Manchester City Unveils Special Edition Lunar New Year Jersey

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

In a growing tradition, Manchester City has released a special edition jersey to celebrate the Lunar New Year. This year’s design marks the upcoming Year of the Fire Horse, commencing on February 17.

The prematch shirt showcases hand-drawn horse motifs rendered in a classic Chinese ink and watercolor style, creating a dense, camouflage-like pattern of equine forms that is visually striking.

Manufactured by Puma, the Fire Horse artwork symbolizes power, movement, and relentless drive—qualities vital for City as they strive to overtake Arsenal at the top of the Premier League. In times of uncertainty, they can always rely on ‘more horsepower.’

The jersey features beige badges and logos adorned with metallic gold detailing, enhancing its luxurious appeal, especially significant for a lunar year that occurs once every 60 years.

Alongside the jersey, the broader “Horse Capsule” collection includes an anthem jacket with a more understated design, a t-shirt featuring a galloping blue horse, and a baseball cap.

City first introduced a Lunar New Year kit in 2023, the Year of the Rabbit, with a design inspired by the moon’s surface, resonating with their club anthem “Blue Moon.” The following year, the Year of the Dragon was honored with a pale grey kit featuring hand-drawn wood carvings of the mythical creature.

Looking ahead, anticipation builds for City’s next Lunar New Year kit for the Year of the Goat, which begins on February 6, 2027. However, they are not alone in celebrating this occasion.

Tottenham Hotspur has also released a special edition kit for the Year of the Horse. Their warm-up shirt features a deep blue and gold color scheme along with a zodiac design crafted by Shanghai-based artist Luna. This intricate design, inspired by a horse’s mane, symbolizes freedom, energy, and determination, although those attributes were notably absent in Spurs’ recent 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United that cost manager Thomas Frank his position.

Additionally, there are hidden elements within the shirt, including the club’s initials, their N17 London postcode, and a QR code linking to an associated video.

Paris Saint-Germain has partnered with Chinese streetwear label Team Wang to create two special shirts for the Lunar New Year. The prematch shirt is white with a red graphic inspired by traditional watercolor paintings, while the home shirt features PSG’s iconic branding overlaid with Chinese calligraphy, both set to debut when they face Metz at the Parc des Princes on February 21.

Scottish club Heart of Midlothian has also produced an eye-catching range for the Lunar New Year, including a stunning prematch jersey inspired by the Fire Horse with an ornate golden cloud motif.

Sheffield United has joined the celebration with a limited edition prematch shirt featuring equine designs alongside splashes of pink blossoms in a watercolor style. This is not their first foray into Lunar New Year kits; in 2025, they celebrated the Year of the Snake with a range of striking red and black prematch apparel.