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A progress report from BOSTON 2026 sent on 10 November:

With under 200 days before the opening of Boston 2026 World Expo, preparations continue on all aspects of the largest philatelic show anywhere in the world next year.

A major milestone has just been reached, as over 100 societies and organizations now have plans to participate in the exposition. See the recently added “Schedule of Events” tab on the Boston 2026 web site for details of 175+ happenings updated daily. Even this preliminary listing displays the wide-range of meetings, seminars, presentations and activities only to be experienced at a major not-to-be missed event of this magnitude. Meeting space and prime timeslots are still available at no charge for groups of any size and talks. Please email Mark Schwartz, Society Chair at Mark.Schwartz@Boston2026.org, who is also the schedule coordinator.

Dealer expectations have been met despite the recent uncertainty of the effects of tariffs on the bourse trade. As reported by Boston 2026 President Yamil Kouri to the October 28 American Philatelic Society/APRL Joint Board Meeting, 110 dealer booths have been sold, with space available for more dealers opting for either the 4-day or full 8-day options. Inquiries should be addressed to U.S. Dealer Bourse Chair Mark Reasoner (Mark.Reasoner@Boston2026.org) or International Dealer Bourse Chair Sandeep Jaiswal (Sandeep.Jaiswal@Boston2026.org).

The October 31 deadline for applying for philatelic frames has now past, with over 700 received by that date, including those for the FIP competition, Polar Salon, German American Salon and Ephemera displays. The Exhibit Selection Committee will be reviewing exhibit qualifications through the end of the month, by which time exhibitors awaiting acceptance will be notified. Seventy national commissioners from FIP member countries also look forward to their decisions. Original plans to manufacture new exhibit frames overseas were scrapped in light of importation difficulties. Many will be borrowed from the APS stock and Spellman Museum of Stamps and Postal History, with the rest being leased from the Royal Philatelic Society London.

Entries to the FIP literature competition remain strong. Submissions may be logged through the Boston 2026 web site through January 31 covering books, periodicals, articles, catalogs and electronic media. Accepted entries will be on display for viewing by show attendees at the Philatelic Literature Library sponsored by the Collector’s Club of Chicago on the show floor.

Major show sponsor, the United States Postal Service, has some big plans in store. Information will be released by them shortly. Ukrposhta, Ukraine’s National Post, is the latest overseas postal administration to confirm participation in Boston 2026, selling their latest stamps and philatelic products. Meet and greet their postal workers and those from other nations. The Universal Postal Union, a United Nations agency, will also be in attendance, sponsoring a members-only conference on postal affairs and publicly showing the 21st UPU Competition Class of postal administration display frames.

The show’s designated Auction Room features two prominent members of the trade with major auctions. The first runs for three days on Monday-Wednesday, May 25-27, by Schuyler Rumsey Philatelic Auctions. Kewriga Auctions sponsors its auction on the following day, Thursday, May 28.

All this and much, much more await show attendees. Spend a day, spend a week. Make your plans now!

The Press Release: https://fepanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/PR-2025-11-10-Boston-2026-Progress-Report-Six-Months-to-Go.pdf

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