Manchester City Unveils Special Lunar New Year Jersey for 2026

omidbasir- Editor’s note: This article was originally published on January 27, 2026, and has been updated.

Continuing a cherished club tradition, Manchester City has unveiled a striking special-edition jersey in celebration of the Lunar New Year.

This year’s design anticipates the arrival of the Year of the Fire Horse, commencing on February 17. It is arguably the most captivating design yet.

The pre-match shirt features meticulously hand-drawn horse motifs rendered in a traditional Chinese ink and watercolor style. The resulting pattern is dense and nearly camouflage-like, showcasing a multitude of equine figures.

According to the manufacturers, Puma, the Fire Horse artwork symbolizes power, movement, and relentless drive—qualities City will need to harness in their pursuit of overtaking Arsenal at the top of the Premier League standings. If there’s any uncertainty, more horsepower is the solution.

The badges and logos are rendered in beige with metallic gold accents, adding a touch of elegance befitting a lunar year that occurs only once every 60 years.

In addition to the jersey, Manchester City’s wider “Horse Capsule” collection includes an anthem jacket with a more subdued design, a t-shirt featuring a galloping blue steed, and a baseball cap.

City introduced their first Lunar New Year kit in 2023, themed around the Year of the Rabbit, inspired by the moon’s surface—a fitting tribute considering the club anthem “Blue Moon.”

The subsequent Year of the Dragon kit was released in 2024, showcasing a pale grey design adorned with hand-drawn wood carvings of the mythical creature winding around the wearer’s torso.

Anticipation is already building for the next celebration of the lunisolar calendar—the Year of the Goat, commencing February 6, 2027. However, Manchester City is not the only club offering a special Lunar New Year kit in 2026.

Tottenham Hotspur also launched a limited edition kit to honor the Year of the Horse. Their warm-up shirt features a rich blue and gold color scheme, designed by Shanghai-based artist Luna, and incorporates elements symbolizing freedom, energy, and determination. Unfortunately, these attributes were notably lacking when Spurs donned the warm-up top preceding their disappointing 2-1 loss to Newcastle United, which led to manager Thomas Frank’s dismissal.

Tottenham’s kit also cleverly incorporates four hidden references, including a monogram of the club initials, their N17 London postcode, and a QR code that fans can scan to access an accompanying video.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has collaborated with Chinese streetwear label Team Wang to produce two distinctive shirts for the Lunar New Year. The pre-match shirt is white with a red graphic inspired by traditional watercolor painting, while the home shirt features PSG’s iconic colors overlaid with Chinese calligraphy. Both kits will be showcased during their match against Metz at Parc des Princes on February 21.

Scottish club Heart of Midlothian has also launched an impressive range of Lunar New Year apparel, including a stunning pre-match jersey inspired by the Fire Horse, adorned with an ornate golden cloud motif.

Additionally, Sheffield United has created a limited edition pre-match shirt for the Year of the Horse. This eye-catching white and gold design features equine forms interspersed with pink blossoms in a watercolor style.

This marks the second time the Championship side has released a Lunar New Year kit, following their 2025 celebration of the Year of the Snake with a range of unique red and black pre-match attire.