Rules September 19, 2026

When Does the New NMJL Card Come Out? (And What Happens to the Old One)

The National Mah Jongg League releases a new card each spring. Here's when the new NMJL card comes out, when it takes effect, and what wholesale buyers should know about the annual changeover.

By Wei Liang · Founder & Production Lead, Mahjong Market

Quick answer: The National Mah Jongg League releases a new card every spring, and the new hands take effect for the coming league year. Old cards stop being legal for official play at that point — which is why card sales spike every spring and why wholesale buyers need to plan around the changeover.

One of the most common questions we hear from both players and wholesale buyers: when does the new card come out, and what do I do with the old one? Here is the full picture.

The annual cycle

The National Mah Jongg League publishes a new card every spring. The new card lists the legal winning hands for the coming league year, and the previous year’s card is retired — the hands on it are no longer legal for official play.

A few things worth knowing about the cycle:

• The announcement and availability window lands in early spring, and sales run through the year
• Cards are offered in standard and large-print versions
• The League announces exact dates through its official channels each season, so always confirm timing there before planning events

What players do at changeover

For regular players, the changeover is simple:

1. Buy the new card (a fresh one is needed every year by rule)
2. Retire the old card — many players keep a collection as a memento of years played
3. Re-learn the hands (this is the fun part — the new card resets everyone to zero)

Because everyone restarts with the new card at the same time, the changeover is a social moment in the mahjong calendar — leagues and clubs often schedule “new card” parties in the weeks after release.

What wholesale buyers should plan around

If you run a club, shop, or resale operation, the spring changeover is your single biggest card-selling event of the year:

• Stock up before spring. Card demand spikes in the weeks around release and stays elevated as leagues order for their tables.
• Move old cards before the new year starts. Once the new card is legal, old cards have no official use — clear them out in advance.
• Bundle the new card with sets and accessories. A set + new card + mat is the classic changeover package for returning players.
• Watch for large-print demand. Senior communities and players with vision needs often order large-print versions — keep both SKUs.

We supply the current NMJL card alongside our 166-tile American mahjong sets — and if you are planning a changeover order, contact us for wholesale pricing on cards, sets, and mats together.

A note on timing details

Exact release and effective dates are set by the League each year and can shift slightly by season. For planning a tournament or a large wholesale order, verify dates with the National Mah Jongg League’s official announcements first — and if you need cards aligned to a specific event date, tell us the date and we will help you time the order.