Waiting for the 2026 NMJL card

UPDATE: the 2026 NMJL card has been released! Read my review here.

It’s mid-March 2026 and we are all still playing with the 2025 NMJL card. Sigh.

For new players, it is a scary time.

For experienced players like me, we are bored.

Let’s talk about expectations and how to spice up the game if you are looking for a change.

The 2026 NMJL card will arrive soon

The 2026 NMJL card

When to expect the 2026 NMJL card

The new NMJL card typically arrives in mailboxes in late March, landing in New York first. The anticipation and buzz will be everywhere. American mahjong players will be posting on socials and texting and by the time Chicago receives the NMJL cards (about 24 hours later), enthusiasts already know what to expect.

What the 2026 NMJL card will look like

The card alternates cover color year to year- red and blue. In 2026, we can expect a red card. Inside the NMJL card, the sections stay similar. Players can expect to see hands of years, consecutive runs, any like numbers, odds, evens, 369 and winds and dragons. The section of concealed hands will always be on the card, featuring singles and pairs. The exact hands are different, but the patterns are similar.

Try new mahjong twists

Things to do while you wait

Many players are bored with the 2025 card. Newer players and don’t want to invest in learning an expiring card. What are some fun ways to play until the new NMJL card is released?

Try to complete every single hand on the 2025 card. Do you really care if you win another game of mahjong? Probably not. It’s more fun to challenge yourself to try something new.

Memorize four hands and only play those. Close your card and hide it. Only play the four hands you have memorized. It will make you a faster player. The challenge with the abbreviated card is limiting options and is another challenge.

Try a new alternative card. There are so many American mahjong cards on the market in spring of 2026. Try The Big Card from The Mahjong Line or the Marvelous Mah Jongg card. Invest in creating your own custom card with Queen of the Tiles. These cards blend principals from Chinese mahjong and American mahjong. Honestly, I am embarrassed for anyone that I meet that refuses to play with anything other than the NMJL card. Life is too short to play boring mahjong!

Play mahjong with two players. If you haven’t played Gladys Grad’s Siamese Mahjong or one on one mahjong, you should try it. One on one mahjong is my favorite way to play mahjong. Even if I had four players, I’d rather play two tables of two player mahjong.

As we all wait for the latest NMJL card release, there are so many ways to play and keep mahjong fun. Do you have a fun way to play mahjong? Let me know!