Description

On 28 August 2026, UNPA issues a new set of stamps celebrating six remarkable landmarks in Vatican City as part of its long-running World Heritage stamp series, which has highlighted UNESCO World Heritage sites since 1997.

The 2026 issue features Saint Peter’s Basilica and Square, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Apostolic Library, the Vatican Gardens, the Momo’s Staircase, and the Raphael Rooms.

Together, these sites showcase Vatican City’s extraordinary artistic, architectural and cultural legacy.

Inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1984, Vatican City is unique in combining an exceptional concentration of masterpieces within the world’s smallest independent State. Its monuments, collections and institutions reflect centuries of achievement in art, architecture, scholarship and faith, making it one of the world’s most significant cultural landscapes.

The stamp issue also highlights the importance of the World Heritage Convention, adopted by UNESCO in 1972. Through this international agreement, countries committed to identifying, protecting and preserving cultural and natural sites of outstanding universal value so they can be passed on to future generations.

By featuring World Heritage sites on its stamps, UNPA helps raise awareness of humanity’s shared cultural legacy. The 2026 Vatican City issue serves as a reminder that preserving heritage is about more than safeguarding monuments and landscapes — it is about protecting the stories, knowledge and achievements that connect people across generations and cultures.

Date of issue: 28 August 2026
Designer: Rorie Katz (United Nations)
Photos: Adobe Stock
Denominations: US$ 0.82, US$ 1.75, CHF 1,20, CHF 1,90, € 1,25, € 2,00
Stamp size: 50 mm x 35 mm
Stamps per sheet: 20
Printer: Royal Joh Enschedé (The Netherlands)
Process: Offset lithography
Perforation: 14 ½ x 14 ¼
The Designs:
– US$ 0.82 St Peter’s Basilica & Square
– US$ 1.75 Sistine Chapel
– CHF 1,20 Vatican Apostolic Library
– CHF 1,90 Vatican Garden
– € 1,25 Momo’s Staircase
– € 2,00 Rafael Room
Quantities:
Stamps
– US$ 0.82 4,500 sheets (90,000 stamps)
– US$ 1.75 4,500 sheets (90,000 stamps)
– CHF 1,20 3,500 sheets (70,000 stamps)
– CHF 1,90 3,500 sheets (70,000 stamps)
– € 1,25 3,500 sheets (70,000 stamps
– € 2,00 3,500 sheets (70,000 stamps)
Prestige Booklets
– New York (US$ 0.65, US$ 0.85) 3,500 booklets
– Geneva (CHF 0,35, CHF 0,55) 3,500 booklets
– Vienna (€ 0,45, € 0,50) 3,500 booklets

Due to a logistical issue, the shipment of UNESCO World Heritage Vatican stamps will be delayed