Swiss Post presents a special stamp for the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championship in Switzerland
With its new special issues, Swiss Post is paying tribute to the iconic colours of the Swiss landscape and presenting a stamp dedicated to the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships, which Switzerland is hosting. This stamp features a transparent tracing paper backing that reflects the structure and colour of a skating rink. At the same time, Swiss Post is launching a pilot project in its four letter centers to improve the detection of counterfeit stamps. Whether it’s a handwritten letter stamped with new stamps or important documents, Swiss Post guarantees they will be delivered safely and reliably. In both the analogue and digital world, it makes sure every consignment reaches its destination.
Nathalie Dérobert FellayMedia SpokeswomanReading Time 1 minute
A stamp for the 2026 World Hockey Championships
From 15 to 31 May 2026, Zurich and Fribourg will host the World Ice Hockey Championships. 17 years since it was last hosted in Switzerland, the event is finally returning to Switzerland, where the sport occupies a very important place. To mark the occasion, Swiss Post is issuing a special stamp, printed for the first time on transparent tracing paper. The special stamp thus recalls an ice rink and imitates the texture, structure and colour of the ice field on which the game is played with speed, precision and intensity.
The colours of Switzerland interpreted by the graphic designer Felix Pfäffli
The Lucerne graphic designer Felix Pfäffli, a key figure in the contemporary graphic design scene, has created a series of eight stamps inspired by the country’s most iconic colours: Snow white, Alpine meadow green, Alpine glow orange, Alpine lake turquoise and Glacier cave blue.
Whether it’s a handwritten letter stamped with new stamps or important documents, Swiss Post guarantees they will be delivered safely and reliably. Swiss Post also offers digital solutions: with the PostApp, postage is paid online, in just a few clicks. Plus, from 1 April 2026, digital letters – part of the universal postal service – will allow users to send and receive their mail in physical or digital format, giving everyone greater flexibility.
Swiss Post launches an innovative pilot project to improve detection of counterfeit stamps
Despite the rise in digitization, stamps remain highly valued and are an important part of Switzerland's cultural heritage.
To guarantee their authenticity, Swiss Post recommends buying stamps exclusively at its official points of sale, i.e. post offices, branches with partners, or from its online shop (Postshop).
Stamps purchased from unofficial businesses may be counterfeit. Their manufacture, import, sale or use is subject to criminal penalties.
Swiss Post already has several security measures* in place to combat counterfeiting. In order to bolster this system, it is launching a pilot project in its four letter centers, from March to May 2026: the stamps “Vine leaf” and “Mushrooms”, with a Datamatrix code, will be tested as part of this to enable even more reliable identification when the letters are processed.
With the introduction of the Datamatrix, stamps are no longer authenticated by their graphic characteristics, but by the code itself. This unique coding enhances protection against stamp counterfeiting by assigning each code only once, and the system immediately detects any attempts to reuse a stamp. Switzerland joins other European countries that have already adopted this technological innovation.
At the end of the testing phase, Swiss Post will carry out an in-depth analysis and decide on whether to potentially extend the Datamatrix to other stamps.
*For security reasons, Swiss Post cannot disclose details of the measures taken.
All subjects of stamp issue 01/26
The subjects of this stamp issue are available as individual motifs for download and may be used by media professionals for editorial purposes in print and online publications.
