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Blog > The Graceful Envelope Contest - 2026

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Submissions for The Graceful Envelope Contest are open for 2026! If you’re interested, don’t forget to check out the rules for this year even if you’ve participated in the past, as it looks like there have been some changes from previous years. This year’s theme is “great beginnings”, so sounds like a great year to start joining in, too!

In honour of the event, we wanted to highlight some of the beautiful envelopes from last year’s contest that caught our eye. The theme was “go fourth”:

Graceful Envelope Contest 2026: Adult Best In Show, a compass design with the stamps placed in the four corners of the envelope Graceful Envelope Contest 2026: Adult Winner, with the address in a bed of four-leaf clover Graceful Envelope Contest 2026: Adult Honourable Mention, showing classic Swiss mountain animals like a mountain rescue dog and a cow Graceful Envelope Contest 2026: Adult Honourable Mention, showing an illustration of the four seasons

There are links to all the winners and honorable mentions on the 2025 contest page.

As I mentioned above, this year’s theme is “great beginnings”, celebrating historic events which marked the start of something new. Although it’s about beautiful envelopes, everyone can participate: the judgement is based on the overall effect and the interpretation of the theme, including the way you incorporate the postage stamps you use. There are different categories for different age groups, so kids are encouraged to participate and their work is judged on its own merit, not in comparison to adult calligraphers and artists.

Anyone can participate by mailing in an envelope (inside a cover envelope) by March 31, 2026. This is the postmark deadline, so you should be OK as long as it’s mailed by that date, but make sure it gets stamped with the postmark if you’re cutting it close! You can check out all the rules on the Graceful Envelope Contest website.

Good luck!

20 comments so far

Carygirl, United States of America

These are beautiful and creative.

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TakeTwo, Canada

Wow, these are gorgeous!!

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Langfordlibrarian, United States of America

Creative, inspiring, delightful!

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jjmedusa, United States of America

Wow! I love all of the designs, but the first one with the map is my absolute favorite. And I would love to participate in this contest! Maybe I'll create something for it! :)

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msquared47, United States of America

Very creative and interesting!

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orange_memo, United States of America

very beautiful and creative

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sumeyya, Türkiye

Yaratıcı 🎀

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Moonraker, United States of America

Sounds like fun! I’d love to receive one!

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inmius, Spain

Beautiful ❤️

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Poetess_Karolin, Czech Republic

To je opravdová fantazie! Skutečné pohlazení pro oko i duši ❤️. Mít takovou ve své sbírce, je to skutečný klenot. Gratuluji autorům, protože ve všech je úžasný nápad a toto je mimořádně nádherné! 🥰

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CStar9, United States of America

This was so fun to learn about. The entries on their website really are spectacular! I have definitely received envelope art from Postcrossers on the Forum that would be worthy of this contest!

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Heartspoken, United States of America

I'll be passing this on to the artistic letter writers in my Facebook group "The Art of the Heartspoken Note." Many are Postcrossings members.

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mm2001, United States of America

Very pretty!

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Asiya-, United States of America

So beautiful 😍

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beesknees, United States of America

enjoyed this post.

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iphiilou, Switzerland

😍 love it!

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iphoto, Australia

What a joy it would be to have one of these arrive "Down 🌏Under"👌 Well to ALL📮👏👏👏

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Flippie, Canada

Those envelops are so beautiful.

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durtlskdi, United States of America

interesting competition!!

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LyndaRN, United States of America

What an awesome and creative contest. Love the envelopes featured above, can hardly wait to see the winners for 2026! :)

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