As direct-mail professionals know all too well, postage rates are never going down. That’s why the upcoming 2026-cycle promotions from the USPS are more than just “nice to have” — they’re essential levers to help brands, agencies, and mailers stretch their budgets and amplify impact.
Here’s a breakdown of what’s new, what’s changed, and how you can lean into the opportunity.
Based on USPS announcements and industry overviews, here are the major shifts to watch.
Four of the existing core promotions will continue in 2026, with discount levels increasing to 5% for each.
A new promotion has been introduced for catalog mailers: the Catalog Insights Promotion — offering up to 10% discount.
Add-on discounts remain available: the Informed Delivery Add‑On (1%) and the Sustainability Add‑On (1%) — both stackable with a base promotion.
The ongoing Mail Growth Incentive (for First-Class & Marketing Mail) remains a major lever for volume-based savings.
This one deserves special attention if you send catalogs or large-format product mailers:
Discount: Up to 10% for qualified catalog pieces.
Promotion period: October 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026. Registration opens in mid-August 2025.
Eligibility: The catalog must be at least 12 pages (including cover), bound (stapled/stitched/glued/fastened), contain product/service listings with images and pricing or an alternate disposition, and allow order fulfillment (via web, phone, form). It may be letter-shaped, flat-shaped, or parcel-shaped under Marketing Mail rates.
Why this matters: For brands that rely on catalogs, the 10% discount offers a meaningful offset to rising postage and printing costs. It also encourages you to optimize your mail piece for commerce (images + ordering info) rather than just brand awareness.
In 2026, the discount cap rises to 5% (from lower levels in previous years).
Eligible mail: Marketing Mail or First-Class letters & flats that include technology integrations (QR codes, augmented reality, near-field communication, “video in print,” etc.).
Registration period: Starting Nov 15, 2025, running into 2026; promotion window: any six consecutive months in 2026.
Why this matters: This promotion rewards strategic mail designers who bridge print + digital. If your campaign integrates mobile/digital triggers, you can layer savings while also boosting engagement.
Discount increases to 5% in 2026.
Promotion period: Jan 1 – Jun 30, 2026. Registration window opens (around/after Oct 2025).
Eligible mail: Marketing Mail or First-Class letters & flats that feature sensory or interactive elements (textured papers/inks, scented inks, pop-ups, zip-string carriers, etc.).
Why this matters: In a landscape where digital messaging dominates, physical mail stands out when it triggers sensory responses. This promotion rewards those creative investments.
Promotion window: April 1 – Dec 31, 2026 (in most materials). Registration opens early 2026.
Purpose: For mailers who execute multi-touch campaigns (i.e., follow-up mailings to the same audience) and build on an initial mailing.
Why this matters: Many campaigns now use nurture flows and repeated touches. This gives a financial incentive to structure mail campaigns with more than one touch.
Discount: 5% in 2026.
Promotion period: September 1 – December 31, 2026 (registration opens mid-2026).
Mail class: First-Class letters & flats that include advertising/marketing content.
Why this matters: First-Class is premium in mail class terms; giving a discount here opens up possibilities for higher-response mailings with better delivery characteristics.
Here are key recommendations to maximize the 2026 USPS promotions:
Start planning now. Because registration windows open in late 2025 (or mid-2025 for catalogs), it’s wise to lock in your mailing programs now so you don’t miss deadlines.
Align creative with qualification requirements. For example, if entering the Catalog Insights promo, ensure your catalog has the required 12 pages, binding, product listings, and order mechanism. If using Integrated Technology or Tactile promotions, ensure your mail piece design integrates the necessary elements.
Stack add-ons when possible. Combining base promotion + Informed Delivery Add-On (1%) + Sustainability Add-On (1%) can increase total savings.
Document volume and growth if you’re using the Mail Growth Incentive. For clients that mail at scale, tracking 2025 baseline and planning increases is critical.
Work with your print/mail vendor early. Since many of these promotions require pre-approval of samples, mailer registration, CRID registration in the Business Customer Gateway, etc., vendor coordination is a must.
Think beyond discount—design for impact. These promotions reward quality mail pieces (interactive, tech-enabled, multi-touch). Your ROI comes not just from the discount but from a higher-performing mail piece.
With postage rates rising and print materials (paper, ink, finishing) under cost pressures, the 2026 USPS promotions offer one of the few levers you truly control to offset costs. According to industry commentary, “Postage rate increases tend to be directly correlated with the discounts awarded to mailers.” That means the more proactive you are in aligning creative and strategy with these promotions, the more efficient your campaign budgets become—and the more direct mail remains a powerful channel.
If your direct-mail strategy is still operating as “business as usual,” it’s time to evolve. These 2026 USPS promotions reward innovation—whether that’s engaging print via sensory treatments, layering mobile triggers in mail, structuring mail cadences, or revitalizing catalog programs.
At Aradius Group, we’re well-positioned to help guide clients through these opportunities—ensuring not just compliance with the qualification rules, but impactful execution that leads to better response, stronger ROI, and smarter mailing programs.
Reach out if you’d like to map a promotion-ready direct-mail strategy for 2026.