The 2026 National Mah Jongg League Card: What to Know

Every spring, American Mahjong resets. The National Mah Jongg League releases a fresh card, everyone learns a new set of hands, and the season begins again. Here's what you need to know about the 2026 card.

When it came out

The League published the 2026 card in mid-April 2026, right on its usual schedule. The card comes out around the same time every year, so if you're reading this ahead of next spring, expect the 2027 edition on a similar timeline.

What it costs

Pricing is set by the National Mah Jongg League and has held steady for years: roughly $14 for the standard card and $15 for the large-print version. Most players who struggle to read small type happily pay the extra dollar for large print, it's the same information, just easier on the eyes across a full evening. Prices are set by the League and can change, and orders outside the US add postage.

Where to order it

You have two main routes:

• Directly from the National Mah Jongg League, the official source, via their website or mail-order form.
• From mahjong retailers, many of whom carry the official card, often alongside tiles and accessories.

A quick, honest note: the card is the League's to publish, so we don't sell it, buy it from the League or an authorized retailer. What we can help with is keeping it in good shape once it arrives (more on that below).

What changes, and what doesn't

This is the part that reassures returning players. Every year the specific hands are rewritten, so 2026's winning combinations are genuinely new, you can't coast on last year's memory. But the categories stay the same year to year. If you already know how the card is organized, you'll find your footing on the 2026 version within a game or two. Newer players can learn the layout once and carry that knowledge forward every season. Our guide to reading the card walks through it.

Protect your new card

A fresh card is a small annual investment you'll touch every single hand for a year, so it's worth keeping flat and clean. A leather card holder keeps the 2026 card, and any variations you carry, in one protected place instead of creased in the bottom of your bag by summer. It's why a card holder makes such a natural gift when the new card drops. More in why you need a card holder.

Frequently asked questions

When did the 2026 mahjong card come out?

In mid-April 2026, in line with the League's usual spring release schedule.

How much is the 2026 NMJL card?

About $14 for standard and $15 for large print, as set by the National Mah Jongg League. Prices can change and international orders add postage.

Where can I buy the 2026 card?

Directly from the National Mah Jongg League or from authorized mahjong retailers. It's the League's official publication.

Is the 2026 card very different from last year's?

The specific hands are all new, but the categories are the same. If you know how the card is organized, you'll adjust quickly.

New to the card entirely? Start with the American Mahjong card, explained.