Technology may keep advancing, but print is forever. Tha’st why direct mail remains one of the most effective, high-quality marketing solutions you can choose. For many marketers, the biggest disadvantage to direct mail is how quickly costs can add up. There’s a great solution, though: the annual postal promotions from the U.S. Postal Service.
How Postal Promotions Work
USPS postal promotions are an annual set of discounts for marketers, usually centered around the use of certain mail types, technologies, or features. For the 2026 promotions, all of the promotions (except for one) require eligible campaigns to be registered in advance and scheduled during a certain window. The promotions offer around 5% savings on First Class and/or Marketing Mail campaigns that fit the specific promotion’s requirements, along with options for stackable add-ons for even more savings!
It’s not difficult at all to take advantage of the postal promotions – it just takes a bit of advance planning! Ahead of each campaign, you’ll need to fill out some USPS paperwork and submit documentation to confirm that your planned mailers align with the promotion’s requirements. With the help of an expert mailing partner like Priority, taking care of these administrative tasks is easy. That means you can rest assured that it’s all handled well in advance of all deadlines.
Once your submission is approved and your campaign is ready for launch, just send the mail and watch the savings add up!
2026 Postal Promotions
Here’s a brief overview of the 2026 postal promotions, including their requirements and deadlines:
- Integrated Technology: Marketing Mail letters and flats; First-Class Mail letters, cards, and flats; and Non-Profit Marketing Mail letters and flats that incorporate technology like enhanced AR, VR/MR, video in print, mobile shopping, AI integration, and others, can qualify for a 5% discount. Your team can select your own mailing schedule for this promotion, as long as it runs for six consecutive months during the 2026 calendar year. Registration is open all year.
- Tactile, Sensory, and Interactive: Marketing Mail letters and flats and First-Class Mail letters, cards, and flats that use enhanced techniques (specialty inks, sensory treatments, interactive elements, etc.) are eligible for a 5% discount between Jan. 1 and June 30. Registration begins October. 15, 2025.
- Continuous Contact: Marketing Mail and Non-Profit Marketing Mail letters and flats that contain targeted follow-up content after an initial mailer can qualify for a 5% discount between Apr. 1 and Dec. 31. Registration begins Feb. 15, 2026.
- Catalog Insights: Marketing Mail catalogs of at least 12 pages that meet all criteria for a “catalog” designation are eligible for a 5% discount between Oct. 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026. Registration began August 15, 2025.
- First-Class Mail Advertising: First-Class Mail letters, cards, and flats featuring advertisements or marketing messages can qualify for a 5% discount between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31. Registration begins July 15, 2026.
Alongside these five promotions, the USPS also offers two “add-ons”, which can be stacked for even more savings. Mailers may add one or both of these add-ons to a single campaign, just as long as the requirements of both the primary promotion and the add-on(s) are met and documentation submitted. Add-on registration must be submitted at the same time as registering for the main promotion.
- Informed Delivery: Mail pieces that qualify under their primary promotion can receive an additional 1% discount for using the USPS Informed Delivery omni-channel feature. If you use the eDoc Postage Statement Submitter tool, you can earn an additional 0.5% incentive.
- Sustainability: Mail pieces that qualify under their primary promotion can receive an additional 1% discount for demonstrating the paper used in the mailings is responsibly sourced and sustainability produced by exhibiting an eligible certification.
DOWNLOAD OUR GUIDE TO THE 2026 POSTAL PROMOTIONS
Why spend more than you absolutely must on mailing costs? The 2026 Postal Promotions can keep your costs down all year long, and the Priority team can help. Contact us as you’re planning your 2026 campaigns, and we’ll help you navigate the process, submit the necessary documentation, and increase your direct mail ROI this year!
