Hyères, capital of philately
From October 23 to 25, Hyères hosts the French youth philately championship and a national competition at Forum du Casino.
The biennial youth philately meeting, organized by the Fédération française des associations philatéliques (FFAP), takes over the Forum du Casino from October 23 to 25.
On the agenda: the French youth championship (Timbres-Passion 2026), an adult national competition, and the release of an unreleased stamp.
Timbres-Passion is the French Youth Championship, individual and team, with the Challenge Pasteur for regional teams and the Trophée Léonard de Vinci. Around fifty collections, "their finest creations" according to the FFAP, will be submitted to the jury.
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In 2024, in Châlons-en-Champagne, Nathanaël Saintot won the title of French youth champion.
An adult national competition
The adult national competition presents the classes most appreciated by the public: thematic philately, polar, open class, and picture postcard collecting. Around forty presentations from the "Open Nature" competition are also on display.
On the entertainment side, the program announces "battles", introductions to NFT stamps, correspondence with polar regions, and maximaphily workshops.
Three treasure hunts, whose winners will win stays, will take place in the exhibition "Revivez la France… la collection réinventée…", which brings together over 300 frames and 20,000 collectibles.
A national competition, but also an ephemeral museum
A preview of the "Hyères-les-Palmiers" stamp
The event is accompanied by a €1.52 "Hyères-les-Palmiers" stamp (Lettre verte), engraved by Nicolas Bical. It features a "Timbres Passion 2026" vignette showing the mascot Philéas.
Printed in 495,000 copies, it is sold as a preview at the Forum du Casino, as well as at the Carré d’Encre in Paris. It will then be available in post offices from October 26.
Article from the print edition of La Gazette du Var