PUMA and Manchester City have introduced the club’s 2026/27 Away kit during the men’s preseason tour in Hong Kong. The black and yellow shirt features a swarm of worker bees, drawing directly from one of Manchester’s best-known civic symbols.
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The Manchester bee appeared on the city’s streets long before football clubs placed it on shirts. It represents hard work, unity and resilience, values that PUMA and Manchester City connect to the club, its supporters and the wider community. The new design places the bee throughout the shirt and links its graphic energy to the sound of the away end and the identity of Manchester’s streets. The club presents the symbol as a sign of belonging for local supporters and international fans who share a connection with the team.
The Manchester bee carries protected status as a city symbol. PUMA and Manchester City therefore collaborated closely with Manchester City Council throughout the design process. The partners aimed to treat the emblem with respect and maintain an authentic link between the club, Manchester and the communities surrounding it.
Dominique Gathier, PUMA Vice President of Teamsport, says the kit gives Manchester City players a shirt that supports elite performance while carrying meaning for the city and its fans. According to Gathier, the design team used each detail to reflect the club’s identity and surrounding culture. He also describes the shirt as suitable for the pitch and for supporters who wear it beyond matchday.
The Authentic jersey uses PUMA’s ULTRAWEAVE fabric. The ultra-light material supports unrestricted action and distraction-free performance at elite level. PUMA also equips the shirt with dryCELL and ThermoAdapt technologies, which manage sweat and regulate heat during play. Recycled fibres account for at least 50 percent of the Authentic jersey.
The Replica jersey carries the same graphics into a casual silhouette for game days and everyday wear. PUMA gives it the look of the match shirt and uses RE technology in its construction. The jersey contains 95 percent recycled polyester from textile waste.
Nuria Tarre, Chief Marketing and Fan Experience Officer at City Football Group, connects the worker bee with the values that Manchester City shares with its home city. She says the club takes pride in presenting the symbol on a global stage. Tarre also links the design to Manchester City’s Mancunian identity and hopes international fans gain a stronger connection to Manchester through the shirt.
Councillor Shazia Butt, Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Libraries at Manchester City Council, describes the worker bee as one of Manchester’s most recognisable symbols. She links it to hard work, resilience, community and pride. Butt says the council collaborated with Manchester City and PUMA to ensure the kit uses the bee authentically and respectfully. She views its international visibility through the club as a fitting representation of Manchester and its people.
The Hong Kong launch on July 30 includes a floating vessel pitch, a local community tournament and player appearances. The full collection drop includes Prematch, Travel, King and Culture ranges under the “Built for This City” identity. Sales begin on July 31 through puma.com and selected retail partners internationally. Manchester City will wear the kit on the pitch for the first time against Inter Milan on August 1.
