The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has officially announced it will honor the life and enduring legacy of Muhammad Ali with the issuance of two Forever stamps in 2026.
The stamps honor Ali not only as a three-time world heavyweight boxing champion but as a global humanitarian and civil rights icon whose influence transcended the boundaries of the boxing ring.
In a move aligning perfectly with Ali’s sharp wit, the announcement recalls the boxer’s own prophetic quip regarding his place in American history: “I should be a postage stamp, because that’s the only way I’ll ever get licked.”
Nearly a decade after his passing in 2016, that wish is becoming a reality as the USPS prepares to print 22 million copies of the commemorative issue.
A hometown unveiling
The official first-day-of-issue ceremony is scheduled for Jan. 15, 2026, in Ali’s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. The event takes place at noon Eastern Time at the University of Louisville’s L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium, specifically inside the Angel’s Envy Bourbon Club.
The ceremony is expected to be a high-profile affair, featuring remarks from notable figures including Lonnie Ali, the boxer’s widow and co-founder of the Muhammad Ali Center and award-winning broadcaster Bob Costas. The Honorable Ronald A. Stroman, a member of the USPS Board of Governors, will also be in attendance to represent the Postal Service.
While the event is free and open to the public, organizers are strongly encouraging attendees to RSVP via the official portal at usps.com/muhammadalistamps due to anticipated high demand.
Designing ‘The Greatest’
The stamps feature a striking black-and-white 1974 Associated Press photograph of Ali in his signature boxing stance, captured during the year he reclaimed the heavyweight title for a second time. USPS Art Director Antonio Alcalá, who reviewed hundreds of images for the project, designed two distinct versions of the stamp to capture different facets of Ali’s persona.
The Brown Design: One stamp features the image on the top half with the name “ALI” written in a bold, dark brown font on the lower half.
The Red Design: The second version places the photo on the bottom half with “ALI” written in red at the top.
In a subtle stylistic touch, both designs incorporate the phrase “THE GREATEST” running vertically within the “I” of his name.
According to Alcalá, the bold typography is intended to evoke the promotional posters used to announce Ali’s legendary bouts and the rhythmic chants of his name that followed him across the globe.
A legacy beyond the ring
Born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. in 1942, Ali’s journey from a young man in Louisville to a global symbol of courage is well-documented. His refusal to be inducted into the Vietnam War draft on conscientious objector grounds cost him his title at the peak of his career. However, it solidified his role as a champion for justice.
Ali’s post-boxing life was defined by humanitarian work that spanned continents — from supporting medical relief and feeding the hungry, to serving as a United Nations Messenger of Peace in 1998. In 2005, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. He founded the Muhammad Ali Center to preserve his six core principles: confidence, conviction, dedication, giving, respect and spirituality.
“Muhammad’s legacy is timeless because it was never just about the sport; it was about humanity,” Lonnie Ali said regarding the stamp announcement.
The stamps are currently available for pre-order on the USPS website. They will begin shipping on the day of the ceremony.
Contact Multi-Media & Senior Sports Reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him @HorsemenSportsMedia. For more news, click here.
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
