A small West Texas town is once again spreading Valentine’s Day cheer nationwide, as the Valentine Post Office begins offering its annual special postmark for 2026.
Each year, the town of Valentine, located about 150 miles southeast of El Paso, temporarily becomes known as the “Love Station,” drawing thousands of letters and cards from across the country. The U.S. Postal Service facility provides a unique Valentine’s Day cancellation stamp designed by students from Valentine Independent School District.
The tradition has become a long-standing community event that highlights local student artwork while giving people a personalized way to send holiday greetings. The postmaster at the Valentine Post Office hand-stamps more than 10,000 cards annually, according to postal officials.
To receive the special postmark, individuals must address and stamp their Valentine’s Day cards or letters and place them inside a larger stamped envelope. The outer envelope is then mailed to the Valentine Post Office, where staff apply the custom cancellation stamp before returning the item to the sender for delivery.
Postal officials say there is no charge for the service for up to 50 cards. Requests for the 2026 Valentine’s Day postmark will be accepted through March 14.
The annual program has become an important tradition for the small Jeff Davis County community, which has a population of fewer than 200 residents. Local leaders say the event promotes community pride and offers students an opportunity to contribute to a nationally recognized project through the postmark design.
The program also draws attention to the town’s unique name and has helped make Valentine a seasonal destination for visitors and collectors seeking specialty postal cancellations.
The U.S. Postal Service regularly offers special postmarks for holidays and significant events, but the Valentine postmark is among the most popular seasonal offerings. Officials say the tradition continues to grow each year as more people seek personalized ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
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