When you think about it, postcards are a terrible piece of technology. There’s no encryption, and no undo button. No read receipts. They’re fragile and can easily get lost or damaged (a bit of rain and you can’t even read them anymore)! They require you to find stamps and walk or drive to your nearest postbox in order to get them sent. And you don’t know when they’re going to be delivered: anything between 3 days and 3 months is possible!
And yet… somehow, 157 years later, millions of people still think they are just brilliant — us included! 😍 They’re surprising, colorful, thoughtful, carry a heartfelt message and cute stamps, and just make us want to hug the sender for thinking of us. October 1st is World Postcard Day — the day we celebrate this terribly brilliant invention!
By now, World Postcard Day is already underway in a lot of countries around the world. People are meeting up, libraries and museums are joining in, and plenty of postcards are being dropped in postboxes today. Some will travel across town, some across oceans, and some will probably take the scenic route to their destination… 🤪
And there’s a little extra stamp-shaped celebration too: Pošta Srbije is releasing a Postcrossing/World Postcard Day-themed stamp today (yes, it’s a 2-in-1)! It features a classical Serbian mailbox… and in case you were wondering, they really look like a bearded grandpa!
The stamp, FDCs and special commemorative cancellation mark will be available in post offices and their online shop, from today onwards. Hurray! We’re very happy to see one new country enter the “Postcrossing stamp club” — and also to see World Postcard Day featured on a postage stamp!
Wherever you are celebrating, check out if there’s a meetup near you, and perhaps you’ll be part of one of those tables covered in postcards, pens and stamps. And if not, you can always join us in the Postcard Lounge and celebrate there with everyone else. World Postcard Day doesn’t really need to be complicated! Just a postcard, a stamp, a pen, and most importantly, your time and care.
I think that’s why postcards are still so beloved in this day and age of digital “instantaneousness” — because you know the person on the other side was thinking about you, and gave you a bit of their precious time. As Uncle Alex used to say, “If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is”.
And last but not least, we have an extra challenge for you all today: send at least one postcard to someone who isn’t expecting one! Maybe someone you haven’t written to in a long time, or simply someone who would smile at finding your handwriting in their mailbox. It doesn’t need to be clever or beautifully composed — a small surprise is enough. Let us know in the comments who you’ll be writing to.
We hope you spend your day surrounded by happy mail, and indulge in some stamp-shaped deliciousness — like ravioli or stamp cookies! Here’s to slow mail and this wonderfully inefficient little invention! ❤️
Happy World Postcard Day, everyone!
141 comments so far
It's midnight and I'm going to grab my five addresses right now!
Happy World Postcard Day!
Happy World Postcard Day!! PS I'd love to trade official WPD postcards from your local meetup!! I'll send you one from Arizona if you send me one!
Just here, writing my 5 ones!.
Happy WPD!
Its 2am and I am up getting my 5 names/addresses!! Happy World Postcard Day!! :)
Hurraaaay!!!!!!! :P
When I walked to the mailbox a few minutes ago, to post the prepared swap postcards I passed a garbage truck. The three garbage men were standing, because one had an emergency call or something like that. the other one saw me and said: "All that mail for me?" We laughed. On the way back the truck was still standing there - I passed him my mobile to write down his address, so that I could send him his own personal postcard :-) I think that was very unexpected for him ;-)
Happy World postcard day - hopefully seeing you all in the lounge!
Happy WPD - I just have written my 5 ones!
just got two😭I should've save more slots
Happy wpd anyway
Happy WPD!!
Happy World Postcard Day! This is my first year Postcrossing and it's such a wonderful hobby that is helping get me through some health wobbles. I loved joining the Lounge and my postcards are now on their way!
I've my five postcards ready to go to their recipients.
It would be wonderful to find out just how many addresses are called up today and maybe how does that number compare to a "normal" Postcrossing day.
Hi everyone! I'm new here, but I'm happy to join in the celebration because a whole new and interesting world has opened up for me! Congratulations to everyone 🥳
I am sad because my cat will cross the rainbowbridge soon, but I am glad to finally write a postcard because I saved mine for today (and Halloween)
Happy Day！
Happy World Postcard Day everyone 🤩📮 This is my very first one and I'm so excited for today! What a wonderful hobby this is ❤️
Happy World Postcard Day!
Happy World Postcard Day! ☺️✨️
Cards written and stamped, ready to be delivered at the post offices!
Happy WPD, everyone!
Happy WPD💌 from France 🇫🇷
It's a shame not to have any free slots!!!
Happy World Postcard Day everyone ✍️💌🤎
Happy WPD! It’s my first one and I just written five ones!
Happy World Postcard Day! 🙌🏤📮
Three hours of writing and taking care of previoгsly recieved cards (scanning, sorting and putting in the album) is a marvellous way to celebrate.) Happy WPD!
My first time celebrating! Happy world postcard day all!
I have sent my five and I had an early morning, as we are 8 hours ahead of you guys the sent days registered September 30, but I am assured it registers that time as October 1.
Got my WPD text beside each card on the listing and I added some surprises in the envelopes. I do wish the number was 10, I am sending WPD pc for the week or so, Cheers
My 5 postcards have already been sent off 👍🫠
Happy World Postcard Day!!!
This is my first time taking part!
I wrote 5 postcards to people around the world and 10 postcards to my friends.
I hope they all arrive safely! 💌
Happy postcrossing day ❤️
I'm writing my cards now.
I waiting until its 1 October.
My 5 cards are done and ready to go, along with 25 others to penpals and postcrossers I've gotten to know over time. I'll stop by the post office on the way to work. I've just been sitting here watching the 'What's happening now section' of the homepage, and a card is being sent about every two seconds! Great to see! Thanks so much for hosting this and bringing us all so much joy over the years!
HAPPY WORLD POSTCARD DAY! Got my five and will write them up later today. They will really be scattered around the world :)
This is my 1st WPD. I am so excited to participate!
Great to see some familiar faces here in the comment section - maybe I'll recognise some more people in the Lounge later.
Wishing everyone a great day of connection, communication and enjoyment. Happy Postcrossing.
Karen
PS Thanks to all the team who are making this happen - much appreciated.
Happy world postcard day x
Happy WPD!!! 🍀❤️🎉
5 special postcards sent 📮
Happy World Postcard Day!
#HappyWPD2026
xoxo
P.S. Regarding the challenge, I’m going to write to my first penpal, @mcsvanh, who sent me my very first postcard!
I wrote a surprise postcards to a special forum member I saw in the lounge. They won’t be expecting it!
Happy World Postcard Day📮💌🌍🎉!!!
I was so afraid of missing this date that, because of my heavy workload, I made a mistake and requested an address for sending a postcard yesterday instead of October 1😅📆 When I realized it, I almost cried 😢
Anyway, congratulations to everyone! I wish all fellow Postcrossers lots of joy in their mailboxes📬💖✨!
Today as we postally cross bridges to distant global horizons ... I wish you all a very Special World Postcard Day ❤️
Fact bytes revisited ( courtesy Google ) 😊
a) World Postcard Day is celebrated annually on October 1st to commemorate the anniversary of the world's first official postcard issued in Austria-Hungary in 1869.
b) An international event founded in 2020 by Postcrossing and partners to promote the joy of handwritten mail.
Onwards in Postal Camaraderie 🙏🏼
Nitin # India
happy world postcard day everyone.
i am writing my postcards as we speak :D
This is making me so happy 😅 - thank you Postcrossing team for all you do!! 🎊🥳✨🎂💐
Happy World Postcard Day! 😊 I've sent out five postcards! I hope they reach everyone soon! And I hope I receive a postcard for October 1st too!
Lovely. Greetings from Jaipur, India 🇮🇳
Happy to be here with everyone, celebrating the 2026 World Postcard Day!!! Have a great one, everyone!
Happy holiday to us, dear postcrossers!
P.s.: The Serbian stamp is truly amazing🥰
I just generated 3 addresses! I am also sending 2 postcards to people outside of Postcrossing. Happy World Postcard Day to everyone! :)
Happy World Postcard Day! Just written & posted my five. More out later to non-postcrossing friends!
1st Oct 20026
OMG one year has passed, tie is running. Right now, I have finished my 2nd card of the day. Wish all of a Happy Postcard-Day.
Happy WPD!
I am sending a surprise postcard to my best friend faraway in Norway!
I had been twice or thrice trying to send to him but it never arrived.
In this WPD, one of my postcard would deliver to Norway so this might be a good chance to try again to send it to that best friend! 😬
I feel anxious somehow, but hopefull it'll arrive safely this time. All of them!
Happy World Postcard Day! 🎉💌🐌
Happy World Postcard Day! 😊
World Postcard Day!
Good mood & happy postcrossing for all! :)
Happy World Postcard Day! 📫
Happy WPD and get busy writing postcards, everybody!
Happy World Postcards Day 💌 !
First one, and a lot of fun. 4 officials plus other exchanges.
Happy World Postcard Day from Nebraska -USA! 😊📬🇺🇸
Happy World Postcard Day 2026🥳
This year, I wrote over 30 cards for WPD, including the official cards.
And to the person I send a postcard to every year—just for WPD… I sent one to them in secret again this year😉
I hope all the cards arrive safely🍀
This is my favorite and lovely hobby! <3
Happy Postcrossing Day!
Happy World Postcard Day！
Happy Postcrossing Day. Have my postcards, stamps and coffee. Now I am ready to write.Just love sending cards and receiving from other countries.
Happy world postcard day! :)
Happy World Postcard Day! I'm taking a short break from work to write these postcards!
Happy World Postcard Day, everyone! Going to request my addresses now!
Challenge accepted! Happy World Postcard Day, everyone!
Hello Postcrossing friends!
I’m very excited to write my cards. I hope everyone enjoys the day!
happy wpd < 3 !
Happy World Postcard Day from Costa Rica! 🇨🇷✨💌
I’ve been excited for this day. I started my WPCD-"eve" by checking my mail and registering any pending postcards so everyone would have a fair chance at a slot. When midnight hit (Officially WPCD), it felt like opening presents on Christmas, couldn't wait to find out where my cards where going to, I drew my five WPCD addresses right away. This morning woke up, made coffee, wrote my cards out, took them to the post office, and they’re now off on their travels. ✈️✉️📫
Happy World Postcard Day everyone 😁🥳!
Let’s gooooo!!!
Happy World Postcard Day! It's my first time celebrating since I just joined Postcrossing and I'm so excited! I'm sending some to Postcrossing recipients, some to family members and some to my dear long-time pen-pals that I've had since I was a youngster over three decades ago since they were the reason for my original "happy mail" once upon a time.
Happy World Postcard Day! 💌🎉 I’m celebrating by sending two postcards today — the only two slots I had available! I hope they bring a little joy to their recipients. ❤️📮
Happy World Postcard Day 💥
I mailed a total of 75 postcards.
My allotted 5 for Postcrossing
And 70 to my penpals, friends & family
💥 💥 💥 💥 💥 💥 💥 💥 💥 💥 💥 💥
I am disappointed to only have the time today to send out ONE POSTCARD requested through postcrossing.com because my world is in shambles due to family dysfunction 😥, but I plan to make my own special postcard day asap. To all the world’s postcrossers-
HAPPY WORLD POSTCARD DAY! May the postcards and vote by mail items get to their intended destinations in record time.
I was hoping that I'd be given extra postcards out to celebrate WPD, I'll be sending ten WPD postcards today.
Happy World Postcard Day everyone ✍️
Enthusiastic first timer here — secured my five Postcrossers and ready to write! I've also got some "surprise" and "just because" post cards for friends and family...including a vintage card I picked up over the weekend featuring a city bus for a pal who used to be a driver when we were in college.
Happy World postcard day
I just finished addressing the 5 Postcrossing postcards that I will be sending today. In a bit, I will be hopping on the ferry to Seattle WA. Where I will be meeting up with fellow Postcrossers. It promises to be the best of days. Happy WPD! <3
Happy World Postcard Day from Russia! \(^w^)/
Только зашла в сеть, отправлю открытку в другие края:)
I just got online, I’m going to send a postcard to another place :)
Went to my lokal postoffice so I could have my postcards stamped with Oct 1.
I mailed my postcards at my nearby post office this morning. In addition to Postcrossing, I added a few others to friends and family. Love this! 🩷
I sent 3 Postcrossing cards, plus 1 to a friend who is recovering from surgery & 1 to a friend I haven't spoken to in a while! ❤️
Happy World Postcard Day!!
Happy World Postcard Day! Just finished to write my 5 cards.
Happy World Postcard Day! 📬💌
Happy World Postcard Day from Serbia! I am so happy because we finally have Serbian Postrcrossing stamp!!!
Huzzah! Just sent my 5 cards from the PO. 🤩 happy world postcard party day people!!
Happy World Postcard Day! 📯
It's my first World Postcard Day, and a few postcard writers kindly reminded me of it, which was lovely! - I also sent a pretty postcard to my cousin, whom I haven't seen in years. A postcard is just a friendly gesture, and the other person is free to smile back. 😊😃😁
The other day I was sorting through papers and found a mailing from the Snail Mail Party zine people. It was sent to me a few years ago. It still had a stamped postcard for me to mail back to them. Won't they be surprised to see it in their mailbox years later - LOL!?!?!
Happy World Postcard Day Postcrossing Family!! I love how this simple activity creates such a warm feeling in our hearts and makes us share that happiness all over the world. I'm making a cup of coffee and settling into my postcards. I want to write them all at once but also take my time and enjoy each one. I wish everyone happiness and full mailboxes!!
Happy World Postcard Day!
I just sent my 5 cards - all of them to Germany.
HAPPY WPD!!!
Wonderful World Postcard Day to all of us! I just finished my cards. Wrote 11 to friends plus 5 for PC.
I am hosting my first World Postcard Day Geocaching Event today. I sent cards last year, but did not find out in time to do any thing special. Getting together at our local Craft Brewery for this event.
I sent off my five! happy world postcard day everyone <3
Happy World postcard day!!
I am so excited to be send some Postcards off to friends to day!
I am a little bummed that I have no post crossing slots available. I thought for sure at least one would have arrived by today. Maybe next year!
Happy World Postcard Day! 💕
Happy World Postcard Day everyone! I set my account back to active today, this is the perfect day to be back at Postcrossing 💌
Writing my 5 and will probably send another one to a lady who used to buy Avon from me before she went into a nursing home that is 2 hours away!
3 out of 5 are going to Germany... I hate that... I like VARIETY!
;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-)
Happy World Postcard Day from southern Maine, U.S. ✌️❤️📬
Yay! Sending one of the blue to my mom! ❤️
What a great day! Did 5 Postcrossing cards (3 to Germany and 2 in USA) and 5 cards to send through a group called Love fir our Elders to encourage connection and enhance joy in seniors. Happy World Postcard Day to all!
I set my alarm for a little past 12 Midnight to request 5 addresses. Anyone else admit to doing that? I wanted to mail the postcards on my lunch time, enabling them to be hand cancelled on 1 October 2026. Happy World Postcard Day!
Happy World Postcard Day, Everyone! I messed up and should have waited to request addresses, but my bad! Shame on me...
However, I did send out 5 postcards to family/friends letting them know about the Day and how wonderful Postcrossing is! Hope you all had a terrific day.
Regards,
Mary Alice
Got my 4 ready to go mail! Happy WPD!
Happy World Poscard Day! I love this day! And wrote a lot. :-)
Just when does WPD end? I picked my 5 cards up on Oct 1st, now it's almost 2 AM on Oct 2nd, and my additional 13 cards are still not available. That's not funny.
HIEP HIEP HOERA! for everyone....YEAH!
Sent 10 today. Five postcrossing and five personal. It's always fun for me. :-)
kburrell hosted a lovely World Postcard Day meet-up in Seattle, WA. A good time was had by all. She even made stamp shaped cookies!
The bearded grandpa stamp is great❤️
Happy World Postcard Day! Check out my reel about it! https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dd9PPlKv97d/?stkn=MWFlczRseHljc2RpNw==
Since we get five slots now I hope at least one of the cards arrives. I hope you all had fun at your various gatherings and postcard writting events. I didn't have a meetup this year due to reasons I can't disclose here. But things are getting from bad to worse in Greek post offices and most of our cards out get lost. We seem to recieve more than we send but then again I have no way of knowing since I don't have the ID's travelling to me.
Happy World Postcard Day everyone ✍️
Nice. Almost midnight here in the western USA. I pulled my five official cards earlier today, and also sent a couple postcards to friends too. Happy WPD!
I got sick and missed it! Drat! Next year...
4 or so sent :)
Congratulations to everyone!
Hi, unfortunately I only had 4 free slots that I used, one became available today and has already been sent to Belarus. Sometimes the delivery times become very long and I hope the postcards don't get lost. I always stamp them with vintage stamps, a reminder of the past when sending a postcard was the norm and that's how you got to know new places. Welcome to the postcard party today and my first participation.
happy WPD!!!!!!!!!
World Postcard Day! When WPD started, there were 401k postcards traveling. Now there is 484k traveling 😭 Paulo, I hope you are okay!!
I woke up in the middle of the night and my first thought was "oh, it's worldpostcardday, better get my 5 ID's". Priorities, haha... 😜
Happy Wpd🤗💌
I made sure to get 7 addresses on the evening of Sept 30, so that I could send them out on Oct 1, to celebrate WPD. I was so excited. I can't wait to see when they arrive at their destinations. I hope I get some in the mail as well.
Not only is it W.P.D.📮🆒️👌 it is also 🌏 International ☕️ Coffee Day 🤭 they go hand in hand don't you think!?
🫶 them both 😉
I hope you all had a happy WPD!
It was so nice to celebrate with fellow Postcrossers at a Meetup. Hope I can do this again next year.
Many thanks to the Postcrossing team who made everything runnig so smoothly!
When do we get the WPD badge on our bio page?
I sent 4 WPD through postcrossing and 3 others, one to my sister, one to an older friend who had to move from her home to be closer to her kids and one to another older lady that moved several states away to be close to family. Hoping they bring smiles. Nice to think of all the cards going everywhere!
Happy WPD everyone! It's my first year and I was only able to send 2 (2 slots available). I'll save more slots for next year lol.
How many postcards were sent in total? I love this site! 🥰
It was a heart-felt and heart-warming special day of correspondence. My 5 postcards were affixed with vintage 3 cent to 32 cent USA postage stamps selected specifically for the each postcrosser. That's quite a number of postage stamps to equal $1.75 ... ah the precious art of a postage stamp.
Yeah got my badge. :-)
Happy Postcrossing 😊
So grateful for each one of you:)
I sent my five postcards and then I sent five more to my sisters who live in another state, my daughter who is also a post crosser and two female friends who live nearby that I have known for decades but don’t see as often as I would like.
My five cards are on their way.....😘
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