 6 consecutive months within the 2026 calendar year. This makes it accessible to programs with varying mail schedules.
First-Class Mail Advertising Promotion
Supports businesses using First-Class Mail to deliver advertising messages, including standalone advertisements or marketing messages incorporated onto First-Class Mail pieces. A powerful option for financial services and other regulated industries where First-Class Mail is required.
Mail Growth Incentive
A volume-based incentive that rewards mailers who grow their 2026 mail volume beyond their 2025 total (or above one million pieces, whichever is greater). Mailers earn a 30% postage credit on the incremental pieces, applied quarterly. This is a significant opportunity for organizations expanding their direct mail programs in 2026.
2026 Add-On Promotions
Add-on promotions cannot be claimed on their own. They must be paired with a qualifying base promotion. Each adds 1% to the base promotion’s discount. Up to two add-ons can be claimed on a single mailing, bringing total potential savings to 7% (5% base + 1% + 1%).
Informed Delivery Add-On
Create an Informed Delivery campaign alongside your physical mailing. USPS Informed Delivery allows subscribers to preview their incoming mail digitally before it arrives. Pairing your direct mail piece with a digital Informed Delivery campaign earns the additional 1% discount.
USPS Informed Delivery Promotion infoSustainability Add-On
Earn an additional 1% discount by demonstrating that the paper used in your mailing came from certified, responsible sources. Approved certifications include FSC, SFI, PEFC, Bureau Veritas, and SCS Global Services chain-of-custody documentation.
USPS Sustainability Add-On info2026 Promotions Quick Reference
Use this table as a planning reference. Always verify current dates and requirements on PostalPro before registration, as USPS may update program details.
| Promotion | Discount | Promotion Period | Registration Opens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tactile, Sensory & Interactive | 5% | Jan 1 – Jun 30, 2026 | Oct 15, 2025 ✓ Open |
| Catalog Insights | 10% | Oct 1, 2025 – Jun 30, 2026 | Aug 15, 2025 ✓ Open |
| Integrated Technology | 5% | 6 months within Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2026 | Nov 15, 2025 ✓ Open |
| Continuous Contact | 5% | Apr 1 – Dec 31, 2026 | Feb 15, 2026 |
| First-Class Mail Advertising | 5% | Confirm on PostalPro | Jul 15, 2026 |
| Mail Growth Incentive | 30% credit on incremental | Full year 2026 | Confirm with USPS |
| Informed Delivery (Add-On) | +1% | Confirm on PostalPro | Confirm on PostalPro |
| Sustainability (Add-On) | +1% | Sep 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2026 | Nov 20, 2025 ✓ Open |
How to Register for USPS Promotions
All USPS promotional registrations are handled through the USPS Business Customer Gateway. You’ll need a Business Customer Gateway account to register, submit eligible mailings, and track your promotional discounts.
- Step 1: Log into the Business Customer Gateway at gateway.usps.com and navigate to the Mailing Promotions section
- Step 2: Review the promotion guidebook for each program you’re interested in. Eligibility details vary by promotion
- Step 3: Register for each promotion during its registration window. Registration must be completed before eligible mailings are submitted
- Step 4: When preparing your mailing, work with your mail service provider or production team to ensure the mailpiece meets the promotion’s technical requirements
- Step 5: Submit your mailings during the promotion period with the appropriate promotion codes in your Mail.dat or eDoc submission
When Are Next Year’s Promotions Announced?
The PostalPro website (postalpro.usps.com/promotions) is the authoritative source for current promotion calendars, guidebooks, and registration status. Always verify dates and requirements there before planning campaigns around specific promotions.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can claim one base promotion plus up to two add-ons on a single mailing. You cannot claim two base promotions simultaneously.
Eligibility varies by promotion. Some apply to both classes; others are limited to one. Always check the specific eligibility requirements in the promotion guidebook before planning your campaign.
If a mailing is found to not meet the promotion’s requirements upon review, the discounted postage may be recouped. Working with a knowledgeable production partner helps ensure eligibility before mail is dropped.
Most promotions explicitly include nonprofit Marketing Mail in their eligibility. Nonprofit mailers should review each promotion’s guidebook to confirm, as some have specific requirements for nonprofit-eligible content.
All official guidebooks are available on PostalPro at postalpro.usps.com/promotions/2026guidebooks. These are the authoritative source for eligibility, creative specifications, and registration instructions.
Ready to capture 2026 USPS postage savings?
Amsive’s postal team works with direct mail programs across industries to plan, qualify for, and execute USPS promotional programs. Talk to us about your 2026 mail calendar.